Looking for advice to replace exsisting amp to partner New Tannoy speakers

dx052

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I have a pair of Tannoy Mercury V1 Speakers which I have had for about 4 months & bought new. I partnered it with a used Arcam Alpha 7 Amplifier without knowing if they could work together (as I was on a budget). My source is pretty decent as I tend to play high quality audio files however I am getting an inconsistent sound (to my ears) and sometimes harshness on the top end and sometimes to mellow. I just feel it does not paint the picture that I want to hear. I looked at my interconnects and upgraded those and also adjusted the length of my speaker cable as there was quite a lot of excess cable overlaping. I play 90% of my music (dance, Soul, R&B etc) from my laptop and I have a pretty decent audio interface that connects the two. Was wondering if I replaced the amp that I might get a different sound that my suite my needs more, or am I expecting to much from my budget eqipment?
 
Having owned the Arcam Alpha 7R I could say with a degree of confidence that any harshness will be the speakers or source... or both.

If you sometime have "harshness" and then "mellow" that usually means a good balance, typically known as punch and refinement.

What source do you have?
 

dx052

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Well I am playing a combination of vinyl rips/digital downloads (wav)/Rip CDs, (all 44100/16bit and above.)

I have tried with a standalone CD Player and a Turntable with pretty much same results.
 
dx052 said:
Well I am playing a combination of vinyl rips/digital downloads (wav)/Rip CDs, (all 44100/16bit and above.)

I have tried with a standalone CD Player and a Turntable with pretty much same results.

How are you downloading and ripping? Has this only happened since buying the Tannoys?

Still convinced it isn't the amp. Somewhere there seems to be a synergy problem, but will need to know exactly the source (streamer make or direct from computer to a DAC etc etc.) before we can make qualified judgement.
 

dx052

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I download/purchase my specialist dance stuff from a the likes of Beatport & Traxsource and the odd MP3 from 7digital. I use to have a set of B&W 685 with a Rotel amp I they sounded wonderful with the same music I am playing now.

I have been ripping my music with dbpoweramp to Aiff to an external hard drive.

I play all my files on my Dell laptop via iTunes > Calkwalk USB audio interface > amp > Speakers.

I try and keep it nice and simple.
 

matthewpiano

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With the best will in the world the little Tannoys, very good though they are, are never going to sound as good as your B&Ws did. I agree with PP that the problem is unlikely to be your amp, but I'm not entirely sure what to suggest you try next.
 

dx052

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Upgrade speakers!! can I get anything in the used market to get a bit closer to what I had on a slightly smaller budget then or would I have to spend the same amount?
 

matthewpiano

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Personally I'd be looking at some used B&W DM600 series speakers. Should be plenty of DM602s around for reasonable money. However I've even seen some 685s at reasonable money on Ebay in recent times so might be worth keeping your eyes peeled.
 
matthewpiano said:
Personally I'd be looking at some used B&W DM600 series speakers. Should be plenty of DM602s around for reasonable money. However I've even seen some 685s at reasonable money on Ebay in recent times so might be worth keeping your eyes peeled.

Snap! I was going to say 602S3. Very good match with Arcam...
 

bluedroog

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I’ve never heard the speakers you own so cannot comment, however I don’t think the Alpha 7 could ever be considered harsh in anyway. I owed the 8 for many years and my old dear still uses the 7 now. The 7 does have it’s limitations but not harsh. I found the 7 far too laid back and it really seems to lack any attack for me, it just trundles along. I would try your speakers with a beefier amp if you can borrow one. The 8 is quite a bit better than the 7 as is the 9 and 10.

I would also try some other speakers if you can in your set-up if you can borrow some to get a practical experience of the differences the context of your system.
 
T

the record spot

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The original Exposure 2010 and follow up 2010s were apparently excellent for rock and dance wihout being too much. I'd try and seek one of those out if you can.
 

Soundman1

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I have a pair of Tannoy Mercury V1 Speakers which I have had for about 4 months & bought new. I partnered it with a used Arcam Alpha 7 Amplifier without knowing if they could work together (as I was on a budget). My source is pretty decent as I tend to play high quality audio files however I am getting an inconsistent sound (to my ears) and sometimes harshness on the top end and sometimes to mellow. I just feel it does not paint the picture that I want to hear. I looked at my interconnects and upgraded those and also adjusted the length of my speaker cable as there was quite a lot of excess cable overlaping. I play 90% of my music (dance, Soul, R&B etc) from my laptop and I have a pretty decent audio interface that connects the two. Was wondering if I replaced the amp that I might get a different sound that my suite my needs more, or am I expecting to much from my budget eqipment?
I would look at B&Ws excellent dm602s
 

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