Arcam’s top receivers

[Airedale’s forever]

Is or has AH ever reviewed the top Arcam multichannel receivers?

 

[lovinthehd]

How many do they have? https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=arcam+review+site:audioholics.com&atb=v136-1&ia=web

 

[Replicant 7]

Isn't Arcam similar in build to NAD AVR's?

 

[lovinthehd]

Might be built in same factory...but @M Code would be the guy to ask on that.

ps but think Arcam is a Harman brand so maybe not

 

[slipperybidness]

I don't know much about Arcam, but to me I always kind of put them in the same group as Rotel and Cambridge Audio and such--- Meaning that they are no-frills, no-nonsense, and generally well regarded and likely high performance gear.

 

[PENG]

I don't care if it is Arcam, NAD, Anthem, Cambridge Audio, Onkyo or Sony, if their specs indicate they are designed for transparency, and verified by more than one lab measurements, then I would consider them. Otherwise regardless of what magazines and user review says, they won't be for me.

I used to think Arcam made quality stuff (before they came under Harman), almost bought their AVR-300, but their recent models did not perform well on the test bench, though I am sure they will still "sound" as good as the popular D+M, Y and A's.

There are a few bench test results for a few relatively recent models:

Arcam AVR10 Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Funny Amir said this in the AVR10 review:

Notes: our company Madrona Digital is a dealer for Harman which owns Arcam so feel free to read any level of bias in my review. As a courtesy, I sent a copy of my measurements to Harman/Arcam engineering a week ago. Alas, I have received no feedback. Meanwhile I had to return the unit to its owner.

Arcam AVR390 AVR Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Arcam AV40 AV Processor Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

THD+N of 0.02% definitely isn't anything to brag about when a $1500 AVR has THD+N of 0.001%.

 

[Trell]

THD+N of 0.02% definitely isn't anything to brag about when a $1500 AVR has THD+N of 0.001%.

I recall you posting that this not matter and is not audible.

 

[panteragstk]

I don't care if it is Arcam, NAD, Anthem, Cambridge Audio, Onkyo or Sony, if their specs indicate they are designed for transparency, and verified by more than one lab measurements, then I would consider them. Otherwise regardless of what magazines and user review says, they won't be for me.

I used to think Arcam made quality stuff (before they came under Harman), almost bought their AVR-300, but their recent models did not perform well on the test bench, though I am sure they will still "sound" as good as the popular D+M, Y and A's.

There are a few bench test results for a few relatively recent models:

Arcam AVR10 Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Funny Amir said this in the AVR10 review:


Arcam AVR390 AVR Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Arcam AV40 AV Processor Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Sheesh

Needless to say, as a package I cannot recommend the ARCAM AVR390. Maybe wait a few years until they are given away for nothing and buy it for its amplifiers and run them in direct mode.

 

[panteragstk]

I don't care if it is Arcam, NAD, Anthem, Cambridge Audio, Onkyo or Sony, if their specs indicate they are designed for transparency, and verified by more than one lab measurements, then I would consider them. Otherwise regardless of what magazines and user review says, they won't be for me.

I used to think Arcam made quality stuff (before they came under Harman), almost bought their AVR-300, but their recent models did not perform well on the test bench, though I am sure they will still "sound" as good as the popular D+M, Y and A's.

There are a few bench test results for a few relatively recent models:

Arcam AVR10 Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Funny Amir said this in the AVR10 review:


Arcam AVR390 AVR Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Arcam AV40 AV Processor Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

I can't be the only one that doesn't understand why Harmon hasn't put any effort into making quality AVR/processors in a LONG time. They have so much cool tech they could put into them and they just aren't doing it.

Maybe someday.

 

[lovinthehd]

I can't be the only one that doesn't understand why Harmon hasn't put any effort into making quality AVR/processors in a LONG time. They have so much cool tech they could put into them and they just aren't doing it.

Maybe someday.

There are these... https://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/electronics/surround-processor-preamplifiers/

 

[panteragstk]

There are these... https://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/electronics/surround-processor-preamplifiers/

Good point. I'm more hoping that the tech in those processors trickle down to a more "normal" consumer version. There is no reason the H/K AVRs can't get some of the synthesis processing, but maybe on a smaller scale.

Those are big boy parts meant to compete with Trinnov and such right?

EDIT: Yes and no it seems. The SDP-75 is super high end, but the others are $8k and $6k from what I could find. Still high end, but not insane.

 

[lovinthehd]

Good point. I'm more hoping that the tech in those processors trickle down to a more "normal" consumer version. There is no reason the H/K AVRs can't get some of the synthesis processing, but maybe on a smaller scale.

Those are big boy parts meant to compete with Trinnov and such right?

EDIT: Yes and no it seems. The SDP-75 is super high end, but the others are $8k and $6k from what I could find. Still high end, but not insane.

I think it's Trinnov based now that I think about it; how they will parse it among their stable of brands, who knows....but I would think in time such features/processing will be available in lower priced units....but I think its a relatively small market OTOH. I don't think avrs will need to move aside for such units....

 

[M Code]

Might be built in same factory...but @M Code would be the guy to ask on that.

ps but think Arcam is a Harman brand so maybe not

The factory that builds Arcam(JBL, AudioControl, Anthem) is in Vietnam, though originally in China and yes they have built some NAD products in the past. For many years they built AVRs primarily for HK(before Arcam) and Marantz, now they build the majority of integrated amplifiers for Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, soundbars for JBL, Yamaha, Denon and BT smart speakers for JBL....

Just my $0.02...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I recall you posting that this not matter and is not audible.

It's not audible, as PENG and others have said. It's just nothing to brag about.

 

[lovinthehd]

Some are attracted to boutique brands....personally for the price/feature set I just consider them too expensive for what they are.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The factory that builds Arcam(JBL, AudioControl, Anthem) is in Vietnam, though originally in China and yes they have built some NAD products in the past. For many years they built AVRs primarily for HK(before Arcam) and Marantz, now they build the majority of integrated amplifiers for Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, soundbars for JBL, Yamaha, Denon and BT smart speakers for JBL....

Just my $0.02...

All the Yamaha Integrated amps I’ve seen today say “Made in Malaysia“, not Vietnam.

 

[M Code]

All the Yamaha Integrated amps I’ve seen today say “Made in Malaysia“, not Vietnam.

Note my comment about Yamaha was for the category of soundbars that are built in Vietnam, not integrated amplifiers. To my knowledge all of the general audio distribution Yamaha integrated amplifiers are built in Malaysia @Perak. However the very high end separate component models such as the A-S3200, M-5000, C-5000 are built @ Hamamatsu, Japan.... I also recall that some of the Yamaha professional audio amplifiers are built in China by certain subcontractors...

Just my $0.02...

 

[PENG]

Note my comment about Yamaha was for the category of soundbars that are built in Vietnam, not integrated amplifiers. To my knowledge all of the general audio distribution Yamaha integrated amplifiers are built in Malaysia @Perak. However the very high end separate component models such as the A-S3200, M-5000, C-5000 are built @ Hamamatsu, Japan.... I also recall that some of the Yamaha professional audio amplifiers are built in China by certain subcontractors...

Just my $0.02...

Just a by the way thing, would you know something about how and why China managed to make so many DACs, headphone amps, preamps that top the ASR's charts that don't just measure well but also seem to have very good build quality, and for cheap, relatively speaking?
Topping A90 Headphone Amplifier Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Gustard X18 Review (Stereo DAC) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Just recently they even got a class D amp (Topping PA5) that measured as good as Purifi's though not too powerful, yet..

At this rate, are there any AV processors in the work as well, made in Shenzen (something like that..)?

 

[slipperybidness]

Some are attracted to boutique brands....personally for the price/feature set I just consider them too expensive for what they are.

Boutique brands tend to seem to carry a bit of prestige, whether we are talking about audio, bicycles, or other hobbies. Boutique brands usually seem to have better QC, but that isn't guaranteed to be the reality.

But, then you have to ask yourself if that little bit of prestige is worth the fact that these small manufacturers will never match the manufacturing power and the engineering resources of the big name players in your hobby. Will the smaller players have the proper stock for warranty repairs and replacement?

I can tell you with certainty, as far as an AV processor (or AVR), I would only be looking at the big boys, which likely means D&M or Yammy today (Pioneer was on my list in the past and very pleased with my legacy Pio gear).

I have also seen a fair share of complaints with boutique mtb brands over on mtbr too, brands where the user paid a premium but did not get a premium experience when problems developed. Compare that to a brand like Trek, where they will actually allow a modified warranty to transfer to someone who purchased a used Trek bike.