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When I lived at home (and I am going way back here) I got myself a nice little hi-fi set up compromising of:
Arcam Alpha 7 Amp
Arcam Alpha 7 CD player
Sony MD player
Sony tuner
Acoustic Energy AE100i bookshelf speakers.
I had it set up in my last home but it wasn’t really used since the amplifier has a problem and since we moved 2 years ago it’s all in boxes and I am thinking I’d like to get something set up so that I can use it.
I am totally out of the loop on these things so I’m just looking for some advice.
I have no plans to replace the speakers so what I would like is an amplifier that I can use with my speakers and use with the family Spotify account – so Bluetooth required?
Is it as simple as that?
Any recommendations?
I don’t want to spend a fortune so something relatively decent but at the more ‘ budget’ end of the price range would be ideal.
Maybe a DAB tuner to follow at some point but that’s for another time.
Thanks
A Wiim Amp would be a good one box solution.
It would power your speakers, allow you to connect to Spotify and has a number of internet radio stations.
WiiM Amp (Silver) | Amplifier | Richer Sounds
Obvious answer is an all in one Denon unit (I have one of these and it's very good for the money). You get all you need - CD - Bluetooth - DAB radio...
https://www.richersounds.com/denon-dm41-dab-black/
If you just want an Amp then possibly one of these (which I also have!)...
https://www.richersounds.com/tangent-ampster-bt-ii/
I recently got a Wiim amp for my parents, it is a really impressive bit of kit, does all of the modern things and sounds very good for the price. Highly recommended.
I'd be tempted to get a bluetooth receiver to plug into amp then stream phone for radio
Personally I'd go wiim amp (or equivalent) over bluetooth, when connected via Bluetooth, you wander out of range, signal drops, you get a voice note, everyone has to hear it, or you need to disconnect, you get a call (rare these days of course).
No reason to replace functional speakers, alternative would be to repair the amp and get a wiim min/pro/pro/plus whatever suits your budget.
Something with Spotify Connect is better than bluetooth - you can then control everything with either your phone or the remote, but it's also not impacted if you put your phone out of bluetooth range to charge, for example.
I have a Pioneer unit that has CD, tuner, bluetooth, aux, digital input, DAB and connection to all sorts of streaming services (Spotify Connect, Tidal etc) that also acts as an amp. There's plenty of this sort of thing about - unfortunately Spotify withdrew Connect for new Pioneer devices but some of the options mentioned earlier in the thread sound good.
The stuff you have is dated but nice. If it works use it. If it doesn’t then I’d go with @toby1 ‘s alternative - get whatever doesn’t work repaired. There was a thread on amp repairs a few days back.
I also agree with @toby1 ‘s Bluetooth assessment. It’s OK, but wires or wifi seem better for sustained listening
a wifi streaming connection might be useful. IDK much about these other than using Apple TVs plugged into amps, using a Denon streaming amp, and plugging audio output computers or phones into amps. The Wiim stuff does seem well-regarded if you want more options than CD, MD, and FM radio.
MD! What a handy format. IMO the cassette of the CD age. I had a portable Sony MD recorder that was great.
Acoustic Energy speakers are so good I had to buy another pair, the Arcam will probably die a slow death
I used a 1st gen Chromecast to cast Spotify to my amp, I can occasionally be annoying but when it's working it is perfect
Cost less than £20 but not supported by Google now
Another vote for Denon DM41 DAB - have one in my office with little Q-Acoustic speakers, and for such a small unit it produces such a good sound, i bought a second for my daughter for xmas and she loves it too.
Another shout out for the Denon D-M41 DAB. Mine came with the matching Denon speakers, which are pretty good in the right space,, but I also hooked it up to my archaeological Mission 761s and it was truly superb for the money.
It also has spare stereo inputs, and played my turntable pretty well via a phono preamp.
I've got an on old Rotel RA-01 amp connected to some floor standing Mission speakers.
I brought it into the 21st centaury by connecting an Amazon Echo Flex plug in speaker to one of the aux inputs and 3.5mm output socket on the Echo Flex. Works relay well. Can connect my phone to it via bluetooth or ask Alexa to play what ever radio station I ask it or stream Spotify from laptop / phone / tablet to it.
Just checked and the Echo Flex has been discontinued, as has the 3.5mm output on all of the current Echo devices.
Still available on eBay though: https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/8035037170
I’ve got an on old Rotel RA-01 amp
me too, part of my stereo system at uni (along with some Castle speakers). Great bit of kit. Not unpacked it yet since I moved house 5 years ago! 🙂
As others have said, I would avoid relying on Bluetooth as your main mechanism for streaming. Sure, it works ok but it does mean tying your "control" device up in supplying the material. The ideal would be to find a dedicated streamer device that can connect to a variety of streaming sources and the just use your phone / tablet / laptop as the controller. That way you can get on with other stuff on that device while the streamer does all the work. It also prevents the music from quietening whenever you get a text or WhatsApp message or phone call coming in on that device. For budget options consider something like the Wiim pro. Stepping up in budget you could try the Blusound Node (although it is primarily a streamer, if you have a small listening space and don't want masses of volume then it has enough of an amp to be used for that as well). Or consider the Blusound powernode - but that takes you outside "budget" status (they're currently about £850 - unless you can find a mk2 powernode going a lot cheaper).
Having owned one of the earlier Denon DM models I would probably avoid it for my main Hi-fi unit. Great for small rooms or as a versatile amp for a TV but the sound quality isn't that great for use as a primary Hi-fi system IMHO.
Another shout for Wiim.
Really good value for money and the app is excellent.
Bluetooth isn’t hifi, it’s incapable of transmitting lossless data. Firstly, I’d look into getting the amp sorted, it might just be a dry joint, or something like a capacitor on its way out, and that’s a nice little system there.
Then I’d look into a DAB radio, with some means of connecting to mobile devices, and perhaps a streaming facility. Everything else looks pretty good, the MD is a neat thing to have - one of the best home recording systems I reckon.
I’ve still got my old Sony MD deck, an MDS-JD949 - record fade in-out, other editing tools, the ability to plug in a full-sized qwerty keyboard to title tracks… Brilliant machine!
Another RA-01 here! 22 years and still doing fine.
KEF Q1s in the kitchen and floorstanding Q5s in the living room. Run it with a Chromecast audio for Kitchen audio streamed from Tidal. Living room speakers rarely used now as stream audio to the Denon Home Cinema receiver and 5.1 speakers using a video chromecast and can set up a group with the audio chromecast.
If doing what the OP is looking for I'd go Wiim Amp as amp needs replacing, and keep the speakers. Upgrade to Tidal for better quality and use wifi streaming rather than bluetooth
Thanks for the replies everybody. Real food for thought and a few options!
regrading my amp, need to unbox it and check but the fault it did have was with the volume control. It stopped working properly. Became temperamental. I’d have to turn it right up for it to work. If I turned it down to low I just got no sound at all and it became ‘noisy’ if that makes sense. I do know of a guy who probably look at it so maybe I ought to do that anyway as it would be a shame to not use it in some capacity.
in terms of the MD player - can’t disagree! I thought they were ace. Deserve much more recognition than they got imo.
I had a portable MD player and a Sony unit in my Golf GTi. I was committed!
I (thought) i was the bees knees !
Another shout for the Denon, way way better than it has any right to be.
in terms of the MD player – can’t disagree! I thought they were ace
I had a MD Walkman, Home hi-fi Deck, In-Car Head Unit AND In-Car 6 MD Multi Changer.
I was an early adopter...
Regardless of whether you decide to use Bluetooth, or Spotify/Tidal Connect, a separate cheap tablet on a quadlock stand serves as a good media selector rather than using your phone
Regarding the amp, check whether it has quick blow fuses on the output stage. I've had a few Arcam amps and the symptoms you describe sound familiar.
Worth the 50p it will cost to replace them if they are there. It will be easily spotted - take the top case off and look for two glass fuses next to each other.
Other than that, it could be a faulty pot.
If you're happy to use the system without super mod cons like remote and iplop control, I'd be tempted to repair the amp and buy a Wiim Pro (that has a decent DAC). Bluetooth audio will be doing your system a huge injustice and the Wiim user experience is great.
That or replace the amp with a WiiM amp and get the best of all, although a fully working Alpha 7 could sound better.
@twonks thanks for that.
just done some googling and it sounds very much like it’s the pot and it’s not an uncommon problem in them by all accounts.
whether it can be repaired or replaced i don’t know. And at what cost. I’d like to sort it if I can.
It might be worth me opening it up and spraying some contact cleaner on it . Reckon I ain’t got much to lose..
Thanks again for everybody’s input.
Much appreciated
Was gonna say fix amp, get WiiM streamer. Old school amps look ace.
Streamer has easy access to radio channels and in my case Deezer, or any of those services. Sounds amazing through proper amp and speakers.
I've been using a Chromecast for years to do what you describe. It's simple, tucks away and has been really good. I'd fix the amp.
I love my RA-01. Mine also bought about 22 years ago, from Sevenoaks Hi Fi in Cheltenham. I remember going in armed with a selection of CDs and listening to a number of set ups. The Rotel and the Mission floor standers were by far the best option for my budget.
It's a well travelled setup as we have moved house many, many times (including back and fort to and from Canada) in the intervening years. One of the first items to be unpacked though to provide the tunes for house set up.
If your amp does work, or you find a cheap secondhan amp, then add a Wiim Mini to it for streaming / bluetooth / internet radio. I've got several and they're great - going into a Denon DM39DAB, Ruark MR1s and a Roksan k2. Or as others have said a Wiim Amp for a one box solution.
Have a WIIM pro plus plugged into a 25? year old Linn Classik CD/Amp combo which sounds great - it's a huge improvement over my chromecast. It'll certainly be worth fixing your amp if you can
then add a Wiim Mini to it
ooh, that does Airplay too so is a lot more civilised than some of these other "solutions" 🙂
love my RA-01. Mine also bought about 22 years ago, from Sevenoaks Hi Fi in Cheltenham.
mine was also from Sevenoaks (different branch though). 98 or 99.
I have put a Wiim mini on my birthday present list for similar scenario. Though my stuff is even older, Arcam Alpha 3 amp and my AE100 speakers don’t have an i!
I was thinking of swapping out the Arcam for a Yamaha from another room as it has a remote control, and is like listening in the future, when you use the remote to change the volume, a servo motor inside actually spins the physical volume knob.
@midlife - I have a Wiim mini for use in the kitchen. i was going to get one for the living room, but realised that our Samsung telly has Spotify, which will connect to Spotify on a laptop or phone, and will play music (and indeed display photos) served up by the minidlna (now called ReadyMedia) server on the home server. And, it is next to my Arcam Alpha 5 amp and Celestion 5 speakers. I got a cheap digital to analogue converter to plug into the optical output of the telly and I can now play Spotify music and my collection of ripped CDs through my ageing HiFi system. So I am holding off buying a second Wiim for the time being.
I have to twiddle the knob for volume control though.
I'd go for a Wiim pro or ideally pro plus if using its onboard DAC for analogue out. They sounds quite a bit better than the mini in such scenarios, whilst also having digital in as well for @greyspoke type situations.
I've had/got all the WiiM products and currently use a WiiM Ultra for my main hifi and WiiM amp in the bedroom. Both work flawlessly and sound superb.
Yet another shout for the little Denon unit. Got my daughter one so she can play my old cds and edicate herself, but she just bluetooths modern crap through it. Sounds incredible.
Well it’s alive! And I have to say I’m pretty pleased so far.
The volume control issue (which I think is the pot) needs attention so I’m going to try to contact spray on it tomorrow. But it’s usable.
The CD player was skipping a hell of a lot when I got it up and running but that seems to have sorted itself out now. The odd disc is skipping and/or not initially being recognised but generally it’s behaving and I have to say I’m pretty chuffed to have it back up and running.
the kids are fascinated. scary to think CD’s are a mystery to them!
Thanks again everyone. Special mention to @temudgin who PM’d me and offered his free labour to repair it for me. Thanks again.
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1st gen Chromecast or Wiim pro plus would I notice a huge improvement sound wise using Spotify
Might get my lugs hoovered out too
1st gen Chromecast or Wiim pro plus would I notice a huge improvement sound wise using Spotify
Suspect not, as the limited Spotify quality will be the same through both. Try a hi-res service like tidal to hear a difference on your chromcast. It's probably cheaper than buying a Wiim.
Oh Arcam!
Mid (ish) 90s I helped a mate buy some hifi gear. Alpha 7 CD, Alpha 6 amp and some B&W 602s.
She's still using it today. Nice sounding kit tbh. IIRC was What HiFi highly recommended back then.
TBH I did notice an improvement with Spotify through my WIIM Pro Plus over my Chromecast and I also find it more reliable and a little easier to use - not a great deal but (IMHO) worth it. I need to try tidal though - Deezer certainly isn't as easy to use on the WIIM as spotify
Spotify Connect defaults to the max rate (320) regardless of what the app bitrate is set to, so it can sound better if your default stream rate on your phone is "Normal". Thru a TV (My Samsung for example)it automatically adjusts the bitrate depending on your network up to 320. I think anecdotally, Spotify Connect via ChromeCast to me, sounds "better" overall.
I opened the amp up yesterday and applied some isopropyl alcohol to the pot and whilst it isn’t 100% perfect it’s much much better than it was. It’s more than usable and I’ll see how that goes.
At times my Cd player was working fine but on other occasions it was skipping quite a bit so maybe the laser is on the way out.
As it happens my dad just bought a new CD player before Xmas so he has given me his Marantz CD6003 player so I’ve got a lovely little set up working now.
So now I just need to sort out this streaming side of it.
I am Going to pop to richer sounds and have a chat with them. I am Intrigued about these Wiim Pro’s so will check them out.
If you can get a can of DeOxit it's a contact cleaner and lube, works great on pots and switches.
Glad to read that your amp is usable without the need for repairs.
If you do purchase a Wiim streamer, you can use it to adjust the music volume without having to use the amps volume control.
I have spotify streaming to an amp in two setuos in my flat. One is just a bluetooth stream / cast sound output and the other is spotify connect. Spotify connect is certainly better quality
Wiim Ultra is amazing, best value hifi item I’ve ever had.
maybe the laser is on the way out.
or it just needs some air duster TLC?
I see that’s a bit moot since you have a dandy Marantz now. Nice.
After having a chat with the blokes in Richer Sounds today I’ve ordered a Wiim Pro Plus.
All being well it should arrive Tuesday - looking forward to getting it set up!
thanks again for everybody’s help.
Good choice.
Don't use it with Spotify, 320mps won't do it justice, sign up for Deezer, Tidal or Amazon Music with UHD and HD streams.
They are constantly tweaking the systems, I've had 4 firmware upgrades this month for my Ultra.
They even have a uber-geeky forum, you can submit tickets for any issues and even request features.
I’ve ordered a Wiim Pro Plus.
Based on this thread I ordered one too.
Just set it up: simple to do so and it sounds noticeably better than the Yamaha MusicCast it replaced (well I think it does, over my morning coffee).
The MusicCast will now go to Thud for his bedroom system.
Been running Deezer UHD via a cyrus sound key (£80) in to some AKG K52 headphones, (£30) and it's frankly amazing.