Stop the press! We have some pretty exciting news. Possibly the most exciting news of the year in fact! There’s a new FMJ in the legendary line, one that we’ve been waiting for for a very very long time.
It’s the Arcam A29! A compact but powerful integrated amplifier which gives the control back to the user!
Now, this is pretty special. Of course, everything in the FMJ range has been pretty special, but that’s what makes the A29 so stand out.. it’s the next step up! Building on 40 years of accumulated experience, this is an amp that, in Arcam’s own words…
“We set out to incorporate everything we have learnt in almost 40 years to deliver an amplifier that will set new standards and provide class leading sound quality for the best possible reproduction of your music.”
Well, we’ve heard it. And we are people who are very familiar with the range up until this point. All we have to say is: Arcam seem to have succeeded. It might look like everything else within the FMJ range, but it sounds somehow different. In a good way. Clear, rich and deep, with more power than you will know what to do with, this is the next level of amplification, and it really sets itself apart.
A little peek under the bonnet tells us why it sounds the way it does. First off, it’s Class G. What’s class G, I hear you cry? It’s probably best we go back to Arcam to explain that.
“…we use the term Class G to refer to amplifiers that have two (or more) pairs of supply rails available to the output transistors. These can be either switched hard at a given signal level or softly, whereby the higher rails as presented to the output stage are modulated according to the output signal level. This follows the output waveform up and down to keep a small constant voltage of about 5V across the output transistors at high signal levels. The latter technique is used in Arcam’s Class G designs (AVR600/750) because it has significantly increases the maximum current delivery available to drive the loudspeakers when compared with other methods.” ~ Arcam
What this means in layman’s terms, is Arcam have basically solved the problems posed by the CLASS A amps (poor efficiency, overheating) and the CLASS AB (a lack of power, reduced sound quality, poorer overall performance than CLASS AB) by combining the positive attributes (and dispelling the negative ones) of the two classes. CLASS G switches (soundlessly, may I add) between the two classes when the extra power is needed, meaning a CLASS G amp is every bit as powerful and lush sounding as a CLASS A, but with the efficiency and stamina of a CLASS AB.
Combine this rich, lush sound with this wholly exceptional stamina, a toroidal based power supply, acoustically damped chassis, complementary transistor output stages and exceptionally low levels of distortion and noise – you have something truly special on your hands. And it’s as reliable as Arcam have ever been!
Take a look at the tech specs. Go on…
– Integrated stereo amplifier
– 80W Class G amplification
– On board PSU for rSeries products
– CR902 system remote control
– Phono input configurable for line/MM
– Large ergonomically designed aluminium knob
– Low power 0.5W standby
The most important launch of the year? Well, definitely so far. But the rest of the hi-fi world has some pretty big shoes to fill if they’re to even match this one!
As with any of our highest-end items, this is only available for purchase after demo, and in store. Thankfully, we have it ready, set up and primed for its new fans to start rolling in. Trust us, once you’ve heard it, you’ll be one of them.
Just give us a shout if you’re interested. You’d be mad not to at least try it out…