Hi
Thank you to all those that answered my questions regarding my Alpha One amp needing a replacement pot.
I think I will run out of time before I manage to find a physical replacement. I have some cleaner coming in the post, but I appreciate that may only be a temporary fix. So it has me thinking about an upgrade.
Until recently I was fairly happy with the sound of my old system, Pioneer PDS904 CD, IXOS 1002 interconnects, Alpha one amp, Cable Talk 3.1 speaker cable and some speakers that I made from a kit sometime in the late 1980s.
The speakers have seen better days though, they are 27cm x 27cm x 48cm and my wife hates them 😉 So I recently saw a pair of Wharfdale Diamond 9.1 going locally for £70 with stands. That is much cheaper than I have seen on before, so I snapped them. When I connected them through my amp had lost a channel, after some back and forth on the volume, the sound came back, but other issues have stopped me from properly testing. My initial thought was that the Diamonds sounded very clear but had less bass than my old homemade units.
I do like to 'repair and re-use' and buy local when possible, but repairing the Alpha One seemed a lot of hassle for what was, as I remember, the budget end of the Alpha range. So I have been wondering about buying a better quality second-hand amp, (noting what other have said about having the same problems) that if it fails in the near future would be more feasible and worthwhile to repair.
Arcam seems renowned for it's warm sound that I have previously enjoyed. There are working Alpha 8 amps in my price range, but then they obviously do have the potential potentiometer problems. Alternatively, I have seen good things written about the sound quality and ability to repair Cyrus amps, but then some say the sound is almost the other end of the spectrum to Arcam stuff?
Just wondering what people's opinions are? I live about an hours drive from the nearest cyrus dealer, so getting them to listen is not easy.
Thank you for any opinions given and the time taken to answer. It is much appreciated.
Thank you to all those that answered my questions regarding my Alpha One amp needing a replacement pot.
I think I will run out of time before I manage to find a physical replacement. I have some cleaner coming in the post, but I appreciate that may only be a temporary fix. So it has me thinking about an upgrade.
Until recently I was fairly happy with the sound of my old system, Pioneer PDS904 CD, IXOS 1002 interconnects, Alpha one amp, Cable Talk 3.1 speaker cable and some speakers that I made from a kit sometime in the late 1980s.
The speakers have seen better days though, they are 27cm x 27cm x 48cm and my wife hates them 😉 So I recently saw a pair of Wharfdale Diamond 9.1 going locally for £70 with stands. That is much cheaper than I have seen on before, so I snapped them. When I connected them through my amp had lost a channel, after some back and forth on the volume, the sound came back, but other issues have stopped me from properly testing. My initial thought was that the Diamonds sounded very clear but had less bass than my old homemade units.
I do like to 'repair and re-use' and buy local when possible, but repairing the Alpha One seemed a lot of hassle for what was, as I remember, the budget end of the Alpha range. So I have been wondering about buying a better quality second-hand amp, (noting what other have said about having the same problems) that if it fails in the near future would be more feasible and worthwhile to repair.
Arcam seems renowned for it's warm sound that I have previously enjoyed. There are working Alpha 8 amps in my price range, but then they obviously do have the potential potentiometer problems. Alternatively, I have seen good things written about the sound quality and ability to repair Cyrus amps, but then some say the sound is almost the other end of the spectrum to Arcam stuff?
Just wondering what people's opinions are? I live about an hours drive from the nearest cyrus dealer, so getting them to listen is not easy.
Thank you for any opinions given and the time taken to answer. It is much appreciated.
Hi Pete!
Having participated in your previous thread, allow me to state that the choice of amplification is highly subjective and system dependent.
You may get lots of suggestions as a result of your request, but they will not be guaranteed to satisfy your particular listening requirements.
Also, an important consideration is budget. Just how much are you willing to spend on a second hand amplifier?
Having participated in your previous thread, allow me to state that the choice of amplification is highly subjective and system dependent.
You may get lots of suggestions as a result of your request, but they will not be guaranteed to satisfy your particular listening requirements.
Also, an important consideration is budget. Just how much are you willing to spend on a second hand amplifier?
P.S. What Hi-Fi? magazine describes the Diamond 9.1 as having a "punchy and well controlled" bottom end.
https://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/diamond-91/review
You have done well to get them, including stands, for £70.
https://www.whathifi.com/wharfedale/diamond-91/review
You have done well to get them, including stands, for £70.
If you like Arcam theres a good chance you will appreciate Cyrus' integrated amps. Cyrus has a musical and weighty non fatiguing sound.
The older Cyrus amps can be purchased for very little. They hold up, reliability is there, too. The easy to upgrade power supplies are simple plug and play systems, and well worth the time. I'd put my money on old and new Cyrus gear.
The older Cyrus amps can be purchased for very little. They hold up, reliability is there, too. The easy to upgrade power supplies are simple plug and play systems, and well worth the time. I'd put my money on old and new Cyrus gear.
wasabii obviously holds the opposite opinion to those you mentioned who say the sound of Cyrus amps is at the opposite end of the spectrum to that of Arcam amps.
Certainly, the reliability and construction quality of Cyrus amps is not in question.
It looks like a visit to that Cyrus dealer for an audition is on the cards. I would phone ahead to determine what second hand stock is available.
Certainly, the reliability and construction quality of Cyrus amps is not in question.
It looks like a visit to that Cyrus dealer for an audition is on the cards. I would phone ahead to determine what second hand stock is available.
Thank you all for your input. I do appreciate much there will be differences depending on gear and also personal opinion as to what is warm, musical etc.
In a couple of weeks my budget may get up to £150ish, but would sooner it below £100 really.
In a couple of weeks my budget may get up to £150ish, but would sooner it below £100 really.
Ah, the value of a salesman wearing a tie & suit in a cushy room.
Used Arcam on ebay are going $500 to $1200 in US today. A new Arcam PA-240 is $2500. New amps are probably surface mount, Class D, & not repairable with a $40 soldering iron.
Whereas used PA amps from Peavey, Crown, QSC have cost me from $20 for parts or repair to $140 + freight working. The $20 PV-4c took about $80 in new output transistors & updated electrolytic capacitors.
I don't buy an amp for a particular sound, I buy them for accuracy. .03 to .06% HD is easily available in repairable class AB amps from 70 w/ch to 400 w/ch. If I want a particular "sound" I install an effect between the preamp or mixer and the amp.
I've gotten switcher supply Peavey CS800s and QSC CX302 for ~$140. Switcher supply amps weigh >20 lb and ship cheaply, even by USPS if the vendor doesn't mind driving to the post office. The CS800s has a polite fan, the CX302 is quite noisy. But QSC RMX85 has a nice quiet fan. Equivalent models include QSC PLX1202 1602 2402 .
Peavey CS600s & CS400s are lower wattage. Peavey CS800x has the sound of the CS800s but with a transformer weighs 60 lb. Closeby vendors the freight might not be outrageous. Generic CS800 with the 6"x6" vent in the front panel are x model. Generic CS800 without the front vent don't sound as good. Crown XLS602 & MA600 sell into the same market space but I've never heard one to tell if the fan is noisy or not. Peavey PV-4c and PV-8.5c are below .1% HD and the fan when cool is quiet.
If you are serious about no fan, I picked up a Peavey M-2600 for $120 working. Big heat sinks, no fan. 70 w/ch 8 ohms. .1% HD and could be driven down to .03% if the TL074 input op amp was replaced with something more modern & quieter.
Put your eye out on craigslist or ebay, or in UK gumtree. Bargains don't show up every day. But as often as once a month or so.
Any class AB amp will be 20-30 years old and even if working, will be chock full of expired rubber sealed e-caps. I can change a set of the things for $20-60 with long life versions from Panasonic, Nichicon, Rubicon, or Kemet. I consider long life caps to be 3000 hours up. Maybe a volume pot or a source switch will be dirty or need replacing. This is diyaudio after all.
OTOH I've bought a few hanger queens that had a bad solder joint inside, that were full of hardly used industrial grade caps. Sqeaky clean inside & out is a sign of this problem. Takes patience to find a bad solder joint, but no money to speak of. Pros won't repair them, takes too long. Amateurs like me, what am I going to do, post what I ate today on facebook? Play or perform beautiful music with trash is more fun.
Used Arcam on ebay are going $500 to $1200 in US today. A new Arcam PA-240 is $2500. New amps are probably surface mount, Class D, & not repairable with a $40 soldering iron.
Whereas used PA amps from Peavey, Crown, QSC have cost me from $20 for parts or repair to $140 + freight working. The $20 PV-4c took about $80 in new output transistors & updated electrolytic capacitors.
I don't buy an amp for a particular sound, I buy them for accuracy. .03 to .06% HD is easily available in repairable class AB amps from 70 w/ch to 400 w/ch. If I want a particular "sound" I install an effect between the preamp or mixer and the amp.
I've gotten switcher supply Peavey CS800s and QSC CX302 for ~$140. Switcher supply amps weigh >20 lb and ship cheaply, even by USPS if the vendor doesn't mind driving to the post office. The CS800s has a polite fan, the CX302 is quite noisy. But QSC RMX85 has a nice quiet fan. Equivalent models include QSC PLX1202 1602 2402 .
Peavey CS600s & CS400s are lower wattage. Peavey CS800x has the sound of the CS800s but with a transformer weighs 60 lb. Closeby vendors the freight might not be outrageous. Generic CS800 with the 6"x6" vent in the front panel are x model. Generic CS800 without the front vent don't sound as good. Crown XLS602 & MA600 sell into the same market space but I've never heard one to tell if the fan is noisy or not. Peavey PV-4c and PV-8.5c are below .1% HD and the fan when cool is quiet.
If you are serious about no fan, I picked up a Peavey M-2600 for $120 working. Big heat sinks, no fan. 70 w/ch 8 ohms. .1% HD and could be driven down to .03% if the TL074 input op amp was replaced with something more modern & quieter.
Put your eye out on craigslist or ebay, or in UK gumtree. Bargains don't show up every day. But as often as once a month or so.
Any class AB amp will be 20-30 years old and even if working, will be chock full of expired rubber sealed e-caps. I can change a set of the things for $20-60 with long life versions from Panasonic, Nichicon, Rubicon, or Kemet. I consider long life caps to be 3000 hours up. Maybe a volume pot or a source switch will be dirty or need replacing. This is diyaudio after all.
OTOH I've bought a few hanger queens that had a bad solder joint inside, that were full of hardly used industrial grade caps. Sqeaky clean inside & out is a sign of this problem. Takes patience to find a bad solder joint, but no money to speak of. Pros won't repair them, takes too long. Amateurs like me, what am I going to do, post what I ate today on facebook? Play or perform beautiful music with trash is more fun.
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I like them, I also like Arcam, the only AVR I could enjoy long term was an Arcam. The amplifiers as well as Arcam CD players and DVD players are quite nice too. It would be a solid amplifier choice.
I had a DiVA A85 for over ten years. The guy that took it over still favors it with his vinyl collection.
I had a DiVA A85 for over ten years. The guy that took it over still favors it with his vinyl collection.