Old vs New Arcam integrated amplifiers (Alpha/Delta vs Diva/FMJ/SA)
- Thread starter gerlando
- Start date
gerlando
Prog Rocker
£589 here
Arcam SA20 (Black)
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The first FMJ amp - the A22 - was electrically identical to an Alpha 10 but in a new aluminium casing.
The DiVA A85 and FMJ A32 were almost electrically identical to each other. The A32 replaced the A22.
It is worth noting the A85 and A32 underwent substantial running production changes during their lifespan. The early amps had BFA connectors and did not employ current limiting on the output stages, so had enormous dynamic reserves all the way down to a 1ohm load.
The later A85 and A32s had banana plug connectors, and did employ current limiting. There were some other internal tweaks, to hardware and firmware. It is interesting that reviewers of the original A85 and A32 call them 'dynamic', 'fast', and 'engaging', whilst reviewers of the late-production A32 call it 'boring'. One wonders how much of the difference in reviews is attributable to changes in running production.
The FMJ 'label' was eventually extended to almost the entire product line, having previously been reserved for the top-of-the-line models. It was then mothballed and Arcam now produce kit that I am largely not interested in.
I haven't tried the Class G kit and I probably never will.
I have owned many, many bits of kit, including many bits of Arcam kit. Probably the best sounding amp they produced, IMO, was the early production A32, which was very close to being the perfect amplifier.
The DiVA A85 and FMJ A32 were almost electrically identical to each other. The A32 replaced the A22.
It is worth noting the A85 and A32 underwent substantial running production changes during their lifespan. The early amps had BFA connectors and did not employ current limiting on the output stages, so had enormous dynamic reserves all the way down to a 1ohm load.
The later A85 and A32s had banana plug connectors, and did employ current limiting. There were some other internal tweaks, to hardware and firmware. It is interesting that reviewers of the original A85 and A32 call them 'dynamic', 'fast', and 'engaging', whilst reviewers of the late-production A32 call it 'boring'. One wonders how much of the difference in reviews is attributable to changes in running production.
The FMJ 'label' was eventually extended to almost the entire product line, having previously been reserved for the top-of-the-line models. It was then mothballed and Arcam now produce kit that I am largely not interested in.
I haven't tried the Class G kit and I probably never will.
I have owned many, many bits of kit, including many bits of Arcam kit. Probably the best sounding amp they produced, IMO, was the early production A32, which was very close to being the perfect amplifier.
I, too, owned an A80 and did not care for it.
The P80 on the other hand was outstanding. It was definitely the pre-amp stage of that design which caused all the problems.
Gomers1607
pfm Member
Read all the glowing reviews of the A85 but just quite stretch to it. Then the A80 was released and I pounced on it. As I said the user interface was really slick but the disappointment in the sound…..Aw maaann
hifinutt
hifinutt
I am slightly making myself ill because the system sounds so good with the a85 as a power amp ( there are much better integrated imho ) that i keep thinking i should change it to something more modern ....
But melody gardot still engenders goosebumps and julian playing that cello on audionote recordings still gives loads of emotion .....
The a85 is hugely improved by adding a decent pre amp instead of its own one ,in my case a very good bel canto pre 5
But melody gardot still engenders goosebumps and julian playing that cello on audionote recordings still gives loads of emotion .....
The a85 is hugely improved by adding a decent pre amp instead of its own one ,in my case a very good bel canto pre 5