[Dozer]

Solely because of the price I stumbled onto, I bought a 3 channel 100 watt Arcam FJM 25p amp.  Pre/pro is a Denon 2802.  Other amps are Parasound HCA 2200 IIs.

Before I got it home I read the specs (not while driving... well, kinda) from the owners manual and was dissapointed because it looked, well, wimpy.   No exotic wide band frequency response.  4 ohm rated at 1khz only.  Seemed like the specs on a cheap receiver...

However, it sounds pretty damn good as long as it isn't asked to go HUGE on volume (it produces like a 100 watter should I guess, but not beyond).  I think it's probably a little euphonic - it seems to have smoothly rolled off highs and punched up mid-bass.  I haven't had a tube poweramp but this is what I think one would sound like.  It's really really "warm".   I might even.... love it.   But it won't slam with the big parasounds that I have set up now.  So I'm torn and have offered ALL the amps on audiogon to help me decide what to keep and what to throw away.   My Jags are low/medium efficiency, and I think I'm leaning toward the extra current on the Parasounds, but I have a feeling I'm underrespecting this Arcam.

Now I think it's very difficult to A/B amps.  At least in my setup.  This is made worse by the most stupidass binding posts I've ever seen on the Arcam.  They take english connectors or thin bare wire, but no bananas.  I can't switch fast enough to do meaningful AB comparison.   Also the Parasounds are 60lb beasts and not a piece of cake to move in and out quickly.

Its also very hard to research the Arcam FMJ amp line on the net.   I mean zippo on a google search.  zippo on AA search.  Only ONE review on AR.

So does anyone here have insight or info on the Arcam FMJ amps?   I'd love to learn about them, but just... can't.   If they're keepers I need the input before it's too late...

[Tonto Yoder]

I knew TAS reviewed something Arcam FMJ, but it was a CD player; still might be interesting

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/back_issues_136.html

You can download the player review
http://www.avguide.com/product/CD_Players/Players_Recorders/Arcam/FMJ_CD23/2168.jsp
but it's $3.

[Carlman]

I've heard the FMJ in a comparison to Musical Fidelity's similar-level integrated amp.  I thought both were good but, different.  Paired with B&W CDMNT-1's and a nice sub, the FMJ sounds incredible.  I liked that combo a lot.  

I think the Arcam has that polite English sound but, with a little punch.  I thought there were more reviews on it but, I'd trust your ears and your speaker requirements.  Why read about it when you've got one to play with?

I owned an older Arcam Delta integrated and I was quite impressed with the circuitry.  However, it didn't have enough power or finesse to handle anything big.... or with an efficiency lower than 90db.  It was an OK office system but, nothing special.  The FMJ was a big improvement but, overall still wasn't nice enough for me to use it in my main system.

Good luck.

[Dozer]

A guy bought it from me already.   He's in a NYC apartment and has Cary tube amps for his mains - wants to use this for center and rear.  Boy he is going to have a beautiful setup for HT.

It found a good home  <<sniff>>

Seriously - it's PERFECT for this guy's application.  Not ballsy enough for mine.   If my BR system ever craps the bed I'll probably look for an Arcam integrated... it was nice sounding.

[TIC]

Dozer (and Anyone else interested),

Arcam does use an unusual binding post, however, there are some GREAT banana plugs that work very well. The Nordost Z-Plug is an excellent plug and it is hollow in the center. It fits nicely over the protrusion in the Arcam posts. I also know that there is another vendor of a similar connector.

BTW, the Nordost Z-Plug is my favorite speaker wire termination PERIOD!! It makes very tight contact with a very high percentage of the connectors surface area. I buy these from my local Nordost dealer and use them on all of my speaker cable projects.

See:  http://www.nordost.com/
and look at the connectors on the SuperFlatLine photo.

Enjoy,

TIC