Arcam an Upgrade?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ย. 2024
- Overview of some significant updates in our home theater. Replaced equipment includes a Marantz AV7703 with an Arcam AVR390 and an Emotiva XPA-3. This video covers some thoughts and personal surprises when testing out the new gear.
I just bought the AVR390 and had a professional set up Dirac live and it’s powerful and detailed. I am using the new line of Dynaudio Evokes and I am 110% satisfied. Good call brother 🙏🏻
Same experience for me. Was always a Denon guy and was generally happy but started trying some of the latest gen receivers from Anthem, NAD, Arcam, Marantz 8015 and Denon AVR A110. Ended up sticking with the Arcam AVR30 and very happy!
Thanks for the comment; I'd agree 👍
I see your video was 3 years ago but glad I saw it, my brother is giving his Arcam avr300 which he had in the attic for some years now, I was thinking of replacing my Onkyo tx nr686, I hope it will improve my sound quality also thinking of getting the Emotiva amp to go with it, thanks for sharing!
I'm very lucky... I have the Arcam AV 950 preamp ( finest AVR ever made by Arcam) connected to 7 audiolab monoblocks into 7 identical speakers..... Music heaven...
Agree with you whole heartedly I would take my old pioneer 5.1 receiver back over my Denonx3600h any day. I’m going to sell my receiver and my marantz amp and invest in a Arcam AVR20 after listening to one a few days ago.
When it comes to sonic performance, Arcam is the real deal. That's where they put their money. The other stuff (design, interface, directions, etc) are secondary, which is a shame because that can turn off a lot of people. I have an Arcam AVR300 (a real 120wpc stereo, and 100wpc x 7) from 2006, and it's a great combo of warmth up top, and real grunt with the bass. I have Klipsch RF7i's which are big badass speakers, and I'm astounded by the amount of bass produced with this combination, with no sub. Orchestral bass drums hit you in the chest, and the opening scenes of Prometheus rattle the walls. I highly recommend Arcam if you want a first rate sonic experience.
It’s far exceeded any expectations I had going in.
I have the Arcam avr 300 combined with bowers and wilkins 706 s2 and 3 bang olufsen speakers, the sound with the Arcam it’s heavenly, warm crystal
@@paulioan5827 nice. Do you find the AVR300 to be powerful enough to sufficiently drive the B&W’s? That brand is well known for being very power hungry to produce great sound.
My previous amp was Yamaha avc 30 - 100 wpc made in Japan, 1991 I think; that amp was very powerful. with the same speakers (B&W 706 s2) I used to listen to music at 25-30% volume on the yamaha avc 30, to get the same volume with the Arcam, I use 75% volume. the same source, the same volume level on the source.. in terms of volume, Yamaha was much stronger, in terms of musicality, Yamaha makes me put my hands up, but Arcam makes me wanna drink red wine and have sex
@@paulioan5827 I guess that means you like it 😆
I like your discovery and review on arcam… im also a marantz and pionneer user for many many years, then i decided to narrow the path, and end up setting up 2 channel system and i decided to check the Arcam SA10 with Bw 603 s2 anniversary speakers , and it was lovely and i was amazed from it, now watching your review on arcam, I’m thinking to try it and come back to AVR’s . Thank you for this review
Thanks so much! You will be happy with the change!
I'm wondering if someone can help me, I've just purchased arcam AVR receiver and I'm reading through the manual and it states.. I need to run it through a PC / Mac application, thing is I've got no computer experience whatsoever! I'm about to purchase a Android Chromebook which can accept a USB drive! I'm just wondering because it hasn't specifically PC or Mac will I still be able to run the calibration on the Chromebook 🤔
Apologise for the daft question... I think I've gone a little bit over my head but it's ok I'm prepared to learn, after all anything for better sound quality! 😄
@@truthteller5881 You will need a Mac or Windows PC to use the Direc calibration software.
Calibration tips:
- select narrow focus
- apart from first measurement that needs to be precisely in your MLP - rest make in different positions and height don’t follow the iconographic, also make sure there is at least foot distance between them
- as target curve download from StormAudio Dirac target curves, they have +5db set under 100Hz for extra umpf
Wish you got Avr 850. I have that. Amazing
👍 thanks , keep doing videos
Thank you!
As someone who has had a few Denon AVRs I am curious to hear your long term opinion is on this piece.
I have been looking at brands like Arcam and Lexicon as my next AVR/Processor. In a perfect world it would be a Trinnov product but that is just to rich for my blood lol
So far so good 😁
So it’s two years later. Still with the Arcam? If not at least what was your long term experience with it?
Dude, absolutely loved this review. Trying to choose between 4 different Avrs rn. Separates have entered my mind but can’t really justify the cost rn. I did see the Arcam playing off the b&w’s yest in a Best Buy two channel setup and I could have sworn there was subwoofer. Wife on the phone thought I was at a club. 😂 Curious if you got the Dirac streaming situation fixed.
An updated video will follow soon. I upgraded to the AVR10 and am super happy.
Man, I’ve been looking at arcam,anthem and Denon this is such a hard choice if I go arcam or anthem I’ll have to buy used but with denon a 3700H is $1500 I don’t have to have the latest and greatest but I want a 5.1 receiver that sounds amazing without having a I do separates and it sounds like arcam sounds amazing without separates
@P T How is the sound detail on the Arcam avr5. I like a lot of detail on my movies, can you tweak the Dirac so you can adjust the sound detail level mid to high frequency for example.
@P T And how does the Arcam Avr5 sound with movies at low volume, because I do a lot of night time viewing it’s important for me to get plenty of detail at low volume and less louder bass so I don’t disturb the neighbours.
Denon works great in that sense where I set the dynamic volume to light and it works wonders.
Nothing like arcam
I don't know if this channel is still active, but to the OP if still active and if this video is still relevant: when you get "mixed results" from DIRAC, are you referring to anything specific regarding frequencies? For example, do you notice that the bass or treble or mid-range specifically sounds worse or better?
I will upload a new video within 30 days sharing some details including testing from recently upgrading to the AVR10.
British Gear guys 📀🎧🇬🇧
What about 2.1 music with the Arcam? I have the XPA-3 first gen amp, as well. And a 13 year old Pioneer receiver. Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand speakers. Not into home theater. 90% music but need 4k av receiver for 4k tv.
This sings in 2.1, and it's an excellent listening experience. A new video is in the works now that I have tested different formats.
@@hometheaterhobby9450 Awesome! Can't wait. Wish I could find someone in the Houston area that could help me with setup if I decide to purchase this 390.
Sorry. One more question. I have a Sony w/ARC. Which HDMI on the back of this 390 would I plug into? Yeah, I need help. haha. I know just enuff about all this stuff to know not much of anything. The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know much and then they change it all.
What are the dimensions of your HT room? I'm also looking at Arcam so I'm trying to determine what I might need for power. Thx much!
Oh wow. You experienced what I experienced. I bought a avr 850, hooked it up with my m&k’s. I set the crossover at 100hz and that’s it. Played a movie I use for reference and 🤯 wow. I was so upset at myself for not getting one earlier. The way it sounds without calibration it’s all I needed. The sounds was big and immersive but yet the dialogue was clear and dynamic. I did run Dirac also and at first I thought it was great but after a few tests with different movies I prefer it without it. I felt like it took away from the big sound I was getting without it. Also by turning on the imax setting and you get another wow (which you can’t turn on with the calibration on). I did but their newer receiver, the avr10 but it was a pain in the butt and it was twice the price I got the avr850 for yet my 850 sounds better.
Thanks for sharing; I agree with you. I’m also running without Dirac now. I did adjust the center dbs by two, but that’s the only thing I’ve changed.
The 850 is the next amp up from the AVR10. You might have liked the AVR20 or even 30, but they're expensive. Which films do you use as test subjects?
@@AdultDevelopmentInstitute actually the avr30 it’s what’s equivalent to the avr850. It has the class G amplification. I got a great deal on it and I like that it has the on the TV menu. And at the time I got it the avr30 was $6k. I paid $1500 for this one and came with a UMIK-1 mic but after running Dírac the first, second and third time I gave up on it. I’m a audio engineer by profession and even after tweaking the curve I realized that it still sounded better straight with eq off. I use multiple movies for reviewing sound. I use A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD & READY PLAYER ONE. Plus I like to use blue ray concerts like Hit Man: David Foster & Friends.
@@Laissez_Faire - I have just installed the Arcam AVR20 and spent 2 hours doing firmware updates, so I am now looking forward to testing it out all night. I'm sure my wife won't mind...
@@AdultDevelopmentInstitute oh you gonna love the sound. Arcam gets the sound right. Enjoy it
I am in the same boat and am waiting to jump the gun for a while, have an Outlaw 7000X. Was looking to buy a higher powered one for front stage but with Arcam I might be happy with what it has.
How in the world could you get that for 999$ (do you mind if I ask where?)
Also, I am not able to find it in stock anywhere near me, any advice where to find this ?
Hi i noticed you have the panasonic ub 450, was this a replacement for the 420, i watched an older review of yours before i come across this 1, I have the 450 myself and was thinking of maybe getting the 9000, would i be gaining much if i did thanks 👍🏻
In my opinion, not really, unless you have an OLED screen. That’s where I’ve seen a difference, but it was a small one.
Info on that tv stand plz
Give up your Emotiva amplifiers and go with Arcam PA240. Thank me later
Hello, thanks for clarifying your impressions. I currently have a denon avc x8500h that is fantastic in all areas but my room is a bit screwed up and I want to try the avr20 ... I have doubts how limited it is in connections and configuration options! I hope I noticed an improvement and experienced the same as you ... how much change did you notice? Greetings
On the same boat now. Currently using Denon 8500H and was wondering whether to go for a complete pre-pro route or just add a 3/5 channel power amp to my 8500H or sell the 8500H and buy Arcam or Anthem AV receiver!
@@aboltabol73 Hello I tried several rotel amplifiers, ncore class d and I did not notice anything vs internal amplifiers ... I changed my 8500h for an arcam avr20 and although it has cost me to get used to it due to some problem with dirac, otherwise the arcam sounds better than the 8500 ... it is not day and night but it is something more dynamic and clean, the 8500h is a great machine but xt32 is not up to that great amplifier.
@@antonioantequeracid6005 thanks for sharing your experience. Have you ever tried any Anthem AV receiver or processor ? Like MRX-1140 or the AVM 70 ?
@@aboltabol73 No, but they say that their sound is wonderful, they have a problem of a lot of fan noise and there are users who return it because they do not provide a solution from anthem
@@antonioantequeracid6005 frankly hearing all these things, thinking of just buying a 5 channel power amp for now and use the 8500 only for 4 height channels. And may be next year if feel so buy a bug free processor.
Hello. Thanks for your video.
I am huge fan of the movie and my hobby is also home theater.
I always was a fan of marantz too and had a lot of avr models of this brand.
And finely in 2020 i decided to go to separetes.
I bought emotiva xpa 2 and xpa 9 gen 3 amplifiers for driving my 7.2.4 atmos speakers.
And also bought marantz 7705 prepro.
Unfortunately it had low frequency hoise from all channels, so after 45 days of service they just returned me my money.
I was really disappointed about marantz.
Now i am looking for something else.
Arcam av40 is what i am looking to. But there were some problems in firmware year ago and still there are some issues with it.
May be it will be ok in some time, but I am a little afraid of buying it. The price is 3000 euro.
Does arcam is really much more better than marantz in soundstage and presentation?
There is no videos about arcam vs marantz prepro.
But your video proofs that it is worth to try it.
Unfortunately it wont be so easy to return it if i dont like it.
I am from Latvia. I have to buy it abroud through the internet.
Hope to see your answer ;)
Great video. Thanks.
This guy rambles on and on without being able to say anything meaningful
I agree.
I respect anyone who's willing to put themselves out there. And if they happen to have a sense of humour, just like Mr agreeable well that's even better.
@@totalplonker824 totally agree 😁