Arcam FMJ A32 Amplifier
Six legs instead of four, large matrix display that would be quite suitable for AV-receiver, long row of source selector buttons and unusual controls called Mode and Enter - you can identify in Arcam FMJ A32 stereo amplifier only after a prompt. The unit, designed by the specialists from A & R Cambridge, looks unconventional and modern. The front panel has a slight bevel and features a matte black finish. The buttons in the sockets are slightly loose. The chassis is a two-layer sandwich of steel sheets of different strength (Acousteel technology). The lid of the chassis, on the contrary, is unpretentious, but has an impressive rigidity. Among the obvious advantages of the A32 is its advanced switching capabilities. This integrated amplifier has a speaker selector, two switchable record outputs, headphone and preamp outputs, a power amplifier input, as well as seven line inputs, one of which can be supplemented with RIAA corrector. The control is microprocessor-based and therefore has advanced customization capabilities (just enter the system menu to access the many advanced settings). The description of the A32 does not say on what principle the volume and timbres are controlled, but I assume that the pre-section is built with the use of DSP. I should add, that for the claimed output power of 2 x 100W (at 8 ohms) looks extremely convincing power system with toroidal transformer. At least 40% of the weight of the amplifier is accounted for by this part.
The sound of the A32 does not match its modern look, and that, believe me in my experience, should be considered a virtue. Modern amplifying equipment often sins too sterile and unemotional a sound. And the Arcam amplifier sounds different from all the modern ones, a bit old-fashioned, I would even say unfiltered. So, as if the audio system was connected to speakers with first-class paper drivers. The middle range is a little bright, with tart notes, but very detailed. In the upper band a slight transistor tint can be guessed, in the bass - a slight rumble. However, the whole musical picture is distinguished by the integrity, lively rich timbres, a very energetic deep bass. The sound stage is large-scale, it expressively shows the volume. Localization and echeloning are normal, if not to take into account one little nuance - the images in the foreground are less corporeal than they should be. The main thing is that the sound of the A32 does not have any mechanicality. The unit conquers with its immediacy, good drive, freedom of playback. It is versatile enough, if we talk about preferred musical genres. Immediately allows you to feel the class and nature of the source, and this indicates sufficient sonic resolution and tonal neutrality. My impressions of the Arcam have been very good, both when listening to music from CDs and from vinyl records. Even though the A32 doesn't look like a classic stereo amplifier, but it happens to have the right stuffing. It is trustworthy.
