Arcam avr 350 5.1

Bunn999

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May 15, 2008
Messages
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Hello everyone,

I'm getting a deal on the ARcam AVR 350 i'm just curious to know if anyone has any experience with arcam avr's how would you say they sound in comparison to a denon/marantz or yamaha reciever. ? the setup would be used for 80% movies & 20% music but i want the 2 channel stereo to sound decent. i have the b&w 600 series 5.1 speakers. thanks.
 
I have heard the Arcam AVR a number of times and, for music, it sounds as good as a two channel amplifier. It is quite decent for movies, though it may not be as forward and thrusting as a Denon or Yamaha. But it will faithfully amplify all channels without any distortion. If you marry it with a good DVD player, you will have a very decent system. if you need decent music use a CD Player of a good DVD Player. Budget players will not work.

Cheers
 
This was exactly the kind of response i was looking for, someone who's heard the amp extensively, but dont you think thats a great achievement for an AVR to play music at almost 2 channel stereo quality . ? also you mentioned " budget DVD players wont work " i dont have the budget for a DVD player right now but firstly will it make that much of a difference & secondly are the Denon DVD players any good ?
 
but dont you think thats a great achievement for an AVR to play music at almost 2 channel stereo quality . ?

Companies such as Arcam, NAD and others have years of experience developing 2 channel amplification. They have also spent years fine tuning the circuitry. So, for a company like Arcam, implementing the audio circuitry in an AVR to duplicate the 2 channel amplification is not too much of a hassle. That is one of the reasons that such companies could not compete with the Denons and Yamaha. These companies looked at AVR from a different perspective. For them loudness, enhancement of low frequency and
a playing around with the sound signature to enhance a movie watching was no big deal. Companies such as NAD and Arcam, on the other hand, thought customers would be happy with faithful and transparent amplification after the decoding is done. This did not work for them.

Arcam has learnt it's lesson and in the AVR 600, it has actually built a tank of an AVR. With large amounts of power, the AVR thrusts the sound at you. Parasound was one company that understood the market well, and decided to go the processor/amplifier way so that the user can decide what he wants. Believe me, none of these companies that specialise in audio amplification as their primary business and have a passion for that, will be able to compete with the Denon's and Yamaha's at the budget range. They will all locate themselves at the top end depending upon their existing user base to grow with them.

also you mentioned " budget DVD players wont work " i dont have the budget for a DVD player right now but firstly will it make that much of a difference & secondly are the Denon DVD players any good ?

I think we have discussed this many times in the forum. You need a good player to deliver good music. An AVR/amp etc., can only amplify what is given to them. If you give them good quality sound, you will get good music amplified for listening.

A budgetary DVD Player is not meant to play music. because of the additional video and multiple audio circuitry, these manufacturers assume you are not going to use such players for 'audiophile grade sound. They will cut corners in the audio circuitry, have an inexpensive DAC, and even hope that the digital signals will be sent for better decoding at the AVR end.

Some of the players that our members are happy with are Oppo, CA, etc.

If you are really serious about music, no DVD Player less that some 1500-2000$ will do the justice a simple CD Player costing 400-1000$ can.

Cheers
 
so what your saying venkat is that arcam may not be as good at movies than the denon and yamaha, but my usage would be 80% movies so i oughta think abt it.. but thats wht the AVR was meant for in the first place 7.1 channel surround sound. i completely agree on the fact that these companies will never be able to compete with denon/yamaha on the price front for beginner receivers.. plus in india home audio is way too expensive making many good brands outta the common joe's reach. AVR 600 is built like a tank yes but its waay too expensive right now. it just maybe the ultimate reciever.
 
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