New SA30 incoming to replace Rotel A14mkii. Not positive this is the correct move, but most of my listening is streaming tidal via Roon, playing some cds via Rotel a11… wanted a) more network functionality, and b) more low volume presence, and c) a bit more full and musical presentation than the Rotel provides.
I am concerned about the software of course, and so asking if any of you have suggestions about what you have learned and what you wished you’d have done when you first got yours.
Thanks for any feedback. I’m hoping it sounds amazing with my m106s.
The Rotel is a fine amp, so in order to get the SA30’s full potential, the first thing I would advise you to do is set up Dirac Live. Make sure you download the mic’s calibration file from the Arcam website, do your measurements (IME the minimum nine will do just fine), and design your curves. The first one can be the one DL proposes based on your speakers’ in room response. The other two I’ve set up as loudness (Fletcher Munson) curves based on the first one. This will give you the low volume presence you’re after.
Then a simple tweak for the Arcam to turn on quickly is Menu > Network Settings > Net Standby > ON.
The Arcam with the Revels should make a great couple seeing they’re stablemates in the Harman Luxury Group. I hope you enjoy the pairing!
My experience with Arcam is to try after market power cables(not crazy expensive, I made mine from canare and mogami Japanese cables.). First I did not like the sound with the stock cable. When I change it a revelation comes in my system
Thanks for the tips. Working my way through Dirac setup now, lotta steps. Without Dirac sounds good, powerful, but lacks the clarity and spatial information (less width and depth of soundstage) that the Rotel provided with no room correction. Odd. Sound with the m106s is also quite warm for my taste. Low volume feels like there is a lot of potential there, but hasn’t coalesced yet. Easier to listen to than the Rotel though, less demanding. Will update once Dirac in place.
Midrange was very laid back and so the highs, sometimes where very in the back of the music, hard to describe. I was thinking why people says this amp sound good but not for me. The first try was the speakers cables and was an improvements, then the power cable and crazy change!!!, I could not believe my old power cable was so bad… Everything in place after that, all my family told me same thing… good luck
I would let it run stock out of the box for awhile before making any changes. I run my Roon with DSP disabled and let the Arcam SA30 do all of the work. It sounds vey good without any modifications. Connect with Music Life and listen to your music before making any changes. Don’t be in any hurry.
Could it be you just reversed the ac phase, if you are living in europe with Schucko socket. Amp sound different if you reverse ac plug in socket, no magic though.
I am still think Arcam could sound better from Stock if some compromises in the design are improved. In my opinion for the prince should be better. The amp of this model is almost identical to the arcam fmj a29. The addition in the SA 30 is the digital part and some more things of course. The SA 30 has more power and use a parralel transistors to fill the gap.
Just another honest opinion that changing the power cable brings a positive change that can be heard. Of course cables and cables, but using a good one should do it. Speaking about Dirac, I prefer cut on 500 Hz, this is also where most correction is expected- that
Preservers the original
Speaker’s sound
I keep seeing reference to “mic calibration” using the Arcam calibration files. I have down loaded the files from Arcam, I see them on my Mac, but have no idea what to do with them. I see no means by which to “calibrate” the Arcam mic which came with the amp.
Just to clarify, I have not attempted to run the Dirac as of yet. Does something pop up in the Dirac software for this calibration only when I actually start the process?
Simple answer is “yes”. The files are for calibration of the mic within the Dirac app. If you don’t calibrate the mic you will get sub-optimal results and could even make things sound worse rather than better.