Speakers for Arcam SA-30

[Kellytm272]

Do you want to post a couple of pictures of the room, in case it generates any suggestions you can try?

I’ll have to take a pic tomorrow afternoon as not home tonight. But will post it tomorrow

 

[plastic penguin]

What amp is that with? The speakers look nice in white!!

My MK1 Leema Pulse

 

[Kellytm272]

I have a photo of the setup as requested, in png and jpeg format. But when I try to attach it to a post, it says it’s not a supported file type. Any ideas?

 

[Kellytm272]

My MK1 Leema Pulse

Looks like a nice amp. I see you can get the III version for about £500 on eBay atm

 

[Kellytm272]

I contacted richer sounds and they suggested auditioning the b&w 606s3, Dali opteron2 mk2 and focal 906. I reckon the fyne audio f501 and triangle borea br08 may be worth it as well as Q acoustics 5040. Unfortunately no revel m16 to try, which you can get for a bargain £400 on eBay. They do interest me.

 

[plastic penguin]

Looks like a nice amp. I see you can get the III version for about £500 on eBay atm

The MK3 is ugly. Sounds as good as mine but the in-built Dac is left wanting according to reviews.

Had mine since 2010 and can't see me changing it until it falls to pieces.

 

[nopiano]

I have a photo of the setup as requested, in png and jpeg format. But when I try to attach it to a post, it says it’s not a supported file type. Any ideas?

Yes, it’s a PITA! You can either change the format in settings of your device, or host it somewhere like Imgur, or on my iPad I can screenshot the picture and not edit it, and then it works.

 

[Al ears]

Yes, it’s a PITA! You can either change the format in settings of your device, or host it somewhere like Imgur, or on my iPad I can screenshot the picture and not edit it, and then it works.

Yes it has to be a proper jpeg file I believe, not one that Apple says is jpeg....
Have absolutely no issues when adding from an Android device...

 

[Kellytm272]

Well I had a chat with richer sounds today. They have Fyne Audio F501 speakers on offer for £799 and a 14 day return policy.
Basically they said that for £1k or less, it would be difficult to get better speakers, so this way I can try them at home and see how they are. If no joy then I can return them.
Another thing that’s been suggested is to try playing a special Spotify track to determine if the speakers are in phase, because apparently it’s possible that the amps speaker terminals may have been soldered the wrong way around at the factory. Imagine that’s unlikely, but worth a shot

 

[Gray]

....apparently it’s possible that the amps speaker terminals may have been soldered the wrong way around at the factory. Imagine that’s unlikely, but worth a shot

You're right to imagine it being unlikely.
Hopefully every amp gets a soundcheck (or at least a sinewave passed through it) - in which case such an error wouldn't leave the factory.

 

[plastic penguin]

Having owned Arcam amps they work well with a number of speakers: Monitor Audio Silver or Gold, Focal, PMC, Usher....

 

[plastic penguin]

Thanks,
Always best to buy something you can actually audition or at least return if they don't suit.
Cannot really help here as never heard your amp but generally it's more important to get the right speakers for your room rather than speakers that may work well with a particular amp in the right room.... Or indeed are other people's suggestions
Ever thought of bigger Amphions?

The Amphion 3S will give you extra oomph. That said, the 1s give out ample LFs in my system and room. And the Leema is meant to be leaner than some other brands.

 

[Stuart83]

Having owned Arcam amps they work well with a number of speakers: Monitor Audio Silver or Gold, Focal, PMC, Usher....

I can add QA to that list.

I've had good results with mission aswell particularly with one of my favourite budget speakers of yesteryear the mission mx3s.
A hidden gem which still suprise me now when up against the much pricier speakers I've had and got.
So sweet melodic and pleasing.
It does seem Arcam very compatible with various makers.

The only speakers I've had that didn't seem to partner up well were "Dali oberon 5" I hastily got rid of.
But that's more an issue with me not liking the Dali sound.
I demoed a few and owned a set and just never liked their sound despite knowing they are a quality speaker.

I agree with a prior post "speakers must be demoed" they have one if not the biggest effect on sound second to the amp itself.

I've only once bought blind with only Google reviews etc to stumble around and I was lucky I guess.

As for phase issues to quickly check simply connect a 9v battery to your terminals to the right polarities and both speakers should extend outwards if correct or inwards if not.

It's a commonly much used method and won't damage your speakers as it's well within operating voltage.

If your still thinking the amp terminals are soldered in reverse then use the test tracks in Google under "speaker phase test tracks"

There's a few to choose from.

If it sounds wrong invert the phase (swap the wires round) to see if it's indeed the problem.

I know most manufacturers now label their speaker wires to prevent phase issues but I've done it before on longer runs of wire when the cable is sparsely different.

My Cambridge audio Ulta wire only has small written print hardly visible to indicate the different strands especially given its tiny guage.

 

[plastic penguin]

I can add QA to that list.

I've had good results with mission aswell particularly with one of my favourite budget speakers of yesteryear the mission mx3s.
A hidden gem which still suprise me now when up against the much pricier speakers I've had and got.
So sweet melodic and pleasing.
It does seem Arcam very compatible with various makers.

The only speakers I've had that didn't seem to partner up well were "Dali oberon 5" I hastily got rid of.
But that's more an issue with me not liking the Dali sound.
I demoed a few and owned a set and just never liked their sound despite knowing they are a quality speaker.

I agree with a prior post "speakers must be demoed" they have one if not the biggest effect on sound second to the amp itself.

I've only once bought blind with only Google reviews etc to stumble around and I was lucky I guess.

As for phase issues to quickly check simply connect a 9v battery to your terminals to the right polarities and both speakers should extend outwards if correct or inwards if not.

It's a commonly much used method and won't damage your speakers as it's well within operating voltage.

If your still thinking the amp terminals are soldered in reverse then use the test tracks in Google under "speaker phase test tracks"

There's a few to choose from.

If it sounds wrong invert the phase (swap the wires round) to see if it's indeed the problem.

I know most manufacturers now label their speaker wires to prevent phase issues but I've done it before on longer runs of wire when the cable is sparsely different.

My Cambridge audio Ulta wire only has small written print hardly visible to indicate the different strands especially given its tiny guage.

I can only recommend what I've heard with Arcam.

I'm sure KEF LS50 work a treat and Dali. As I've not heard this combo....

 

[manicm]

B&W's also pair well with Arcam, they play to each others strengths.

 

[Al ears]

Forum members will always put forward their own preferences but there is no guarantee you are going to like them or they might not work well in your particular listening room.
The only answer is to audition whatever you can and ideally in your own home.

 

[plastic penguin]

Forum members will always put forward their own preferences but there is no guarantee you are going to like them or they might not work well in your particular listening room.
The only answer is to audition whatever you can and ideally in your own home.

Too true.

 

[Stuart83]

Forum members will always put forward their own preferences but there is no guarantee you are going to like them or they might not work well in your particular listening room.
The only answer is to audition whatever you can and ideally in your own home.

Absolutely true as I mentioned "I recommend always demoing"

Your absolutely right in a demo at home being best especially when paying so much.
I know richer sounds are good for this and will send out anything to you so will Peter Tyson.