I have owned the Arcam Alpha 10 integrated for about a year now. I have fed it with an Arcam Alpha7 and Alpha9 CD players and have auditioned it with among others Meridians and Copland CD Players, NHT and Definitive and Canton Speakers. The unit has also been upgraded with the DAVE module and connected to an Alpha10 3 channel amp.
What strikes the listener first is it's enourmus lifelike soundquality. Don't be shy when choosing interconnects and speakercables AND powercable for this baby. You will be amazed with the depth coming out of your speakers. The cables I am using with great transparency is Harmonic Technology and Nordost Moonglo digital to the DAVE module. The powercable is also harmonictech. The system reveals what's on the disc, good or bad. If it's a crappy recording you will hear the crappy recording in it's full *glory*. If it's an audiophile recording your jaw will drop to the floor.

Characteristics:
Quietness.
Space.
Dynamics, Fast. watch out for transients! :)
Delicacy.
Clarity.

Rated at 2*100w it's actually 2*115 according to stereophile. To give a sense to what kind of peak power you can get out from it at low ohms, read Stereophiles benchmark, a whopping 470watts. However fun this might be, the true strength of this product is it's soundquality. Give it your best cables and speakers and the Alpha 10 will show you the music.

Review System:
Arcam Alpha10 with 24bit 96khz DAVE, DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 module.
Arcam Alpha10 3*100w poweramp
Arcam Alpha7 CD Player
Arcam Alpha9 CD Player
Sony DVP-S7700 DVD Player
Definitive Technology BP2000 speakers

Cables:
Harmonic Technology
Tara Labs
MIT
Nordost

Note:
Although this review focused on the 2 channel sound. The 5.1 channel DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 performance is equally excellent.

I am giving a review of the Arcam Alpha 10 Integrated amplifier from Arcam. I have not yet seen any reviews of this new integrated from Arcam, so I will give one. I was completely impressed with the Arcam line of integrated amps since all the way back to the Alpha 8.. The characteristics that make Arcam so great is probably (1)their easy to use interface(2)modern and simple and British(3)their amazing warm and rich sound they produce(4)(for the Alpha 10 only) their upgradability. With the right cables and speakers this little integrated is an amazing buy. I have coupled the amp with B&W 602's. The sound I get seems so live and real I cannot compare it to any other Integrated that I listened to,, and I listened to so many differant brands before I bought thre Alpha 10. The appearance is typically British with very conservative dials, LCD display and remote. The unit is decieving at first, it seems to be small and light but when picked up it is really quite heavy partly due to the massive transformer inside. One can notice inside that it is filled with audiophile quality parts. The add-in modules that can be bought from Arcam complete this quality product, one can upgrade the Alpha 10 to include a Dolby Digital AC-3 processor, combined with the Arcam Alpha 10p power amp and another plug-in module that adds a third channel to the power amp, you have a fully funtional Home Theater setup. The Arcam Alpha 10 has 100 WPC is enough for any HT setup. This amp will last as there are add-on modules yet to be be made for the unit (Arcam has not said anything yet except for the three modules they currently offer) Also you can bi-amp when you include the power amp giving you even better sound. There is no doubt in my mind that this product is a true quality and constructed piece. You can really hear when you play something through the amp that Arcam was not lying when they say exceptional sound quality and power. I give this integrated ***** five star rating

infinity reference 10

I recently purchased a Arcam Alpha10P to assist with driving my stereo. I was using an Alpha 8CD, Alpha 9Int. Amp, and Hales Revelation 3 speakers. The addition of the 10P did wonders for what I had. By moving the Alpha 9 to a pre-amp function (not bi-amp'ing) I noticed a striking improvement in bass and mid-range sounds, while the high end vocals remained crisp and clean. Overall, I was well impressed. While it is not a top of the line piece, for $1200, it will significantly improve Arcam's performance.

I auditioned the Alpha 10 against the Alpha 9, and Naim, Audionote, and Marantz special edition (only available in Europe - sorry to all American readers!) integrated amps. The 10 is not the last word in power or sophistication, but overall it is the best thing I heard at under 2000 pnds stlng. It tends to compromise very very slightly in all areas, which means that overall it sounds better than other amps, even though any single amp will have a single (slightly) better quality (e.g. if you especially want dynamics and excitement, but aren't as bothered about depth of stereo image, then go for the Naim, for example).
The 10 is stacked with (sensible) features and upgrade opportunities. You can use it in conjunction with a 10 power amp if you so wish, or have a home cinema board fitted for Dolby surround et al (cost circa 800 pnds in the UK), if that is your thing. Plus the 10 has remote control (I *know* it's supposed to marginally worsen the sound quality, but I'm prepared to put up with this for the huge increase in convenience).

Cost in the UK is 800 pnds. Well worth it, especially in conjunction with the Alpha 9 CD player!

Natural Sound,Power Supply,MORE VALUE FOR MONEY

Plastic Fascia

It sound flows so naturally with symphonic grace.It is the only product I found which gives you more value for your money.

Similar Products Used:

Mark Levinson 383
Krell 300i

Great sound, brilliant design, versatility

Cheap looking plastic front panel

Difficult to choose the good integrated amp. After a few months, I can say that I made a good choice. I bought the Arcam Alpha 10 for the sound quality (that's what I check in the store, then at home) and no question about it : its great. But what amazed me is that the Alpha10 is well design from a user point of view. If you are considering a machine in this quality and price range, by all means go try it, listen to it and PLAY with it. Being a music lover I never thought I would appreciate so much the physical response - to the touch- of an amp.
Check the new edition from Arcam if you want to avoid the plastic front panel.

Used with BW CDM 1se speakers and Arcam Alpha 9 CD player (also reviewed).

Similar Products Used:

Linn int. amp., Nad 7440, Bryston B60

Power, modules, huge power supply.

Plastic front.

I've had the amp for about 6 months now and I must admit, it sounds really great. I'm driving a pair of B&W 602mkII with a classe cdp.3. It's sounds really excellent. Bass is excellent and depth is great. I can't find a better amp within the price range.

Similar Products Used:

HK 580

Modularity (DAVE and MARC modules),Power, Detail

tacky fascia

Home Theatre:
Before purchasing the Arcam system I spent 3 months auditioning many different HT systems, Sony, Panasonic,
Pioneer to name but a few. The Arcam system excelled above all in all of my tests. The power and detail are unsurpassed even in the £3000+ ranges. The main problem with the other systems was not the HT setup; most were quite good, the problem was the stereo. Most provided somewhat lack-lustre stereo performance with Pro-logic also failing to impress. The arcam is designed for both HT and Music and performs Brilliantly at both. Dolby Digital and DTS are excellent; the amp allows a vast amount of control to the user. As a result I upgraded my DVD player to the Sony DVP S7700 pulling the quality up to the level of the AMP. Home Theatre has never been so good.

Music:
The Arcam is brilliant as a stand alone stereo amp, music is highly detailed and clear. Classical has a clarity I have not heard before; ensembles quite or loud exhibit extreme clarity. Dance and Pop music can be a little harsh on the high end but I think thats just the music itself. Low and mid are clear and the brightness of the mid can sometimes shock. Listening to Vincent for the first time was an eye opener.

Alround a brilliant amp.

My System is currently
Arcam Alpha 10 (LF) + DAVE module
Arcam Alpha 10p (HF)
Arcam Alpha 10p3 (Rear & Centre)
Arcam MCD
Arcam Alpha 7 Tuner
Sony DVP S7700 DVD
Acoutic Energy 209 and 107c (Front and Centre)
Mission 774 (Rear)
Rel 200 (Sub)
Cables are various from Cable talk, Ixos, Mission.

Similar Products Used:

Alpha 9
Alpha 9p

Sound and Flexibility

Looks

Just picked up my Alpha 10 fitted with DAVE module from Slovenia. Got nearly 20% off from duty free from the equiv British price of 1600 pounds ($2600). So got it for $2200 after the duty free saving of $400. This is over a third less than the retail price anywhere in the USA for this!
Anyway, what about the product. Well it beats any comparison with Marantz or Denon Home theater amps which are pretty good in their own right. I'm running the award winning Mission 774s and 77c and will be getting REL Srata III Sub bass. I shall connect the pre outs for the Surround and center to Marantz MA500 Monoblocks (Long interconnects, short speaker cables). I was considering the Arcam 10P3 to upgrade for full 5 channels but I couldn't carry this amp as well back with me (too heavy and customs at airport would be too suspicious). Also, considering the 10P3 price of 830 pounds ($1350), I can get 3 Marantz MA 500 monoblocks for considerably less (@ $900 or less) which kick out a bit more power and sound probably better.
I am building my own super interconnect cables using teflon coated pure silver wire and teflon insulated phono plugs which will blow away any over-priced so called high end commercial cables. Also designed my own speaker cable using solid core pure silver wire coated in teflon, single strand 0.625mm in twisted pair configuration ala DNM Reson but pushing the theory further for excellent sonics - Again, this will blow away any $50 per foot commercial cable on sonic value.
All in all Arcam 10 DAVE with Marantz and Mission makes a sound foundation for a home theater and no compromise Hi-Fi setup. I will be purchasing either Musical Fidelity X Ray CD or Arcam 7SE/8 or 9 or hold off for SACD and DVD-Audio unit from probably the likes of Sony or Denon - I'll wait and see.
Arcam 10 DAVE I highly recommend!

Similar Products Used:

Denon Home Theater 5700