psychotropic
Well-Known Member
This is a follow on from stuff I posted in my thread about the Arcam Alpha 5 plus, but since the issue is different, I thought I'd post it here for more effective responses.
I have decided that I am getting an amp bought and brought from the UK. I am in the process of finding an unsuspecting victim who will do it for me, and prospects are looking bright-ish.
My first option is a "graded" Cambridge Audio 540A V2 from Richer Sounds. Graded = "mail order returns or ex-service products, thoroughly tested and re-sold with a 12 month guarantee." for 120 pounds. That's about Rs. 10,000 or a little under.
The other option is to pick up a used amp from ebay. I realise there are risks involved but here's how i plan to mitigate them:
For the same 120 pounds (i am keeping 125 pounds as my limit on ebay, so that it's around the same price as the 540A V2), there could be a number of options available in the used sphere, including a number of old Arcams (Alpha 7r, Alpha 9, Alpha 10, even a newer A65 or A75 here and there). From my observations I am predicting that these should close around or below a 100 pounds, except for the A75 types which should be within 120 pounds.
I've gone through over 500 listings and I am watching about 30-35. I am studying bidding patterns and closing prices. I am of course reading everything available on these amps including user reviews and service/parts concerns. There are of course some amps that seem a steal with a few days to go, but I am unlikely to be able to close it within my budget including ones from Cyrus and Naim, but at present they're within my budget.
Anyway, the broad choice is this, would a 8-10 year old Arcam such as the Alpha 9 or Alpha 10 for about a 100 pounds or possibly less, be a better idea than a virtually new Cambridge Audio 540A V2? The Arcam amps all have very good reviews and seem to be well loved for the finesse of their sound and the balance they provide.
My speaker shortlist I've already set out in another thread, but I am quite flexible, and at the top of the list I have two speakers of different characteristics, the slightly bright and super detailed Usher S520 and the more laidback PSB Alpha B1. These are again characteristics I have discerned from reading a lot of material including professional and user reviews, I've not heard these speakers as yet.
Any views? Should I go for the new CA 540A V2, or the one of the older deals? If an older Arcam (or a Rotel, or a Cyrus or Naim) develops a snag here, how difficult would I find it to get it fixed?
I have decided that I am getting an amp bought and brought from the UK. I am in the process of finding an unsuspecting victim who will do it for me, and prospects are looking bright-ish.
My first option is a "graded" Cambridge Audio 540A V2 from Richer Sounds. Graded = "mail order returns or ex-service products, thoroughly tested and re-sold with a 12 month guarantee." for 120 pounds. That's about Rs. 10,000 or a little under.
The other option is to pick up a used amp from ebay. I realise there are risks involved but here's how i plan to mitigate them:
- Only buy from sellers with 100% feedback and over 40 feedbacks and after reading the feedback in detail
- Getting it delivered to my uncle in the UK, who will open it, test it and check if it's as described, and return it if it's not
- Getting it carefully repacked by my uncle who will then send it to the person who is coming down
For the same 120 pounds (i am keeping 125 pounds as my limit on ebay, so that it's around the same price as the 540A V2), there could be a number of options available in the used sphere, including a number of old Arcams (Alpha 7r, Alpha 9, Alpha 10, even a newer A65 or A75 here and there). From my observations I am predicting that these should close around or below a 100 pounds, except for the A75 types which should be within 120 pounds.
I've gone through over 500 listings and I am watching about 30-35. I am studying bidding patterns and closing prices. I am of course reading everything available on these amps including user reviews and service/parts concerns. There are of course some amps that seem a steal with a few days to go, but I am unlikely to be able to close it within my budget including ones from Cyrus and Naim, but at present they're within my budget.
Anyway, the broad choice is this, would a 8-10 year old Arcam such as the Alpha 9 or Alpha 10 for about a 100 pounds or possibly less, be a better idea than a virtually new Cambridge Audio 540A V2? The Arcam amps all have very good reviews and seem to be well loved for the finesse of their sound and the balance they provide.
My speaker shortlist I've already set out in another thread, but I am quite flexible, and at the top of the list I have two speakers of different characteristics, the slightly bright and super detailed Usher S520 and the more laidback PSB Alpha B1. These are again characteristics I have discerned from reading a lot of material including professional and user reviews, I've not heard these speakers as yet.
Any views? Should I go for the new CA 540A V2, or the one of the older deals? If an older Arcam (or a Rotel, or a Cyrus or Naim) develops a snag here, how difficult would I find it to get it fixed?
