Amplifiers FAQ
Arcam has made it possible for the mains supply voltage to be changed between 230v and 115v on many of its products. In some cases this is performed by a simple rear panel switch which can be changed by the customer. Other units can be converted by either an internal fuse change or in some older products a complete transformer change. Please consult your dealer for fuse or transformer changes or if any doubt about changing the supply voltage to your unit.
It should also be noted that Japan has its own mains voltage supply of 100v. In many cases Arcam products can be modified to work at 100v or be converted from 100v operation to 115v or 230v. In these cases your unit must be modified by your dealer.
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In normal everyday use there is often no need to make a connection to the IR or 12v trigger sockets. Arcam have fitted these to enable connection for remote control in Custom Installed systems.
The trigger output can be utilised to switch a connected power amplifier in or out of standby. In this case a 3.5mm mono jack to jack cable, connected between the integrated or pre-amplifiers 12v trigger output and the power amplifiers 12v trigger input is needed for this functionality.
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Like all high quality hi-fi components, Arcam products will sound better once they have fully warmed up (about 30mins to an hour after being switched on). However, we do not advise leaving the units fully powered up if they are to be left unattended for long periods of time, such as going away on holiday.
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Some AV processors have on-board power amplifiers to drive the rear and centre speakers but not the front left and right. For these units a simple stereo interconnect to an input on your amplifier enables the processor to control the whole system volume level.
Please note: not all Arcam amplifiers provide this function; please consult the handbook or your dealer for more information.
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Where a phono input is not provided on your Arcam amplifier, or it is an MM phono input and you have an MC cartridge, it is possible to use an after-market phono pre-amp module to connect your turntable. Arcam do not recommend any one model in particular as many exist, in this instance please consult your Arcam dealer. Some of Arcam’s more upmarket models have a slot for an optional high performance MM/MC pre-amp module. Again, please see consult your dealer for more information.
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In theory the output of a turntable pre-amplifier can be connected into any line level source input, for instance CD, AV or Aux (where no internal phono stage exists).
However please consult the pre-amplifiers, handbook guidelines in the first instance, your dealer or Arcam Support can offer further advice if needed.
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Arcam do not recommend any particular loudspeakers for its stereo product line. One exception however is the Solo range of products which are designed to work with the Muso/Logo speaker combination to extremely good performance.
The sound and look of different loudspeakers models vary dramatically and, in addition, there are wide regional variations in availability of some brands. In development each Arcam product is evaluated with a wide range of speakers to ensure good compatibility, no matter which loudspeaker it is paired with. Arcam’s advice is to discuss your system with your dealers and audition a few pairs of speakers that your dealer recommends, choosing the ones which are most enjoyable to you.
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High quality interconnects and speaker cables are extremely important in enabling the best performance to be realised from any type of hi-fi equipment. The very best system performance will generally come from the very best cables.
For example, some interconnects are priced at £500 or more per pair and will enable a CD player to be heard at its very best. However, this is often an inappropriate amount of money to spend on a more modest system!
Arcam units are generally not supplied with cables. This is to provide the customer with a free choice or cables so that they may be chosen to suit their system as a whole, taking into account performance requirements room layout and, of course, budget.
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Any Arcam amplifier can accept sound from an iPod using a simple 3.5mm to RCA stereo audio cable. However, taking sound from the iPods headphone input in this way will not result in the best sound quality.
If your iPod has a dock connector (most modern iPods do) using a properly designed dock with your iPod, such as Arcam’s award winning rDock, connected to an amplifier via a pair of stereo RCA cables will result in far superior sound.
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Most good quality soundcards and Motherboards provide the correct line-level output for connection to an amplifier. However, most also provide an output designed for headphones or a level that can only power small computer speakers. These connections may not be suitable for connection. Please consult any documentation you may have or the manufacturer.
If the Soundcard or PC Motherboard provides the correct line level output, then this output can be connected to your amplifiers source inputs. It should be noted that a PC has its own Volume Control settings and, in some cases a Soundcard does too! Again please consult the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to set these for the correct output level. For example, here is how to adjust Windows’s volume level:
Select: START>CONTROL PANEL>SOUNDS AND AUDIO DEVICES>VOLUME from here the output level can be adjusted and by ticking the "Place Volume Icon in The Task Bar" box you can access this control more easily.