Arcam New 2022 8K AV Receivers Processor Range - AV41, AVR31, AVR21, AVR11
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- =Arcam New 2022 8K AV Receivers Processor Range - In this video we explore the new Arcam AV Rceivers / AV Processor lineup - now with HDMI 2.1 8K capability. Models include the AV41 processor, AVR31, AVR21, and AVR11 receivers. We compare against to previous models introduced in 2018 - the Arcam AV40, AVR30, AVR20 and AVR10.
Other HDMI 2.1 8K AV Receiver and AV Processor videos:
Arcam New 2022 8K AV Receivers Processor Range - AV41, AVR31, AVR21, AVR11
• Arcam New 2022 8K AV R...
JLB Synthesis New 2022 8K AV Processor (SDP-58) and AV Receiver (SDR-38)
• JBL Synthesis New 2022...
McIntosh 2021 8K AV Processors vs Marantz and Lyngdorf
• McIntosh 2021 8K AV Pr...
Lowest cost AV Processors - Emotiva BasX MC1 and Tonewinner AT 300
• Lowest cost AV Process...
Yamaha 2021 8K Aventage AV Receivers
• Yamaha 2021 8K Aventag...
Pioneer Elite 2021 8K AV Receivers
• Pioneer Elite 2021 8K ...
Onkyo 2021 8K AV Receivers vs. Pioneer
• Onkyo 2021 8K AV Recei...
Denon 2021 8K AV Receivers
• Denon 2021 8K AV Recei...
Marantz 2021 8K AV Receivers Processors vs Denon
• Marantz 2021 8K AV Rec...
Lyngdorf 2021 8K AV Processors
• Lyngdorf 2021 8K AV Pr...
So good! This is an excellent overview and pretty deep dive at the sime time, given the sparse amount of info there is. And must have taken quite the time to gather, condense and present. Thanks, you're doing these videos are very helpful today for potential consumers but also in 1-5 years when in various ways. Perhaps just to see how little development AVRs are getting compared to other CE stuff like phones, wireless headphones and and speaker etc. 👍🏽
Even though the prices seems very steep for what you get (performance on the ASR test bench 😔) compared to the "new, very limited supply Onkyo/Integra/Pioneers'".
Also, very sketchy HDMI2.1 (a term no one should be using according to the HDMI organization...😖) featureset since this single thing is the only difference, apart from the price increases, that these seems to have!
I have anecdotes in my head on buggy firmware from the previous generation, any owners care to elaborate on if that is me being wrong or there is/was issues? If they resolved any, released patches and those units now work good, I guess these new ones could be interesting for.. eh, some marginally better amps or perhaps the astethics? The remote looks "nicer" than OIP's one? Preouts are nice on even the entry one (but how good are they..ASR will hopefully answer that one in due time) but imho should have been balanced from AVR21 and up.
Thanks for your very thoughtful response. You have me thinking. I presented the content pretty straight without a lot of personal opinion. I feel I should follow with a short expressing more of my frustration with the type of product update. As you articulated Arcam has done little to entice existing owners who want to ride with the latest technology and performance. Beside the 8K capability they have only given us considerably higher prices for essentially the same models. The HDMI organization is now saying all vendors should explicitly identify which HDMI features they support. Arcam has only given the supported frame rates for 4K (120hz) and 8K (60hz) and expect us to have confidence in their implement? It is a bit bold. They put minimal effort into updating info the poor manual and is as vague as the previous one. Give us nice tables articulating all the supported speaker configuration as with receivers costing a lot less. I feel Arcam is taking their channel for granted and not doing anything to pull in new buyers. Given that their marketing doesn’t clearly justify their premium price consumers must rely on ASR and others who perform benchmark test comparison to reveal the true value of these products. -Jon
Wow...that was a bear sorting all those options out on your end Jon. Nice job combing thru the manuals and the configuration settings. I like the new red designations for speaker power options that you have illustrated for your viewers. BTW, at the 15:17 mark a correction to the vid on your term "Atmos 3d" up-mixing needs to be made. You actually mean Auro 3D and Auro 3D auromatic up-mixing. I know you meant that but just clarifying for your listeners with the three major competing formats being Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro 3D for immersive audio listening using the height channels. We love Auro 3d using auromatic upmixing of multichannel music sources on DVD Audio, Blu Ray Pure Audio, SACD, and of course streaming the new high resolution 3d reality Audio & Atmos tracks offered on Amazon and Apple with whom we subscribe. We even use Auro 3D auromatic upmixing on 2 channel sources at times... It's just that good. Thanks for the subwoofer info too. We would only consider pieces which have two independent subwoofer outputs that are not wired in parallel. It's awesome to see a company offering HDMI 2.1 on ALL HDMI ports. Yay. I think that's a first. Nice job ARCAM. Hopefully others will follow. Keep up the great work my audio aficionado.:-)
Jack - Nice to hear from you again. Should we be covering upmixing as a separate line item? Your insight on the value of Auromatic upmixing is very helpful and aligned with what I have been hearing in various communities. The details you just provided add more detail then I had. I am with you on the importance of independent subwoofer outputs as a "must have." While I am just as excited to see the full compliment of HDMI 2.1 ports 7in/3out on these models I find fault in Arcam not specifying which HDMI 2.1 features they support. No excuse for these units with premium and raised pricing and this being the main benefit of the upgrade. -Jon
@@ripewave "Should we be covering upmixing as a separate line item? Your insight on the value of Auromatic upmixing is very helpful and aligned with what I have been hearing in various communities. The details you just provided add more detail then I had. "........absolutely Jon! Many of us with immersive systems listen to both 2 channel audio and upmix using one of those three codecs when desiring immersive audio. We are addicted to it. Just listen to the Beatles Sgt Peppers album recently released in Atmos. Audiophiles hate change but I think you'll be won over. Plus if the source is recorded in multichannel then we use the Auro 3d auromatic upmixing codec as it's our family's fave...even for gaming.
It is nice to hear how the Auromatic upmixer adds life to a mix the is already in multichannel.-Jon
Hi, great preview. I think the big selling point for me is the 4k, 120FPS and 7 HDMI 2.1 HDCP 2.3 full compliance. If the new ports work as advertised, and it appears Arcam has finally gotten the 10/20/30/40 models to actually work with their upgrade program and software updates. It took over 2 years, but it appears these older models are clicking on all cylinders with the new HDMI chip set that you can swap out for $600. The newer models appear to be the same for the most part, but have the new fully functional HDMI chipset and hopefully the software all figured out. For a person like me, a gamer, who already has the PS5, Xbox Series X, (gaming at 4K 120FPS, VRR, HDR/DV gaming etc) and the APPLE TV4K, (all HDMI 2.1 devices) this would be terrific if it actually works as good as the souped up older models with the swapped out HDMI boards and fully functional software do. I also have a LG C9 OLED, with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports. Only 2 AVR models offer working 2.1 boards with PS5 and XSX at this point, The Onkyo RX50 (backordered til August 2022) and the Pioneer 505 (supposedly). That is why this is such a big upgrade for many people like myself. Been waiting for 2.1 fully compliant AVRs, and hopefully they are here.
Ollie - your assessment sounds right. I agree this is a HDMI 2.1 upgrade to the previous models. Glad you point out benefits of HDMI 2.1 other than 8K and you are right - those are usable today and many miss that point.
I wish Arcam would document which parts of the HDMI 2.1 specification they support beyond resolutions and frame rates.
Onkyo, Pioneer, Integra, Lyngdorf, McIntosh MX180 all support full HDMI 2.1 along with these new Arcam models. I thing you will see a larger list by summer and a few more by year end. Thanks for sharing -Jon
💯
I'm tapping in way after the fact[shopping for my next AVR after my Marantz SR7008 took a surge], but THANK YOU(X10) for dat indepth breakdown of their product line. It's the type of insight we enthusiasts want and need. 👍
Chris - catching up on my replies and wanted to say I appreciate your feedback. Never too late to comment. Glad the context is helping. -Jon
I was wondering why I didn't get MQA with tidal on my arcam avr20 anymore, mind you... I would also like to mention, my avr20 also does not have 'Spotify connect' only has Spotify through Google Chrome! Some might think it doesn't make much of a difference but I can assure you there is a difference! In fact I was ready to send the avr20 (+ arcam pa410 4-channel power amp) back to the hi-fi store, but it was only when I realised how easy it was to transport my playlists from Spotify to tidal that actually saved the sale!
Thanks for the MQA heads up. 👍
MQA has very limited support within AV Processors and Receivers. NAD may be the only brand that supports as such. It is my feeling the MQA is on its way out. Between the unique device support it requires, that it is only available via Tidal and the wide availability of lossless streaming via Amazon and Apple Music the value MQA was introduced to deliver has been replaced. While some may still prefer MQA, the audience has greatly diminished. Glad you were able to transfer your library.-Jon
Insane.....at this price range I shouldn't have to chose. Anthem Avm 70k for $4k I get a full 9.2.6 come on Arcam 🤦🏿♂️. Who wants to choose when you spending $5300
Love all you videos! Great channel and content. Thank you for all the great info.
Hi it’s the same unit just with a new hdmi circuit,chip,I have the arcam av40 , and basically to modify it I can send of to arcam for around £600 to have the hdmi circuit change to 8k this would then become the arcam av41 in theory,and to buy a av40 and have the hdmi circuit changed works out cheaper than buying a av41 , that’s nuts 🥜
I’ve see some have had issues when the the arcam av40 when released, but lucky enough I’ve never had any issues, and has been a pleasure to have ,and be part of my home cinema ,and fantastic with music as well,I would recommend this av processor,previous to this I owned the arcam av860 ,and believe me the arcam av40 is worlds apart from that
your info graphic is legit
Thanks for the feedback on the updated info-graphic. Trying to add clarity to information that is difficult to communicate.
John - As always, great in-depth, no-nonsense video reviews. Appreciate the effort you have put it. Have you evaluated the sound quality of the Arcam units? I have been comparing them against Anthem for the past 2 years without having the luxury of A/B auditioning them except an Arcam AV20 driving B&W 805D3 one time at a Best But Magnolia shop. The Arcam sound always intrigued me but I turned to Anthem MRX740 and AVM70 (after reading enough poor reviews on AV40 ~2 years ago). Can you comment about the Arcam sound (and perhaps vs the Anthem sound) in terms of audiophile content (e.g. listening to high-quality SACD material)?
Arcam is the real deal for sonic performance. I haven’t heard the newer Class G amps, but I do have an AVR300 that I bought new in 2007. Zero issues, sounds fantastic. Arcam uses large toroidal transformers and ample capacitor banks, so real power is never lacking. If Arcam can fix the bugs in the newer gear, it’s a no brainer.
Lack of DTS X Pro is a disappointment, as was the price increase. Will be interesting to hear if the same bugs that plagued previous gen have been resolved.
I agree - at this price point I expect more.-Jon
@@ripewave I think the AudioControl Concert XR 4/6/8 with Sabre ES9026PRO DAC and Maestro X7 X9 with ES9028 and 9038 are a better value, though still lack DTS:X PRO. They don’t have the 8k hdmi yet but I’m told will be future hardware upgrade.
If you use preouts channel 13 and 14 for 2 subwoofers, the channels are independent and you can manage volume etc of each subwoofer independently.
I wish they would explain better in their documentation. The JBL Synthesis version reads differently and suggest that ARCAM does not.
ARCAM page 34 -
Subwoofer - configures if the dedicated sub out terminals are used for a single subwoofer channel (using the two
parallel outputs).
Channel 13 & 14 -
Channel 15 & 16 -
JBL page 32 -
Subwoofer - configures if the dedicated Sub Out connectors“Sub1” and “Sub2” are used for a single subwoofer channel(Either connector may be used.) For systems with two or more subwoofers, use channels 13, 14, 15 & 16 for up to four independent subwoofers, which can fully utilize Dirac Live Bass Management.
Channel 13 & 14 -
Channel 15 & 16 -
Why does ARCAM write "two parallel outputs" and JBL write "four independent subwoofers" in these manuals which are very similar - so their editors for some reason changed the language.
Jon
@@ripewaveanother RUclips reviewer connected 2 subs independently on precut 13&14 and used Dirac live bass control successfully.
Thanks. Great overview. Their main strength is the sound. They just seem to nail it for me, truly beautiful sound but you pay through the nose for it.
Overpriced upgrades that most people don’t need. More watts or better dac chips would have been better.
I agree - they need to work header to entice buyers - both old (to update) and new (to choice Arcam over the competition). -Jon
Thank you for your video. Excellent job.
Glad you found the content useful.-Jon
Arcam avr21 vs yamaha a8a? Which one do you recommend it
It may depend if the feature set you want but is generally prefer the Yamaha. Sound quality, easier to work with, not the problems I encountered with Arcam. -Jon
hello congratulations for the channel, I wanted to ask you is it better anthem avm 90 or arcam AV 41? they told me that the dirac system is better, but in terms of audio quality? let me know thank you
Andrea - thanks for waiting I took a pause from responding. You raise a good comparison. I feel the processor market is lacking clear cut winners as gaps can be found in each. It comes down to what is most important to each owner. Here are the main differences I identified between these two-
Arcam
- pros (Dirac, Auro 3D support, lower cost)
- cons (no independent subwoofer outputs)
Anthem
- pros (4 independent subwoofer outputs)
- cons (no Auro 3D support, high cost)
Both have good sound quality. Anthem’s specs are slightly better but Dirac on Arcam. The lack of independent sub outs on the Arcam is a deal breaker for me. The Anthem AVM 70 is a much better deal if you only have 2 subs.-Jon
@@ripewave Hi Jon,
thank you very much for your reply, in the end I made up my mind and bought 2 processors, avm70 and also avm90 and compared them, knowing that it had no direc and auro 3D, I opted for independent subwoofer outputs. the thing that surprised me is that the AVM90 is much better in terms of audio and I wondered, how is this possible?
I was convinced they were the same and only with the extra subwoofer outputs.
how can i feel better?
last thing,
I wanted to ask you the Anthem arc software does not allow me to manually change the parameters, do you also see this thing for you?
he processes the improvements automatically and does not allow me to further improve the calibrations.
Hello from Italy 😃👍
Andrea- I like your comparison approach. I too would insist on the independent subwoofer outputs. The AVM 90 has upgraded AKM DACS and circuitry and Anthem promotes that to justify the high cost. I am glad that has translated into a noticeable improvement. As far as the ARC Genesis software I have heard some complaints about its limitations perhaps your inability to adjust after calibration is what they were referring to. I would find that disappointing. I hope you can find a work around. Thanks for your contributions from Italy.-Jon
Are you sure the inputs 13 thru 16 are wired in parallel? Why would Arcam do this knowing that Dirac multi sub eq requires each output to be independent? I'm very interested in the AV41 but not if Dirac multisub eq won't work correctly. Thank you!
Edit: never mind I saw you and the audio community answered the question later on in the thread! Should've kept reading embarrassed face. 😳
You have to pay for the upgrade but still worth it in my opinion. No other prepro comes close to this level with Dirac for this price with the Monolith HTP-1 out of the picture
I am finding that a there is no “perfect” processor. Each one is missing something. With the feedback we got on the community with Arcam support still doesn’t give full clarity. They said “Dirac will EQ multi-subs” they did not say if the final output to each is discrete or a common summation of the Dirac output. As their literature does not speak to the desired capability it doesn’t instill confidence that paying for the upgrade will deliver the full experience.-Jon
@@ripewave that's good to know!
@@ripewave thank you for getting back to me!
AVR31 vs AVR21; is the AVR31 worth the heftier price ? (coming from a defective Rotel RAP 1580mk2, with Wharfedale Elysian 2 speakers, Elysian Center, Wharfedale EVO 4S rears and REL S/510 subwoofer).
I find the different only minor between the ARCAM AVR31 and AVR21 models. On paper the main difference appears to be 10W more per channel (no big deal) and the price (a big deal). Everything else, including the DACs appears to be the same. I do see that the AVR31 weights 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) more. So it may be fair to say that the power supply is better and there could be upgraded components. What I don't know is whether that translates into better sound. I will say that a Marantz Cinema 40 sounds better then a Cinema 50 with similar specification but costs $1000 more. Could be the case here as well.
I am seeing lower street prices now for the AVR31 - $5,250 (vs $6,900) and AVR 21 - $3,760 (vs. $4,700) when I produced the video.
- Jon
@@ripewavethe AVR30/31 has 180 watts output on all channels with 4 Ohm speakers (like my Wharfedale Elysian 2), where the AVR20/21 only has 110 watts at 4 Ohm. That is a significant difference. The weight difference comes from the bigger power supply.
@@larsv6144keep in mind that most Arcam AVR’s have a bi-amp function for channels 6&7, providing a significant power boost for your main speakers. The Wharfedales will sing 🔊
Just wondering if anyone knows how Auro 3D gets set up specifically on the AVR10/11. With only 4 height pre outs, where does the VOG speaker signal come from? Unfortunately as John referred to, the Arcam manual is sadly short on detailed information. I am tempted to buy Arcam over Denon/Marantz for sound quality, but it appears that setup and speaker layout may be less flexible. Any info is appreciated. Enjoy the music!
I can check, but it could be similar to what I just experienced with the flagship Yamaha RX-A8A, it only supports Auro 11.1 as 7+4 heights with no option for top center VOG. Very few support full Auro 13.1 which combines the Dolby Atmos layout of 7.1.4 with the Top And Front Height Center speakers of Auro 11.1. -Jon
Hi so I do watch almost all your video you put out for home theater equipment and
I am thinking about to buying arcam av40 so my question is , is a good buy for my home theater for 9.2.4 system I am trying to set up or should I wait for av41 ?
Please let me know cause I am confuse
Naiserg - thanks for connecting. The AV40 and AV41 which support the 9.2.4 layout, but you won't be able to control the dual subwoofers independently. I won't recommend for those who want precise bass integration and have multiple subwoofers. You also have to factor in the additional cost for the Dirac Bass Management license as well - and these models have a premium price. If you can accept the lack of independent subwoofer control (which can be overcome with manual adjustment on each subwoofer, but with more effort.
As for the AV40 vs AV41 decision the AV41 becomes the choice if you want HDMI 2.1 support. It is possible that Arcam could offer an upgrade for the AV40 to HDMI 2.1 in the future. At this time I don't have an official statement to confirm.
The AV40 otherwise appears to be the same at a lower cost. -Jon
Wow, 2 subs and not independent, Arcam just came off my list.
Since the review I learned that independent multi-sub is enabled with a paid upgrade.-Jon
@@ripewave Interesting as I just emailed Arcam nd their reply was they are in parallel with no mention of an upgrade. Will follow up with them again.
Let me know what they say. They not clear on this upgrade point - it is knowledge I got from this community. It could be the Dirac calibration is multi sub with the upgrade but the output is still in parallel
@@ripewave Straight from them
"If you want full bass control for the subs independently, you'll need Bass Management and the Full Dirac 3 license. Otherwise the Dirac 3 Full License is enough for it to be EQ'ed as a single sub."
So with the full Dirac Bass Management license the subwoofers are independently controllable. I wish they provided clearer documentation on that capability. While they may be intentionally hiding that the base models are single sub, I feel they hurt themselves more by not being upfront about the upgrade details. I would place in literature/ on web - “for those wanting to take their theater to the next level, the Dirac Bass Management upgrade can be purchased which also adds the ability to independently optimize and control up to four subwoofers independently.” -Jon
Why oh why oh why won't some other manufacturers copy the kick butt LCD screen on the front. I mean Pioneer Elite is still rocking that orange text. I HATE IT!
Yes - full color high resolution screen are available everywhere today and the cost has been driven down with such scale. I too am amazed that we are still seeing premium home theater products with two line dot matrix screens. The only product I give a pass to is McIntosh who are all about their time tested styling.-Jon
At this price range is really unacceptable the receiver offers only one sub, we're talking about 4 subs in modern projects. My opinion, a decision point, I wouldn't buy it.
I agree that the Harman brands Arcam, JBL Synthesis and Lexicon are not appropriately priced. Too high for the value.-Jon
@@ripewave Are we sure this is the case? I don't see a reference in the manual and would assume that with the Dirac Live Bass Control upgrade, there would be support for 4 independent subs.
How does multisub DLBC work on the AV41 if they are not independent sub channels? see video at around the 15-17 minute mark. It's listed as 15.1, and one of the slides says *Not independent sub channels or something to that effect, and you state that you read the manual.
I'm sorry to say that this review is miss leading, the avr30/20 and av40 does indeed have an independents sub channels through purchasing the multisub dlbc licence.the pre outs 13/14-15/16 are the relevantes dlbc sub output channels.
You are correct - not included, but upgradable with the Dirac multi-bass license for $499. My error was not knowing that at the time of review. Arcam’s fault is not documenting. No where can I find that detail on their website or documentation. The knowledge is only confirmed on the Dirac site - www.dirac.com/online-store/arcam-av40/
If you purchase the JBL Synthesis version of the AudioControl version it is included.
While I can share blame with Arcam, I am still frustrated by their terrible documentation that doesn’t explain this or several other items. What they do include it not clearly presented. I read all the manuals and Harman International brands are on the bottom tier. They are saved by their attention to high quality sound output.
Going forward I can say that Arcam supports multi-bass, but I will add $499 when comparing prices of like products such as Anthem AVM90. -Jon
@@ripewave first i start by saying that i appreciate your honest response to this subject. yes it could be that the arcam manuals are lacking that information but with that said, doesn't it look a litle odd to you that there is av40 /30/20 dirac multisub license for sale? i think that a top av reviewer such as yourself should do a little more home work before posting an avr/processor review.
i just think that if there are any doubts regarding such an important subject such as this its better to make an effort and asked arcam users or contact arcam itself for clarification. a lot of the average users that i know are choosing their avr regarding this parametert.dont you agree?
Best regards,yosi
@@ripewavedon’t listen to that absolute clown 🤡 below 👇. Absolutely preposterous to suggest you need to do more research. You , BY FAR, delve deeper into these processors than any other reviewer out there. Do not for one second succumb to the lowest common denominator who has nothing better to do than passive aggressively harp on a single very confusing instance needing clarification. You’re doing just fine man.
Arcam do support MQA.....I received email from their support team stating that they do. Specifically AVR 31
Thanks for that confirmation. I will update the database to include MQA support. They are one of the few. -Jon
@@ripewave I also made a point to Arcam support that even though the flyers/spec sheets say the receivers support MQA...it is not promoted on their website or literature anywhere.....Hegel integrated amps decode and render MQA....FYI...Thanks
I have the feeling that MQA won’t last much longer. It’s original value was to provide lossless quality with smaller files sizes to accommodate constrained internet streaming speeds. Since introduction internet speeds have improved in many regions and big players like Amazon and Apple have introduced standard lossless services with big libraries at lower prices. While some prefer the propitiatory MQA versions it appears to be a niche group now. As Tidal blocks attempts to scientifically test MQA against other lossless formats, we are left with a subjective debate. One thing that has been confirmed is that the non-original master recording can be used for MQA but shown to the user as original masters. So recordings are falsely represented. I am skipping the format - am I missing out? -Jon
Hi guys is any good alternative for AVR21 ?
What features are important to you? Should I assume same price point and similar features?
@@ripewave Hi
I think price point and similar features definitely.
I am about to buy Arcam AVR21 but also consider Anthem and maybe JBL synthesis.🙂
I just asked you because is very little information and comparisons between Arcam,Anthem and JBL so far what I know that amplifiers share same platform and JBL uses even better CADs 9028 pro but price is higher too.
Does the JBL SDP-38 not support 8k?
The new JBL models SDP-55 and SDR-38 support 8K. The release of those new JBL models lagged the Arcam release by several weeks and was after this video was produced.-Jon
@@ripewave thanks Jon. do you know if the amps can be easily bypassed like Denon and Marantz? I'm considering Arcam 11 pre-amp out to Crown DCI 8/300 wpc for a multi-purpose theater room, but being able to internal Arcam amp on for another room in order to share all my source content. if it does not have bypass perhaps the AV-41 is a better option still over Denon AVR 6700H. kind thanks in advance.
btw, the video overlay graphics you put together are clear and helpful sorting out options.
Thank you! I own a Arcam AVR850 and to be honest I don't think any of the new Arcam Products are worth purchasing going forward. One, the changes are not really providing an oh wow improvement from the AVR 850. Maybe the DAC chip but that is debatable as well. The cost is ridiculous for what one gets. There are so many better choices out there for far less money. I for one see no reason to have 8K for at least 5 more years if at all. The content needs to catch up with the technology. 4k to me is a nice improvement and really don't see any reason to need 8K content anyway.
Gary - your post escaped me until now. Valuable to have an existing Arcam owner weigh in on these new models. It is unfortunate that they haven’t done much to elevate their offering. Harmon and more so super parent Samsung has access to funding but has chosen not to invest beyond sustaining levels. The fact that the Arcam base investment feeds the largely duplicable models under the Lexicon, JBL Synthesis and OEM AudioControl. This effort indicate a true lack of funding for these audio brands.
While I agree with you and most others regarding the need for 8K right now, perhaps there are other benefits to have HDMI 2.1 support such as Quick Media Switching which benefit 4K/60hz as well. Your thoughts on that? -Jon
@@ripewave Good afternoon. Love your channel. Very well thought out I don't think you miss anything when comparing all the variety of manufactures and the models offered. I did speak to a Arcam retailer regarding the new AVR31 which would be the equivalent to my AVR 850. He said sonically one would probably not notice any different of performance between the two. The mentioned new features you present are about it which really wouldn't justify one to upgrade until one needs to have the 8K and or 2.1. I would probably consider a upgrade in about 3 more years when I get a new TV.
A bit off brand topic. Curious if you have reviewed the NAD T778 and your thoughts if you have experience with the AVR?
Gary, thanks for sharing that feedback from the dealer. If there were stronger points he would likely convey. Sounds like you have an honest local store that is okay knowing you won’t be upgrading soon based on his guidance.-Jon
@@garykarczewski6678 I included the NAD T778 as part of a large group (17 with 12 channels) so it was not as focused a the brand specific videos.
This 2020 model has 11.1 channels of processing and 9 channels of amplification. While NAD is often well regarded for their sound quality, NAD appears to deliver less then the competition at the same $3000 price point. It does seem to line up with the entry level Arcam AVR11 which is also 12 channel - 7.1.4 at $3000. But Arcam also is considered to be over priced.
While the NAD is positioned as “upgradable” with modules, those modules are slow coming - so the module is still HDMI 2.0b with nothing announced. The BlueOS does offer good streaming support and is the only one I know with MQA support.
Anyone with these units, do you know if abuzz is supported. This is a biggie to me as I can't use it with the streamers I have.
I have not heard of Abuzz. What is it?
@@ripewave It is a fairly new streaming network. Not as popular as Tidal or Spotify but good price for high resolution music. I prefer overall sound to tidal and much prefer it to Spotify which I would not pay for because of some of their podcasters.
@@edwardgreenberg8298 thanks for the education. Always glad to see new entries that aim to elevate quality. -Jon
@@ripewave A buzz is what happens when drinking alcohol too fast.
i upgrade my Aecam AV40 to 2.1 HDMI😊
That’s great news. Let me know if the improvements are noticeable.-Jon
@@ripewave will do ✌🏼
So?
lol all good so far @@ferenckluni7652
AVR30/20 have HDR10.
Thanks you! -Jon
Tell me what transformer is in avr5? Toroidal?
I doubt it.
No, E-core. AV20/21/30/31 all toroidal. 👌
@@MrDante10no Thanks 👍
Does anyone know if AVR31 will work with 6Ohm speakers?
Yes, it will. My Arcam AV20 powers 4 x Revel M16 (6 ohm) and 1 Revel C20 (6 ohm), no problem. 🙂👍
@@MrDante10no Great.
It’s rated for 4 ohm speakers, so you’re good 👍
What a disappointment from Arcam. No change to the front although the customers demanded that, no clear view on the buttons, the placement of the bars… and no Auro 3D?! This won‘t be a top choice… unfortunately.
I expect more from Arcam. They are part of the Harman group of audio brands and owed now by Samsung. They certainly have resources to elevate their products. The lack of advancement is further confusing when you consider Harman shares this platform with JBL Synthesis and Lexicon as well as their OEM to Audio Control. Even their manual is not well executed. I do hear that their sound quality is respectable. -Jon
@@ripewave tried AVR20 B-stock, was a nightmare....nothing worked. Sent the junk back......and oh tested the sound via TOSLINK (as HDMI A/V was not working) and was actually very nice.
I want 18 channel...
9+2+7 🤭🤭🤭
You must be an Auro3D fan with a center height channel.