Original Arcam One speakers

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southall-1998
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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by southall-1998 »

Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote:If those are wallace's steel plated ones, it has already been done.
Yes, I know. But I've also got the ML-110i, which are in stock form.

S.
Shane Lonergan.

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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Fretless »

On the one hand: it's actually quite annoying to regard yourself as a music-lover and hifi fan - and then to discover that the speakers one has lived with and cherished for three decades have been such a small and simple step away from performing so much better.

On the other hand: oooh, they do sound damn good now! :dance: :dance: :dance:

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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Firebug1 »

^Have Magneplanar's lost the battle against Doc mod speakers?
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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Fretless »

Firebug1 wrote:^Have Magneplanar's lost the battle against Doc mod speakers?
Firebug, thanks for this question. While thinking about how to reply I realised that in the short time I’ve been active here on HFS I have learnt/am learning a lot and the way in which I appreciate audio and music has changed (for the better).

The Maggies: When I managed to get my get my own little listening-space sorted out a few years ago I wanted a ‘real’ hifi speaker. With detail and imaging (lacking in tha Arcams (then)). First time with the MMG’s was a revelation for me, they were an ex-demo model at my friendly local HiFi dealer and I had to have them. The dealer is Arnold van Otterloo at Sowell HiFi in Gorinchem. He runs an independent, one-man operation and sells only products that he personally likes, gives great service and advice. Also just dropping in for a friendly chat and a cup of coffee is no problem. If only there were more like him.

Anyway, back to the MMG’s. Imaging and detail are stunning. The panels provide a glorious ‘picture’ in which sounds and instruments all have a separate and defined space. Acoustic instruments are very realistically portrayed. The sound is, in one word, Impressive.

But. Doing Doc-Mods on first the Mission 760 and then Audiolab Minax boxes in quick succession has altered my perceptions, changed the way I listen and what I look for in a speaker / audio system. The Maggies turn out to be rather ‘soulless’ and now I have the little Audiolabs running in my main system and they are so much more dynamic and vital. With them the music is alive. What more can I say?

The process of modding even the most humble cabinet (like the Mission) means you really, consciously listen to it, and to the way it changes as the mods progress. And then you get a gut feeling that it is ‘right’. Wish I could improve the Maggies by sticking metal plates all over them – but I don’t think that would be advisable!

Now into the process of carefully improving the ancient Arcam One’s – and enjoying that journey of discovery as well. The Maggies are in the attic, for now, and maybe they’ll be listened to again, but I will probably sell them later this year because the Doc wants all my money (and I want a BMU).

Try it – get a cheap pair of secondhand speakers (anything of a reasonable quality) and modding the cabinets really isn’t all that difficult. Once you get started it’s addictive.

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Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Firebug1 »

Thank's for answer, get's one to think... We live in a concrete apartment and my hifi is in the living room, which makes selecting and positioning of speakers bit of a challence. Big box'es one metre out of the back wall, no way... So I have been mainly playing with electronic's and some cables. Doc modded speakers might solve some of my positioning probs and certainly they would be reasionable priced and they seem to be very good wfm in SQ. I just might try doing them at sometime...
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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Fretless »

Postioning can be a problem - but with Doc Mods you can change and 'tune' a small(ish) reflex speaker so that it works close to a wall and gives great imaging and dynamics (and they sound a lot 'bigger' than they actually are).

Good luck if/when you try.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

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Re: Original Arcam One speakers

Unread post by Fretless »

Looking closely at the interior photos of the Arcam's it appears that the sides are 'proper' wood, not MDF or chipboard. Certainly I am still surprised by how fresh and lively the speakers are sounding already.

The next stage is to take out the bitumen pads (more wrestling with staples) and if that is good solid wood underneath then I am curious about what will then happen to their character.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro & AudioQuest

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