I would be tempted to use the Alpha 9 integrated by itself. Unless you need more power. It's a really good amp, still is. I think through my own experiences you won't see a huge difference in sound quality with the later Arcam amps mentioned. As long as it's working correctly. It was £500 back in the day, I think you'd have to pay more today for a similar spec of amp.
I'm just speaking from experience as I had the same amps as yourself. I bought speakers that needed more power so I looked for an upgrade. The Alpha 9 that was driving the low frequencies would cut out at high volumes. So I looked for another amp with more power and wasted a bit of money, mainly because of looking at reviews on what hifi etc. I certainly would not buy any different make of amp without listening to it. I got a Roksan Kandy K2. It has more power, but to me the Arcam Alpha 9 sounds better. It puts a veil over music, the mids sound recessed and it gets very harsh when pushed. I listen to similar music to yourself, except I like metal too. If your used to the Arcam, open, detailed but never harsh sounding, definitely listen before buying. The Roksan I had sounded way different to Arcam. Maybe in a good way to some, really not my thing again. The later ones are supposed to be better. I'd still have to home audition one after my experience.
I then tried a new Yamaha A-S801. Again more powerful, hoping that things had maybe moved on. It's not a really expensive amp, it's well built with loads of features. Great value for the money. But again I thought the Alpha 9 sounded better. Just more open and detailed and not as thin sounding so I returned it. It's a good amp for the money, but I wasn't really keen on upgrading to something that despite being more powerful, didn't sound as good as what I had had for nearly 20 years.
I'm not keen on the sound of Audiolabs. Well I wasn't when I auditioned the 8000A when I bought the Alpha 9 all those years ago. It was more clinical and cold sounding. Just not my thing, but I'm sure others love it.
In the end I bought another Arcam blind ignoring the what hifi review, although it got the highest score offered by hifi Choice. Which to me, maybe not others made sense. I got the FMJ A39 as an ex dem for a pretty good price. About £850. This amp is 120 watts RMS, compared to the Alpha's 70 watts. It can drive my Kef R500's really well and never, ever sounds shrill, thin in any way. Having said that at lower volumes it doesn't sound a real lot different to an Alpha 9. But at loud volumes it's awesome. If I lived in a semi or had smaller speakers, didn't like loud music, knowing what I know I know now, I'd of kept the Alpha 9. It's a really good amp. Bi-amping them in my experience doesn't offer a huge benefit . You'll be fine with just the Alpha integrated. I was guilty of reading reviews etc and thinking that things had moved on a massive amount. I don't think they have, yes they have more features etc.
If I was you I'd maybe get new speakers. They make the biggest difference in my experience. Then again the other Arcam amps mentioned above will be really good. I'm just not sure that you will see a huge difference in sound quality, but I might be wrong. New amps offer more features. Then again they can be added with external units. But those FMJ ones don't. You'd have to buy the newer SA Series.
I wouldn't assume that just because your amp is 20 years old, things have moved on a great deal. In my experience they haven't. I've still got my Alpha 9 integrated. I'm going to put it in my bedroom in the new house in buying. It's a really good amp. I see no point at all buying anything new. I'll just add a streamer if I need it.
But if you really feel the need to change it because it's old. I would really home demonstrate different models if at all possible. Or if you have lots of cash just buy something anyway. The later FMJ series amps look better though.
People have different opinions though. When I asked on another forum I was told that the A39 is a clear big step up from the Alpha 9. I agree it is at louder volumes, I'm just not so sure it is at lower volumes. Certainly not an extra £700 or so at used values after selling the Alpha. I also read that the sound of these amps can deteriorate with age. I'm sure it can, but I don't think it has at all with mine.
I agree with Timmy. If you like the Arcam sound stick with it. Unless you can listen to others first.
One more thing. What other amplifiers sound like the Arcam signature? Honestly, I don't insist on Arcam, I'm curious about other brands. And one more question about the speakers. What brands play well with Arcam?
