Most audio and speaker companies, unlike many of today’s tech companies, start small. Arcam started life as A&R Cambridge Ltd by science and engineering students from England’s famed Cambridge University. Its first product in 1976 was an integrated amplifier, which distinguished itself through high-performance sound and elegant, minimalist styling. These same traits continue to set the company apart today, now part of Harman’s Luxury Audio Group, which in turn is part of the global technology giant Samsung.
Arcam has been making components for home theater audio since the mid-1990s, the era where home theater sound took off with the advent of the Dolby surround format. Today, their home theater gear continues the traditions of superb engineering and sleek styling, aimed at people who want something a cut above the mainstream.
A&B TV is one of a small handful of home audio stores in the Austin area that carries Arcam. Keep reading to learn more about Arcam’s high-performance home theater receiver line.
SEE ALSO: Love Bass? These SVS Subwoofers Will Rock You
The Receiver Line
Arcam’s AVR line is composed of three models – AVR10, AVR20, and AVR30. You might call them small, medium, and large; depending on the home theater space you need to pressurize with sound. They share ESS audiophile-grade DACs, Dirac Live room correction, Wi-Fi connectivity and control, and support for both Apple Airplay2 and Google Cast for broad compatibility with devices and music streaming services.
Two of the models, the AVR10 and AVR20, feature traditional Class AB amplification. The AVR10 puts out 80 watts/channel with 2 channels driven, and 60 watts with 7 channels driven simultaneously. Arcam is one of the few vendors to publish multichannel performance ratings. The AVR20 takes the numbers up to 110 watts with 2 channels and 90 at 7 channels, while the AVR30 flagship posts 120 watts X 2 and 100 watts X 7 channels. The AVR10 and AVR20 can process 12 channels of Dolby and DTS audio, while the AVR30 can support 16 -channel configurations, accommodating the Auro-3D immersive audio configurations as well.
The AVR 30 features a different amplifier design known as Class G. It is more efficient than Class AB designs and less susceptible to crossover distortion like Class AB. Class G designs are not often seen and appear mostly on high-end amplifiers. That’s because they are more difficult to properly engineer, requiring lightning-fast coordination of multiple power supplies expertly controlled by modern chips and firmware. Arcam likens it to the tuning of a high-performance car engine – you can build a powerful engine, but you have to know what you're doing to make it controllable and usable.
Arcam Differentiators
Arcam includes all the standard connectivity and processing technology you expect in an AVR and the higher-end ones that are not found in lesser equipment. The Dirac-Live room correction is based on a high-end solution developed for the pro-audio market. It offers extremely sophisticated processing to tame acoustically difficult spaces and improve bass response, sound staging, and clarity in music and vocals. Dirac room correction is only found on the highest-end audio processors in the business.
The Arcam receivers also feature enhanced ease-of-use with multiple control options. They can be controlled by a standard remote control, the MusicLife app on IOS and Android, through a web browser, or via the clear, large, and bright color front panel display and knob.
The AVR20 and AVR30 use high-power toroidal transformers like the type found in high-end amplifier separates. The overall build quality is what you should expect from a high-performance audio component, with beefy speaker binding posts and gold plated input connectors.
Most AV receivers are loaded with features, and Arcam is no exception. But the real differentiator is typically the engineering and tuning within that creates superb sound quality. Arcam builds in the quality to provide you a product that will deliver years of audio pleasure. To learn more about Arcam, visit our 10,000 square foot showroom or call us today at (512) 454-4534 for more information and the best pricing. We look forward to hearing from you!