EXPIRED For Sale Arcam FMJ A49 Integrated Amplifier (Solid State)

Further Information

The Arcam FMJ A49 is a flagship integrated amplifier that exemplifies Arcam’s expertise in delivering high-performance audio.  The amp, designed in the UK and built in the USA is Arcams most powerful stereo amplifier the company have produced, is no 'run-of-the-mill' circuit design either, featuring Class G power amplifiers with 50 Watts of Class A power . The A49’s calling card is power and lots of it. It outputs a hefty 200Wpc into 8 ohms (400Wpc into 4 ohms) and, significantly, fifty of those watts in pure Class A mode.

This is all thanks to Arcam’s latest-generation Class G topology.  Simply stated, Class G is a version of Class AB that, in the pursuit of higher efficiency, “uses multiple power supply rails of various voltages and automatically switches between these supply rails as the input signal changes.” Arcam gives this example: Under low-demand conditions, the system utilizes a lower rail voltage than a comparably rated Class AB amplifier, significantly reducing power consumption. When more power is demanded, extra transistors come into play as the system switches to the high voltage rail. This technique reduces the average power consumption, and loss caused by wasted heat.

The A49 preamp section features a four-layer fiberglass PCB, with separate ground and power planes for optimum layout of signal traces. All resistors in the main signal path are 0.1% thin-film, surface-mount parts. This ensures accurate channel matching and stable resistor values. The preamp’s power supplies rely on a dedicated toroidal transformer, entirely separate from the massive 1.5kVA one used for the power amplifier. The transformer feeds ten separate regulated supplies for the preamplifier and its control switches. Surface-mount components are used extensively. In addition, the low-level audio signals are handled in balanced mode throughout the preamplifier; the balanced circuit’s common-mode rejection isolates the preamp’s circuitry from the high-current swings of the power amplifiers and their supplies. The A49 employs an electronic dual-mono volume control and uses a Burr Brown volume control chip with 174 resistors onboard to minimize the degradation that attenuators tend to have on sound quality.

The back panel is equally roomy with seven RCA inputs, a pair of balanced XLR inputs and XLR pre-outs, 2 trigger outputs, and dual sets of speaker terminals. The A49 is also equipped with a 47k-ohm phono input designed to accommodate standard moving-magnet cartridges. 

A 3.5mm headphone mini-jack completes the array. The front-panel display and general operating features, including overload protection, are under the control of a microprocessor housed at one end of the preamp PCB. It is fed from the +5V standby power supply and isolated from the analog sections.

This amp has home theatre bypass, called PM or Processor Mode by Arcam, a remote control and a quality headphone amp. I use it for 2 channel music and to power the main speakers in a quality home theatre.

This amp was released in 2014 and an Internet search will confirm the Australian pricing at the time. It is in excellent condition and audition is very welcome. You can pickup or we can arrange delivery.

REVIEW HERE- Review's basically say that it is very good  for the price range and you would need to spend a lot more to get better sound quality.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/arcam-fmj-a49-integrated-amplifier/

https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/arcam-a49-integrated-amplifier/

Specifications:

Continuous power output, per channel, 8Ω
Both channels driven, 8Ω,20Hz-20kHz, 0.2% THD – 200W
Single, 4Ω, at 1kHz – 400W
Speaker outputs x2
Inputs – Phono (MM) cartridge
Line inputs: 6x RCA phono, 1x XLR
Unit gain input option
Line outputs: preamplifier, tape, XLR
Headphones output
Maximum output level into 600Ω – 4Vrms
Output impedance – 1Ω
Load range – 16Ω-2kΩ
Dimensions: W x D (inc. speaker terminals) x H (inc. feet): 433 x 425 x 171mm
Weight (net): 19.7kg