Good bass and yet still a natural feel to the music, looks great with its modern retro styling and basicaly delivers a great all round package.

The only weakness that i can think of would be the remote, but then again i actualy quite like the remote as you can also control the cd72 with it which is great because then u only need the one remote.

I have had the A65 now since january of 2001 and i listen to it near enough every day and i am still not bored with it. I have the CD72, acoustic energy Aegis 1 speakers, and the yamaha yst sw160 sub, and the whole system sounds great. The A65 is great for its money and is better than some more expensive models, i tried out many different amps when i went to buy this one and as soon as i heard the A65 i knew that it was the one for me. It was just what i was looking for.

Warm, revealing, fluid midrange, big bass, hi-endish sound

Still a bit laid-back, though it would be considered a good thing by some.

I bought the unit for US$520, which I considered a good price. I know that the unit needs a couple of weeks to run in, so I can only expect it to be better in a month or so.
So, let me talk about my initial impression of the A65. It's a very big-sounding amplifier, though rated at 40W/channel. The bass is full and controlled, very articulate for an integrated. The highs is very open and airy, and I don't understand why the previous reviewer said that the treble disppeared using the B&W. The mid-range, as usual, is the strongest part of an Arcam integrated amplifier, and the A65 is no exception, very fluid and full-bodied, warm yet detailed, and very emotional. The A65 is very good for jazz and any type of acoustic music.
However, it is not without flaws. I think it still sounds a bit laid-back when it comes to techno and rock. Don't take me wrong, it's still powerful enough for this kind of music, but it's just not as convincing.
I would recommend this amplifier to those who are into vocal, classical and jazz. But for those who like rock and techno, there are better choices out there.

Similar Products Used:

Musical Fidelity E-10, NAD C340

matches the diva cd72, system remote

seemed to lack real clarity in the treble during the test

i was auditioning a new cd/amp to go with my B&W dm303's, and the best compromise the shop could give without bringing my speakers in was a pair of B&W matrix (second hand). i dont know how the matrix are rated, but i noticed a distinct lack of clarity from the set up, causing me to turn the treble up nearly full. when we switched amps to the alpha 7r this problem seemed to dissapear completely, and i started to enjoy the sound a whole lot more. as the alpha 7r was given a 4 star rating (what hifi) at £280, the A65 (at £380) should, in my opinion, outstrip the 7r in more ways than one. yes it matches the rest of the Diva range, of which the cd72 is my prime choice for my upgrade, but it did not seem to perform to the standard i would expect from a new range in comparisson to the old range it replaces, and i cant be the only one to think so, as what hifi only gave it a 3 star rating. i am not trying to slag it off, but i would not recommend buying it merely because it is "Arcam" and matches your cd/dvd, without listening to it with the rest of the kit you intend to use it with.

Similar Products Used:

arcam alpha 7r, rega brio