Arcam Alpha 7 Integrated Amplifier.

Importer: Audiophile Systems, 8709 Castle Park Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46257; 317/849-7103; www.aslgroup.com

Price: $449

Source: Importer loan

Reviewer: Kenneth M. Duke

Integrated amplifiers are making a comeback in the audio marketplace. A few years ago integrated amps got no respect and were relegated to the low- and mid-fi markets. Most of these were the Japanese brands. There were a few European brands that were more upscale and earned at least some respect in the high-end marketplace, but these were rare with limited U.S. distribution. Separate preamps and amps, typically of large size, dominated the high end. In fact, size became so important as a measure of quality that small but well made, fine sounding separates such as the Linn and Naim amplifiers were often given high-end status only begrudgingly.

The lack of acceptance of good integrated amps is probably a cultural thing. We have become so accustomed to large separate pre- and power amps equating with good sound that our thinking just can't include small, lightweight integrated amps as possible high-end players. Back when tubes were the dominant amplifying device, the need for two large output transformers and a power transformer along with a large surface area for cooling made separates (amp and preamp) almost a necessity, especially if the amp had more than 25 watts per channel. Early solid-state amps of the 1960s were commonly integrated but I suspect two factors reestablished separates as the way to go. One was the resurgence of the tube amp in the early years of high-end audio (e.g., Audio Research Corporation--ARC) in the 1970s with large transformers and lots of heat. The other was the solid-state power race exemplified by GAS's Ampzilla, Harman-Kardon's Citation 16, the Phase Linear 700, and many others that sported massive power supplies with huge transformers, banks of gigantic capacitors, and lots of power transistors buried in acres of heat sinks. The high-end image became synonymous with separate amps of considerable breadth, girth, and weight. Small was out.

Of course we know that it is quite possible to generate large amounts of power using small, compact components--for example, the Carver magnetic power supply amps. But today, many manufacturers still argue for the need for large power supplies and, in addition, the separation of power supplies from the signal amplifying circuits. The latter, it is claimed, is essential to reduce interactions between these two circuits that can cloud the sound. Consequently, good amplifying systems need at least two chassis (preamp and power amp). Carrying the argument even further, some manufacturers have placed the power supply for their preamp in a separate chassis, permitting it to be located some distance from the amplification circuits. They may also offer mono power amps to prevent interactions between the left and right channels at the power amp stage.

And finally, some mono power amps are supplied with a separate chassis for the power supply. The ultimate in isolation has the preamp and two mono power amp circuits each in a separate chassis along with separate power supply chassis for each amp, giving a total of six. Each additional chassis increases the cost significantly -- more sheet metal, jacks, interconnects, transformers, and other electrical components.

On the other hand, there are also arguments for integrated amplifiers that have been gaining popularity in recent years. These arguments focus on the lack of sound-degrading interconnects and jacks needed to connect preamp to power amp and the reduced cost due to shared power supply and the common chassis. And in multi-channel systems, the expense of multi-chassis amplifier systems can be come prohibitive. For whatever reason, new, good-sounding integrated amps have caught the fancy of both manufacturer and consumer and now they are much more commonplace than they have been for many years.

This review is of one of the new breed of integrated amps, the Arcam Alpha 7 from Great Britain. The Arcam arrived while I was packing up a pair of large, unwieldy speakers. The compact size and lightweight box was quite refreshing -- the UPS man easily carried the box under one arm. In fact, it was so light that I wondered how it could contain a 40-watt integrated amp. On opening the box, I found a second, smaller box -- the one that is supposed to contain the amp -- marked "empty" in big black handwritten letters.

So this was why it was so light -- they had forgotten to include the amp! But upon opening the second box, I found, to my surprise, the Alpha 7 neatly packed inside. Needless to say it is a very lightweight integrated amp. According to the specifications, it weighs 9 pounds. Many preamps weight more than that, so I was dubious about its performance, especially the power amp section. Could it deliver its 40 watts into anything like a real speaker load or is that 40-watt claim just into a uniform 8-ohm resistor load?

Actually, the amp is quite nicely done for its $449 price. Its controls were smooth and solid. There were a reasonable number of inputs including phono plus four linelevel. The jacks were of decent quality, all board-mounted. The speaker jacks -- two pairs for two sets of speakers -- are also decent, 5-way binding posts that will take standard dual banana plugs. The jacks are all nickel-plated (no fancy gold here). The low-profile case and chassis are of modest gage sheet metal and like the jacks are fully adequate for home audio usage. The front panel and case offer a somewhat spartan but pleasing look.

So what we have in the Arcam Alpha 7 is a small, lightweight amp with all the basic functions plus a few extras such as phono, bass and treble, and speaker switching. It has no provision for remote control (although its bigger brother the Arcam 9 does). All in all, it is a nicely integrated package -- nothing fancy but everything quite functional. Electrically, it includes the preamp and switching circuits plus a 40-watt, 8-ohm power amp that will also drive a 4-ohm load (50 watts) and even a 2-ohm load (80 watts). This is indicative of some current-handling capability in spite of its small size.

The Arcam installation required some changes to my system, which used a preamp connected to by long (20') interconnects to the power amp located between the speakers. Short cables connected the amp to the speakers. I decided to place the Arcam near the preamp and used long speaker cables, making preamp-to-power amp interconnects unnecessary. A Marantz CD-17 and Philips CD-80 were used as the source, with Gradient Revolutions as the speakers. Setup was quick and easy.

The Arcam Alpha 7 performed flawlessly from the outset -- no turn-on or turnoff transients, no hot running, no failures of any kind. Its sound was exemplary, essentially indistinguishable from the reference amps to which it was compared. The trebles were extended, crisp, and clean. Much detail was revealed and the bass was tight and deep. It captured the ambience of the recording venue very well. I never felt the need to go back to a more expensive amp (the reference amps cost $800 and $1,200).

There were a few occasions where I felt the Arcam was working at its limit and the sound was a bit strained. However, this occurred only rarely. The Alpha 7 was driving inefficient speakers (86 dB) in a larger room (17.5' x 23.5' x 11' high) so it is not unexpected that its 40-watt limits were reached on really loud music. What is amazing is that it happened so infrequently.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Arcam. Its sound was fully competitive with amps costing two or three times more. It doesn't have the "presence" and feel of an expensive, big, bulky multi-chassis amp system with its multiple power supplies, thick face plates, heavy metal knobs, and magic interconnects. On the other hand, the Arcam does get the job of music reproduction done extremely well. If that is your prime criterion for amplifier selection, go for the Arcam. My only caveat is that its 40 watts can be limiting in some systems. But in use with an efficient speaker ([is greater than] 90 dB) in a medium-sized or smaller room, the Alpha 7 should be indistinguishable from most any other high-end amp. At $449 it is a bargain, lending credence to the concept that integrated amps can cost less than but sound as good as separates.

Addendum: The Arcam Alpha 7 integrated amplifier has received a revision since this review was submitted, and is now known as the Alpha 7R. Although it might be tempting to assume that the "R" stands for "revised," the reference is actually to the remote control functions that Arcam has added to the amplifier. The 7R also gets a slight power boost, to 45 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and a price increase to $549. For those on a tight budget, Arcam has also introduced the Alpha One, a slightly scaled down version of the original Alpha 7 that gives up a few watts of power, the phono section, and a pair of speaker outputs from the original design. The Alpha One sells for $399. -- KMD