View Full Version : Question if I may...?
Haselsh1
28-03-2019, 15:05
Does anyone out there have any experience of the Arcam SA20 amplifier...? I am thinking of replacing my valve gear with one of these.
Many thanks in advance of your help.
Oh yeah, to be used with Spendor S3/5R2's.
southall-1998_mk2
28-03-2019, 15:12
Fed up with valve sound?
S.
Haselsh1
28-03-2019, 18:17
Not really Shane but I am fed up with the whole expensive hi-fi scene.
Pieoftheday
28-03-2019, 18:43
Does anyone out there have any experience of the Arcam SA20 amplifier...? I am thinking of replacing my valve gear with one of these.
Many thanks in advance of your help.
Oh yeah, to be used with Spendor S3/5R2's.
No experience of that particular arcam but I did have an a6 and an a80, neither amps had any character, just made the speakers go louder:)
hifinutt
28-03-2019, 22:20
May I say I have an arcam a75 I got recently , had a friend round yesterday to hear it with the horns. Coherent, balanced , sense of air and space , and should not sound so good but it punches well above it's price. There is one on here for 140 and I would buy it if I were you
Manicatel
28-03-2019, 23:03
I’ve not heard the sa20 with Spendors, but I have heard it with others such as B&W’s.
It’s a decent amp, definitely worth the extra over the sa10. Fairly usual ARCAM sound, no shouting at any particular frequency, pretty flat & smooth. If you like the ARCAM character, it’s maybe the right amp for the long term.
However,
The step up to a Nait5si is significant from the sa20, & I’m not even that much of a Naimfan.
So yes, it’s a decent amp.
Whether it’s the right amp for you to change over from what you’ve already got is difficult to judge.
Worth auditioning, yes definitely.
Worth buying blind without a demo, I’d say no.
Haselsh1
29-03-2019, 08:35
OK guys, thanks for your info.
walpurgis
29-03-2019, 08:47
I've not been that drawn to Arcam gear really.
In fact the only Arcam item that impressed me was a new CD player from about 15 years ago that was demoed to me, I can't recall the model, but it was around a grand. I opted for a Meridian though, it was better. Tried a few of their DACs too and they were pretty dull.
I still have memories of Richer Sounds flogging off stacks of budget Arcam stuff at peanuts prices back then, maybe that's what puts me off. Perhaps the product image has improved.
Haselsh1
29-03-2019, 08:58
Geoff, I don't think that their brand image has improved any over the years. I remember owning an 8SE CD player back in the 90's, the one with the ringdac and yes, it was a competent CD player but certainly not outstanding. The truth is that I was starting to have a rethink of my hi-fi and its true value to me. The bloody gear is hardly ever switched on and so I was thinking it was a bit of a waste of equipment. I have now had the Prima Luna pre/power since 2016 and by my reckoning it has less than 40 hours on the valves. Value for money...? Maybe not.
walpurgis
29-03-2019, 09:18
People seem to lose sight of the fact that it's the music that matters, the gear is just for listening to it with.
At the moment, I'm enjoying a £100 system. Small Class D amp, second hand CD player and compact speakers. It makes music.
I've got big Tannoys, Meridian CD player and a hefty Quad amp in the other room. They're not getting much use.
had one of their fmj amps a few years ago(seems like longer). well built and sounded pretty decent. not sure i'd be swapping a prima luna for one tho
hifinutt
29-03-2019, 09:32
Geoff, I don't think that their brand image has improved any over the years. I remember owning an 8SE CD player back in the 90's, the one with the ringdac and yes, it was a competent CD player but certainly not outstanding. The truth is that I was starting to have a rethink of my hi-fi and its true value to me. The bloody gear is hardly ever switched on and so I was thinking it was a bit of a waste of equipment. I have now had the Prima Luna pre/power since 2016 and by my reckoning it has less than 40 hours on the valves. Value for money...? Maybe not.
Ah you mean the arcam CD 23 with a ring dac, the 8se is a Cyrus CD player. Got one of them too!
hifinutt
29-03-2019, 09:39
had one of their fmj amps a few years ago(seems like longer). well built and sounded pretty decent. not sure i'd be swapping a prima luna for one tho
My first real hi fi was fmj , the flash on the wam runs a lot of arcam stuff like the a49 integrated which he is pleased with . I am using this a75 arcam with a modwright modded jolida tube dac and it's that that is helping the arcam sound so good. Just occassionaly you come across a good value product and this arcam seems to do that for very little money. The op is most welcome to hear if he is in the Midlands anytime
Haselsh1
29-03-2019, 18:03
Ah you mean the arcam CD 23 with a ring dac, the 8se is a Cyrus CD player. Got one of them too!
Brain freeze time. It was an Arcam Alpha 8 SE CD player that was also HDCD compatible. Lovely player that replaced my Digital Analogue Company 'The Ultimate' CD player when I sold it on. The Arcam was very polite and fuss free.
hifinutt
29-03-2019, 18:51
Ah thanks for that. I notice DNA audio on pfm have a nice fm a29 at 450 which might be worth a try.
Haselsh1
31-03-2019, 09:34
My current thinking is back to the late eighties when I had a Musical Fidelity A100 amp that was biased into class a operation. I ran this into Musical Fidelity MC4 loudspeakers, the early ones with the transparent bass/mid driver. I then later, bought a pair of Rogers LS3/5a's, again earlier type that were not biwired and ran them with the A100 amp. The stereo image was bloody massive, that amp was amazing. So coming back up to date, I am sort of making a connection with the SA20 which is a lot more powerful than my current amp setup but class a biased like the old A100 was. It also has a built in dac leaving me reducing my box count by three. I'm still not convinced though lol.
walpurgis
31-03-2019, 09:47
There are Chinese Class A integrated amps, based apparently on the John Linsley Hood design from the sixties. They have received good reports from members. Prices are low, so it's a taste of the real high end for virtually peanuts.
There's one here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nobsound-HD1969-Gold-Class-A-Power-Amplifier-HiFi-Stereo-Single-ended-Amp-15W-2-/251547956833?hash=item3a916d3661
The SA20 only weighs 9 kilos and I'm always suspicious of lightweight amps. According to the HFC review it is okay at low volume but hardens up when volume is raised.
The way I see it if you are not listening to much music it is either because you have better things to do or the system is not doing it for you. If it's the latter than maybe you should look at upgrading rather than downgrading the amplification?
Haselsh1
31-03-2019, 10:10
LOL yes Martin, domesticity is rarely bliss when you have only one main room and it also contains the dreaded TV. I do not like listening to music during the day and by the evening the bloody TV is on so that the other half can watch the sodding One Show...! Even the cat loves the music of Brian Eno through valves but sadly the One Show wins out. Personally the sight of that bloke with the white teeth and the cardigan does my fuckin' head in.
Years ago whilst I was involved in other things a guy I was tutored by always said "If in doubt, leave it out".
I think that for a while I'll do nothing.
Put the TV in the bedroom or put hi-fi in the bedroom?
I guess you already thought of that.
Upgrade the wife to one that doesn't watch telly?
Firebottle
31-03-2019, 10:31
Upgrade the wife to one that doesn't watch telly?
Is that feature on the upgrade path normally?
:rfl:
Pigmy Pony
31-03-2019, 10:53
Is that feature on the upgrade path normally?
:rfl:
You got lucky with the "Shirley" model - like a regular wife, but with the added bonus of liking proper music! No need to upgrade :)
Haselsh1
31-03-2019, 10:55
Put the TV in the bedroom or put hi-fi in the bedroom?
I guess you already thought of that.
Upgrade the wife to one that doesn't watch telly?
LOL there's already a TV in the sodding bedroom
:eek:
Haselsh1
31-03-2019, 11:02
Sue bloody loves music but no longer partakes in the effect of expensive hi-fi. Yes, she'll sit and listen to most of my music but really loves stuff like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X and Metallica. This all came from her father who loved that kind of stuff along with Eberhard Weber and the music of Jan Garbarek. I share her love of that kind of sound with the exception of Metallica. Also inherited from her father was deafness in her left ear that has left her with a hearing aid for the last twelve months. I guess that is why she is no longer so passionate about geeky hi-fi gear.
LOL there's already a TV in the sodding bedroom
:eek:
ive 2 in my bedroom. one at each end so i can see it when lying on either side. only one with sound on tho. both are connected to same sources as i dont actually have broadcast telly
Pigmy Pony
31-03-2019, 11:17
ive 2 in my bedroom. one at each end so i can see it when lying on either side. only one with sound on tho. both are connected to same sources as i dont actually have broadcast telly
You'll end up with square eyes you know
You'll end up with square eyes you know
i have to go to bed a lot and usually pretty early, so got amazon and netflix etc up there to keep my sanity mate.:)
Pieoftheday
31-03-2019, 11:23
i have to go to bed a lot and usually pretty early, so got amazon and netflix etc up there to keep my sanity mate.:)
Morning Grant, do you still need a telly licence if you watch online stuff? Ooh its afternoon already:)
Morning Grant, do you still need a telly licence if you watch online stuff? Ooh its afternoon already:)
not as long as its not broadcast live. but u do for the iplayer etc.. I went through it with them and it was actually their idea that i didnt need one. I havent watched tv for an age..its all rubbish imv. i watch films i own on apple and amazon mostly or dvd/bluray.
Pieoftheday
31-03-2019, 11:30
not as long as its not broadcast live. but u do for the iplayer etc.. I went through it with them and it was actually their idea that i didnt need one. I havent watched tv for an age..its all rubbish imv. i watch films i own on apple and amazon mostly or dvd/bluray.
That's something to ponder on, as you say theres a lot of shite on these days.i assume you have to subscribe to Amazon and the like, does it work out cheaper than a TV licence?
Son gets amazon prime for the deliveries so i get the tv free. But if you buy stuff you dont need it. Daughter gets netflix so i get that free too..lol
Dunno if it works out cheaper but at least i get stuff i like instead of shite. And no ads every five mins.
Pigmy Pony
31-03-2019, 19:30
These providers (Amazon and Netflix) give you the ability to stream to more than one device, so you can watch on other TVs, mobiles, laptops etc, so Grant could sign in to his daughter's account and watch for free. Provided daughter isn't using it at the same time. Doesn't get cheaper than that! That's how I understand it to be, is that correct?
Yes I think so, two friends have been to my home and streamed their accounts.
icehockeyboy
03-04-2019, 10:03
I too got rid of my TV license well over a year ago, as previously mentioned you are not supposed to watch BBC iPlayer, which indeed I don’t, neither do I miss it!
My daughter has Prime, so I don’t need to subscribe to that, but I pay for Netflix HD at £9.99 a month, so it’s almost license price, but tons better.
I can easily wait until after something has been broadcast on live TV and watch it on catch up, no biggie about that.
These providers (Amazon and Netflix) give you the ability to stream to more than one device, so you can watch on other TVs, mobiles, laptops etc, so Grant could sign in to his daughter's account and watch for free. Provided daughter isn't using it at the same time. Doesn't get cheaper than that! That's how I understand it to be, is that correct?
daughter has the family account so u r allowed 5 at a time. we all have different profiles and hence our likes and dislikes are within each, as is what i save as opposed to what they do. think its 15 a month. great for a family and a lot cheaper than sky
I too got rid of my TV license well over a year ago, as previously mentioned you are not supposed to watch BBC iPlayer, which indeed I don’t, neither do I miss it!
My daughter has Prime, so I don’t need to subscribe to that, but I pay for Netflix HD at £9.99 a month, so it’s almost license price, but tons better.
I can easily wait until after something has been broadcast on live TV and watch it on catch up, no biggie about that.
I dont watch any catch up either.
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