Arcam Alpha 8R > Reviews > Alpha equals A for quality

Author's product rating:   

Sound Quality
Ease of Use
Look & Design
Range of Features
Value for Money

Advantages:	Quality 'Arcam' sound  -  full, powerful .  Remote control, phono stage, twin speaker outputs, gold - plated connections .
Disadvantages:	Soon to be discontinued model, remote only controls volume, perhaps lacking detail compared to 'high end' amps

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I recently bought an Arcam Alhpa 8R to replace my Alpha One.
The remote control is the first most noticeable addition - it's cute (controls just volume up, down and mute) and not having to get up to change the volume is a definite plus.
Inside an uprated power supply and beefier transformer ((50W) you notice - the amp is certainly heavier) make for a very likeable sound. I didn't think it could make that much difference over the Alpha One, but the bass is heavier and faster and stereo imaging and detailed seems improved also. Generally the sound is more alive. It brings back that "Oh my God!" feeling when you first move to a separates system.
Other benefits include quality durable gold-plated connections, two sets of speaker outputs (not that I use them, but useful for mutli-rooms setups or bi-wiring), a 'processor' option that sets the gain to a fixed level for the AV/DVD input (if you use it in a 5.1 configuration with an external processor; which I don't, so not terribly important to me) and a line/phono switchable input that uses a moving magnet phono stage. I've never used another phono stage, so I can't compare but my vinyl sounds alive through this amp!
The Alpha range is slowly being phased out by Arcam (the 8s just having stopped production at time of writing (Dec 2000), being replaced by the DiVA range. However, if you can get an Alpha 8R at a good price, then it is defintely worth it - that famed warm Arcam sound with a feeling of prominent power is well worth the price, I feel.