Worth adding a power amp to my system?

[PhilboSE]

I've got a pretty basic system, entry level really, consisting of an Arcam Alpha 5+ integrated amp and an Arcam Alpha 8 CD player. Thing is, even with some very old Pioneer of unknown provenance and quality, it sounds awesome compared with other "lifestyle" products I have around the house. I don't listen to a great deal of music (as in, actually sit down and *listen*) so I don't need/won't appreciate top end things.

Matching Arcam power amps (Alpha 9 or Alpha 10) of a similar vintage can be obtained off ebay for around 200, so I'm contemplating some cheap upgrades. Would an Alpha 10 power amp be a noticeable upgrade to this system or would the current integrated amp be the limiting factor if it's just acting as a device selector?

Is it worth getting a pair of power amps - in that config am I right in thinking that each amp drives one speaker, so you only need a pair of power amps if you want more power dedicated to a single channel?

Cheers

[matt3001]

Due to the age of your speakers I wouldn't bother.

If you had a pair of hard to drive B&Ws for example then there may have been a benefit.

Money may be better spent on an rDAC so you use a streaming product for your music. Or a second hand Rega DAC (I have that going through a Naim Nait5i and it sounds better than any CDP could for 300-400).

[PhilboSE]

Interesting...I'm pretty open minded about buying some new speakers as well, if that changes your opinion.

[matt3001]

What kind of budget would you have in mind? I have B&W CM5s that I am very pleased with.

http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/Speakers/Home_Audi...

[Roadster25]

An ARCAM Alpha power amp will be stereo, so rather than having a left amplifier and a right amplifier you would have two amplifiers, each driving half of two speakers. You would use one for the low frequncy for both speakers and one for the high frequency for both speakers.

You would only do this if your speakers are bi-wireable, ie have two sets of binding posts. I suspect your old Pioneers will not support this.

I suspect your amp is not the weakest link in your system. A new DAC would improve the cd player, but that is also pretty decent.

I would suggest that if you do want to upgrade, the biggest improvement for your money would be found in changing the speakers.

[Crackie]

The Pioneer speakers are probably the weak link but that's an assumption. An easy way to find out would be to substitute different speakers into the system; some retaillers offer trial services. Possibly you have a mate whose system you like the sound of; smile sweetly and you could borrow them to determine whether your speakers need to go or not.

Once you're happy with the speakers, imho you'll see the biggest gain in performance by ripping your CDs onto your laptop and then use an asynchronous USB DAC to feed your current amp. This http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/dacmagic-10... or similar alternative .

Edited by Crackie on Sunday 17th March 20:56

[PhilboSE]

Crackie said:

The Pioneer speakers are probably the weak link but that's an assumption. (snip)

Once you're happy with the speakers, imho you'll see the biggest gain in performance by ripping your CDs onto your laptop and then use an asynchronous USB DAC to feed your current amp. This http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/dacmagic-10... or similar alternative .

Well, this is an interesting post as this is quite close to what I have done over the weekend.

I started with an Arcam Alpha 5+ integrated amp, an Alpha 8 CD and some cheapo speakers.

I now have a Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6, an Alpha 10 power amp and some Roksan Kandy TR-5 speakers. I spent Sunday ripping some of my CDs to 320kbps mp3, and so when this all comes together I think I'll have a pretty nice sounding system.

The Stream Magic 6 is an interesting box and basically is a very high quality DAC with a preamp stage that can take sources such as a CD optical input, internet radio and LAN via UPnP devices. Because it acts as a preamp, it can be connected directly to the power amp. So in typical PH man maths fashion, I originally intended to augment one system and I've ended up replacing everything, leaving my original components redundant and superfluous to requirements!

I auditioned the Roksans against a number of other speakers, up to some £2000 floorstanders, and I liked them the best. The Alpha 10 amp I got for £200 off ebay, and the Roksans for £400 in as-new condition from ebay as well. The Stream Magic I had to pay list price for

Still waiting for the speakers to be delivered, but when it's all put together I think I'll have a nice little system with modern streaming capabilities for relative peanuts. I already have a UPnP device with all our films & mp3s on so it's a nice simple setup. The smart device app to control the Stream Magic works fine - certainly easier to control music selection this way than with the front panel.

The old gear can go in the loft until one of the kids wants it (though the CD player is almost certainly redundant) - matched with some £200 bookshelf speakers.

[JustinP1]

PhilboSE said:

I spent Sunday ripping some of my CDs to 320kbps mp3, and so when this all comes together I think I'll have a pretty nice sounding system.

Ahh a paradox if ever I heard one.

Stop converting to mp3!

[matt3001]

Should have ripped them lossless

[NDA]

Where are you based Phil?

[PhilboSE]

In the mid Surrey area.

[NDA]

I have a pair of NAD power amps that you are welcome to have. They're sitting unused in my studio. I think the fuse has gone in one of them.

I'm also in Surrey.

[Some Gump]

OP,

don't listen to these heathens.
It's ALWAYS worth adding a power amp to your system. Power amps are cool.

[PhilboSE]

NDA said:

I have a pair of NAD power amps that you are welcome to have. They're sitting unused in my studio. I think the fuse has gone in one of them.

I'm also in Surrey.

NDA, many thanks for your generous offer, however I have already obtained a power amp (Alpha 10) and so I must decline.

The difference even with my old speakers are striking compared with the Alpha 5+ I was using before. I am very much looking forward to pairing this up with my new speakers.

[Some Gump]

PhilboSE said:

NDA, many thanks for your generous offer, however I have already obtained a power amp (Alpha 10) and so I must decline.

The difference even with my old speakers are striking compared with the Alpha 5+ I was using before. I am very much looking forward to pairing this up with my new speakers.

Told ya =)

[NDA]

I ran a tri-amped system for many years.... Until I was married.

Them were t'days.

[Tea Pot One]

I have an Arcam FMJ amplifier and decided to bi amp a few years ago. The standard amp produced a lovely sound but when it was bi amped it went into a different league !! IMO it is a very worthwhile thing to do.

I have recently tri amped (as my speakers allow it) and it has made another positive difference - but nowhere near as much as when I bi amped ...

[NDA]

Tea Pot One said:

I have an Arcam FMJ amplifier and decided to bi amp a few years ago. The standard amp produced a lovely sound but when it was bi amped it went into a different league !! IMO it is a very worthwhile thing to do.

I have recently tri amped (as my speakers allow it) and it has made another positive difference - but nowhere near as much as when I bi amped ...

I always favoured mono blocking instead of bi-amping. When I tri-amped, I ran a thinner grade of wire to stereo HF units. Seemed to make them sweeter.

Unfortunately I now have fairly bad tinnitus, so the days of intense listening and picking out the breathing of the percussionist are over. I watched a music video the other day and the cheeks of the guy playing the mute trumpet swelled.... But I heard nothing. My hearing's fecked.