P35s, P1s or P7??

[Remboy]

Hi

Have just spent about three hours auditioning FMJ amps with CD36 at Sevenaoks and can't decide which route to take. Any comments to help me decide would be much appreciated. Currently use AVR300 for stereo and cinema (5.1 only) which I'll be keeping for cinema at present.

First option is C31 with P35 for stereo and connected via preouts on AVR300 for cinema. I can then add P35 3 channel later to complete cinema amplification and possibly replace AVR300 with AV9 if funds ever allow.

Second option the same but with 2 P1s now for stereo amplification.

Third option use AVR300 as preamp/processor only and use P7 for amplification with possible biamping of front two channels and again possibly replace AVR300 with AV9 at later date.

I really liked the P35 with the C31 and although the P1s were a nice step up, I'm not sure the extra cost was justified and then there's all those boxes and cables!! My heart says P1s but head and wallet say P35.

Since my use is probably 75% movies, 25% music, I also tried the P7 with C31 as well. I like the idea of less boxes and cabling and of course the P7 would be awesome for movies but the sound for stereo disappointed me a little. I was surprised at this since the AV7 has had so many positive comments and reviews for music use as well as cinema. Although sounding impressive, I thought it was so smooth and the bass so rich that it seemed to slow the rhythm of the music too much. Unfortunately I didn't have time to try in biamp mode - has anyone tried this? What effect does biamping fronts in a 5 speaker system have for stereo listening on the P7? Again my heart says not the P7 but I really want to like the P7 as it offers such a good package overall.

If anyone else has had this dilemma I would appreciate some advice, thanks.

[barnythebear]

I used an AVR300 and a P35/3 to biamp my speakers and this worked very well. However when I bought a C30 I was then left with the P35/3 powering all my music and it did not work very well at all. That's mainly because I have low sensitivity speakers and they now weren't biamped. Depending on what you are driving I would suggest you may need more power as I think with the P35/3 drops to 90 watts per channel rather than the 100 from the 2 channel power amp. I've not used the P1's but reports are that they knock spots off the P35. I'm more music than movies so maybe I'm biased but it's best to try and get a listen for yourself.

[Remboy]

Thanks barney, my speakers are monitor audio RS6s which I tested with P35, P1s and P7 and they all seemed to have plenty of power to drive them, but it's a fair point - the more power the better.

Any P7 owners care to add views from their experience?

[reAnimate]

Don't know if it helps sway your decision, but due to a change in Hi-Fi direction, (away from home cinema) I am considering parting with my P35 in the next few weeks.

Simon.


MOD EDIT: If you wish to sell you Arcam on AVForums please post a for sale thread in the classified section here. Thanks

[Remboy]

Thanks for the offer but will continue to mull things over for now. Out of interest, if you're ditching the P35 what are you replacing it with?

[reAnimate]

I'm going for a Naim system.

[litespeedaudio]

Second option the same but with 2 P1s now for stereo amplification.

This is the option I would go with. I have the P1's and they are great. Unfortunately I'm currently running them through my Rotel RSP-1066 (Which is great for Surround Sound). Tomorrow I will take the plunge and order the C31 to complete my 2 channel system.