Plans for testing the FMJ A18 or A28?

[plastic penguin]

Reading September's issue of WHF? Sound & Vision, I see October's addition will include a first test of the FMJ CD17. Just wondered whether the new, cheaper amps were pencilled in or not?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Don't have the amps yet, and so they won't be in the October issue.

 

[plastic penguin]

Understood, Andrew. Thanks.

 

[drummerman]

They are available retail now. An audition should'nt be difficult to organize.

 

[plastic penguin]

drummerman:They are available retail now. An audition should'nt be difficult to organize.

I know, thanks DM. As the Tesco adverts say, "every little helps."

 

[Andrew Everard]

drummerman:They are available retail now. An audition should'nt be difficult to organize.

Agreed, but until we receive review samples there's not much we can do.

 

[plastic penguin]

Fair enough. I was hoping one might slip thru the back door [so to speak].

 

[Clare Newsome]

They'll all be covered off by the time we do our Awards judging.

 

[drummerman]

plastic penguin:Fair enough. I was hoping one might slip thru the back door [so to speak].

Being Arcam amplification, you probably would'nt know they're there until you fall over one.

 

[drummerman]

Bad joke, they are actually not that bad.

 

[plastic penguin]

drummerman:Bad joke, they are actually not that bad.

Almost choked on me PG Tips. If it was your money, DM, would you plump for the Arcam A18 or Rotel RA 06?

 

[drummerman]

Neither. s/h 8vs2

 

[Anonymous]

What if you HAD to choose between the Arcam or the Rotel?

 

[plastic penguin]

Hughes123:What if you HAD to choose between the Arcam or the Rotel?

I'll let you know in 2 or 3 weeks time.

 

[drummerman]

Hughes123:What if you HAD to choose between the Arcam or the Rotel?

But I dont

The 18 is just too pedestrian for me and it can realistically really only drive small speakers with well damped bass. Still, better balanced than the A70. The Rotel lacks coherence and I dont like the bass or treble.

If you dont want a cyrus, dont like the 7001 or KI version, think the Brio has not enough power, dont like the name creek etc. I still would'nt suggest either one (A18 or 06). I'd spend a hundred quid and buy a s/h Denon PM355UK. It sounds as close to the Arcam A28 (RRP £750) as is ridiculous. Even has slightly better bass and midrange drive, only looses slight treble clarity but you only notice when comparing them back to back. Believe me, we've tried it but dont tell anyone I've said this.

Anyway, the new Arcams are not bad, have good facilities, look nice and will probably appeal to many but for musical involvement they are unfortunately not my cup of tea.

 

[Anonymous]

Denon make some superb amplifiers with that sound that I like...can't explain it...they are jsut very musical! Very much the same as the ol' JVCs...then again, I'm a bit of a fan of Japanese Electronics (JVC, Denon, Marantz)!

 

[drummerman]

Hughes123:Denon make some superb amplifiers with that sound that I like...can't explain it...they are jsut very musical! Very much the same as the ol' JVCs...then again, I'm a bit of a fan of Japanese Electronics (JVC, Denon, Marantz)!

So what went wrong?

 

[Anonymous]

drummerman:
Hughes123:Denon make some superb amplifiers with that sound that I like...can't explain it...they are jsut very musical! Very much the same as the ol' JVCs...then again, I'm a bit of a fan of Japanese Electronics (JVC, Denon, Marantz)!

So what went wrong?

It was a good deal...or so I thought! Don't worry, I'm willing for it to break under its 5 year warranty...badly...so I help it along by sticking the CD player right on top of it and then shoving it in a cabinet with half a mm of room each side of it...and then sticking two pairs of speakers which are a lower impedence than it can take, and then I play it

really

loud...

Oh my poor A-X5...how it sits there wanting to be played with its HUGE volume dial which is far too loud at even 9 o'clock on MM phono...I must find some use for it!

Oh and on the last day of school when we have a rock concert, I took it in and hooked it up to some MASSIVE JBL PA system speakers and it played them bl@@dy well!

 

[drummerman]

Dont start that one again, I was winding you up. You get to love your Arcam like you love an old, worn in pair of slippers, a cosy sort of way, a life in the slow lane ...

Seriously though, its certainly not a bad amplifier.

 

[Anonymous]

I know, I know.