Just scored an Arcam Alpha 6 CD Player!

[the record spot]

Chuffed to bits. Saw a local ad offering an Arcam Alpha 6 CD player for peanuts (and way less than they're going for on Ebay currently) and the bloke lived up the road from me. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, I picked it up after I dropped the kids off at school this morning. What a nice player. These went for about £600 I think and were very well rated and reviewed in their day (early to mid-90s).

Sound quality's good, big and full but without sacrificing detail. Ample bass too which wouldn't sit well in a bass heavy system. I think the transport is a Sony mechanism and maybe a Sony DAC chip too - not the Philips 1541 which was in the Alpha 5 variant.

Not a bad day's shopping and it's not even lunchtime!

 

[Al ears]

Nice one. Enjoy! It was indeed well rated when it first appeared and will give many a run for their money today. Afternoon's listening sorted then!

 

[the record spot]

Yep, been through a few discs already! Very nice player. Plenty of detail but easy on the ear too. Came with the original box too so it'll be easy to send off when I get round to selling it at some point in the future. Performance is well up there so this might be a hard one to part with come the time.

 

[plastic penguin]

Nice one.

The only Arcam Alpha CDP I've ever heard was the 7 - think Richer was trying to persuade me it was good match for the amp at the time. Sounded horribly warm and wooly, not a patch on my then Rotel 975. (Considering I'm a big Arcam fan, that's a decent confession 🙂 )

 

[MajorFubar]

Came with the original box too so it'll be easy to send off when I get round to selling it at some point in the future. Performance is well up there so this might be a hard one to part with come the time.

Why sell it if it's that good?

 

[the record spot]

Hobbyist stuff really Major. The Marantz SA-7001 KI is the keeper but I'll see. The Denon might go instead, but I like the ability to be able to play DVD-A and HDCD discs too. This purchase was a "too cheap to pass up" type of thing!

 

[the record spot]

Nice one.

The only Arcam Alpha CDP I've ever heard was the 7 - think Richer was trying to persuade me it was good match for the amp at the time. Sounded horribly warm and wooly, not a patch on my then Rotel 975. (Considering I'm a big Arcam fan, that's a decent confession 🙂 )

From memory, I don't think the original 7 did all that well in reviews. Didn't they turn out the 7SE not long after? Never liked much of that (then) new range. Way too plasticky, where the predecessor had that rather sleek black finish. That said, the Alpha 10 and 9 were and still are highly respected amps. Not sure the 9 is worth what some people think it is, but good nonetheless.

 

[CnoEvil]

I think it will have great synergy with the rest of your system - enjoy. :bounce:

 

[the record spot]

Yes, it works a treat. Just been listening to Phil Collins' Face Value on the WEA German CD release (the Barry Diament mastering) and it has a very analogue feel to it all. Big sound to it that sits well with the Tannoys. Very nicely balanced sound across the board. Has that same "listen for ages" sound that the Marantz has too, which, fortunately, is what I've been doing today!

 

[bluebrazil]

i think this box swapping fun is one the one down side to owning cyrus gear, aint much other gear gonna fit in my system with the same footprint. :doh:
oh maybe i could drop something under the ps3 🙂

 

[DIB]

It's a pity you haven't got a decent amp to do it justice 🙂

.

 

[the record spot]

Hahaha, I just saw this - yes.....if only eh? 😉 8)

 

[DIB]

I must admit I did smile when you know who made his ridiculous statement about your amp, cheeky b*****d came to mind.

Anyway, are you enjoying your new CD player?

.

 

[the record spot]

Yes, been playing it non-stop. Really impressed with the sound quality off that machine. Amazing what you pick up off Gumtree at times.