Official Arcam AVR400 Thread

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by lojack1976

Hometheater.com review is up now...HERE.

Cool Jack thanks you I did not think it would come out this fast

[callas01]

that review really didn't have much too it. Im sure the AVR400 isn't the sonic and power house that the AVR600 is, but im sure its as good as any Rotel, Anthem, etc receiver out there in its competition.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

that review really didn't have much too it. Im sure the AVR400 isn't the sonic and power house that the AVR600 is, but im sure its as good as any Rotel, Anthem, etc receiver out there in its competition.

Not really, At least we can see the measurements, 200wpc 1% and 162 at 0.1% distortion in 2 channels at 4 ohms I think it's enough for me.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Not really, At least we can see the measurements, 200wpc 1% and 162 at 0.1% distortion in 2 channels at 4 ohms I think it's enough for me.

Im saying the review didn't seem to gloat about it too much or give good feedback about it, the review is sorta so-so

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

Im saying the review didn't seem to gloat about it too much or give good feedback about it, the review is sorta so-so

I agree they did not sound nearly as excited as stereophile did while auditioning the X12 or the Dreamcatchers.

That's how i understood it but as I said what i wanted to know about it most was the benchmarks and they do satisfy what i was hoping for.

I am sure it sounds as good as Anthem receivers, I read review about it saying the Arcam is more musical and the Anthem has better room correction but all in all it compare certainly to the 700 but for 500$ more, I just wanted to see the pairing, The Irony is they actually tested on Studios 20 V4.

[BigAl87]

One thing amazes me is at 90 wpc rated power this AVR prduces less than 0.002% THD and it is shown in the graph from HT mag review.

http://www.hometheater.com/content/a...-labs-measures

[BigAl87]

I am not gonna make you wait any longer so i ma going to order this AVR today

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I am not gonna make you wait any longer so i ma going to order this AVR today

Congrats Olivier, I'm sure your going to love it. Are you going for silver or black?

[rded]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I am not gonna make you wait any longer so i ma going to order this AVR today

Congrats Olivier! Let us know how it sounds and performs and if it has some bugs.

BTW, make sure your dealer installs the latest firmware on the receiver since it is not as easy and a bit complicated to update as your denons, pioneers and marantz...

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I am not gonna make you wait any longer so i ma going to order this AVR today

Congrats!!

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I am not gonna make you wait any longer so i ma going to order this AVR today

congrats.. order the silver.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by rded

Congrats Olivier! Let us know how it sounds and performs and if it has some bugs.

BTW, make sure your dealer installs the latest firmware on the receiver since it is not as easy and a bit complicated to update as your denons, pioneers and marantz...

I am a wiz in updating firmware i did it for my HK and not to mention Andrew did it more than once on hos Anthem.

I will ask them anyways.

I willnot get it tonight as they only have the AVR600 in stock

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by rded

Congrats Olivier! Let us know how it sounds and performs and if it has some bugs.

BTW, make sure your dealer installs the latest firmware on the receiver since it is not as easy and a bit complicated to update as your denons, pioneers and marantz...

Originally Posted by aces high

Congrats Olivier, I'm sure your going to love it. Are you going for silver or black?

Originally Posted by lojack1976

Congrats!!

Originally Posted by callas01

congrats.. order the silver.

Thanks Guys and steve yes i will get it in Silver, looks Classier i find.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I am a wiz in updating firmware i did it for my HK and not to mention Andrew did it more than once on hos Anthem.

I will ask them anyways.

I willnot get it tonight as they only have the AVR600 in stock

I've had to do 2 updates on my Anthem but the last update solved all the problems I was having and it runs perfectly now. It took quite awhile for that to happen though.

[BigAl87]

Rhett BTW this thing is alot easier to update than my HK also you just use a USB Stick pop it in let the AVR detect the Firmware files and wait 15 minutes until process is complete.

It's fixes only a few minor bugs anyways.

I needde to hokup my hk to my pc using RS232 and then reset like 4 times during the whole process, technology evolves.

[BigAl87]

Done ordered my AVR400 today and i am very happy I did, I will get it next week. At the mean time I experinced Nordost White Lightning IC and decided to purchase them rather than waiting for XLO to come up with their Ultra Plus. Funny enough my Totem/Arcam dealer just became a dealer for Nordost and they also have XLO so you have some choice finally.

HAHA who ever said IC don't make a difference has not actually taken the time to do side by side comparaison cause the Nordost blew away the Monster in every single aspect of the sound, 200$ Nordost vs 125$ Monster and it a quite uneven matchup.

Nordost offered a much bigger and wider soundstage, a fuller sound, provided better low end extension and also improved the over imaging because of the better overall sound.

The Speaker cables that were used were Totem Bi-Wire Kit.

[Woody]

Nice, congrats.

I am a big fan of Arcam.

Do you like your rDac? Did you compare it to any other DACs before you bought it?

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by Woody

Nice, congrats.

I am a big fan of Arcam.

Do you like your rDac? Did you compare it to any other DACs before you bought it?

I actually love it it does a really good job and has often been compared to more expensive DAC interm of SQ, only down side vs those 2K DAC are the digital inputs. 1 coax 1 opt and 1 USB and that's it and 1 optinal wireless.
One thing to pull all the benifits of it I had to invest in a good pair of IC the Nordost entry level white Lightning did make a difference vs the Kimber tonik which is the kimber entry level. 200$ vs 125$

I did not do side by side comparaison with other DACs but I hknow people who did it for me and recommended the rDAC to me. when you pass 24bit /96khz to it it sounds absolutely amazing.

Nonetheless the Kimber was much better than the cheap BB cables I had even better than the Monster if you ask me. Quality counts most with analog cables for digital as long you have no data loss makes no difference.

I read good things also for the Magic DAC from Cambridge.

[BigAl87]

This AVR is apprently pretty powerful, Them Totem rep told me that it's perfectly capable of driving the Fire and The Earth.

Driving the Totem Metal would be Wishfull thinking becuase of the power demands at lower impedance and the 2 active woofers design.

[BigAl87]

Finally updated the firmware to the latest and greatest acouple weeks ago and I am glad to see I eliminated any picture drop outs, I only have a small issue once in a while swtching to a different source I sometimes have to switch back to the previous source and then I come back to it to have the picture, just a small handshke issue but nothing major.

This small issue is something I can live with since this AVR delivers Phenominal performance, It does not have all the bells and Wistle Integra and Onkyo would have in it's price range but you try to get the best possible musicality and best possible pairing with your speakers I think theis was the logical choice for me. HT Mag gave it a 5 stars ratings in term of performance