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| Model: | AVR-100 |
| Category: | Receiver |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $1199.00 |
| Description: | A sweet HT receiver with typical Arcam 2 channel performance. . . |
| Manufacturer URL: | Arcam |
| Model Picture: | View |
|
Review by Hantra on January 04, 2001 at 13:47:15 IP Address: 12.21.200.2 |
Add Your Review for the AVR-100 |
My love affair with Arcam started the day I listened to an Alpha 8 with some
B&W SCM1's. That was the best experience I have ever had with any hi-fi
that I can actually afford!I had been wanting to upgrade my old Denon AV receiver for a while, but I
couldn't find anything with really sweet sound for 2-channel stereo that
would do AV! Well, I wanted really great performance in stereo, and I
didn't want to give up my home theater. Usually one would have to spend
LOTS of cash to accomplish that. (Meridian, Lexicon, Theta, etc.)So, when I heard that Arcam was thinking about coming at us with a home
theater receiver, I was overjoyed! I KNEW that Arcam had been making very
high quality stereo amps for 25 years. I also knew that Arcam would not
abandon the pursuit of very sweet musical sound, just to get into a growing
market.I began the quest to go listen. Unfortunately, I could not find a dealer in
3 states that had one! I was so confident that the Arcam sound would come
through in their AVR-100 that I went ahead and ordered it.I am very pleased to say that I was not the least bit disappointed!
I have to say that this Arcam receiver is the BEST sounding HT receiver I
have ever heard. It really delivers that smooth Arcam sound when listening
to CD's in 2 channel. But it also delivers a very nice, smooth presentation
of DTS, and DD. And for those DSS channels that are still Pro-Logic, they
even improved a great deal with this!The amazing thing is how it delivers such a smooth sound, without any loss
of detail, and GREAT imaging! This thing will knock your socks off!I have only had it for a few days now, and am burning it in slowly. I know
that it will be even smoother after burn-in!
| Product Weakness: | Lack of power if you have insensitive speakers. |
| Product Strengths: | Smooth sound, without any loss of detail. Very nice soundstage. Sweet 2-channel audio, and killer DD, and DTS also! |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
| Amplifier: | Arcam AVR-100 |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Pioneer Elite PD-65 |
| Speakers: | Aliante Pininfarina Stile |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Chris VH CAT5's and fine silver IC's. |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms - Jerry Garcia, Tony Rice, and David Grisman, The Pizza Tapes - Al Dimeola, World Simfonia - Mazzy Star, Among My Swan - Eric Clapton, all |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Pioneer Elite DV-05 |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
How's the steering in DPL? Do you have a CD which goes from stage left to right? What digital cable are you using (since the Arcam page made no mention of an analog bypass of the digital processors, we KNOW it's not there)?
....just my 2¢
» Mart £ «
Audio Asylum
where the Retentive & Obsessed are the Analysts
Dolby Pro Logic is very nice on this receiver. It takes DPL to the limits of what it can do. My Denon AVR-2500's DPL sucks compared to this one. So, even for those DSS channels that aren't DD, DPL sounds way better than it did.As for the analog bypass, it is there. There is a DIRECT button on the receiver to bypass the electronics. I am surprised that you did not find that on their website, as that was a major selling point for me. I am using Chris VH's Fine Silver IC's from the PD-65, and a Tributaries digital cable from the DV-05.
HTH,
B
I didn't see anything direct bypass switch for stereo only out for analog signals. These are exerbs fromm their site. The direct switch seems to be for the analog output stage, not the DSP bypass. Maybe it's in your manual but it's not on the site.
"A massive toroidal transformer is at the heart of the AVR100's superior performance on music. This massive power supply, and the use of audiophile quality components at critical points in the signal path, together give a demonstratively better sound on music sources than other AV receivers at comparable prices. Tone control circuits are included along with a direct button which by-passes these for optimum sound quality. The AVR100 is capable of delivering 70 watts to all five channels and will deliver around 90 watts per channel when used in stereo."
. . . . . . . . . .
"A massive power supply with a custom built 550VA toroidal transformer gives the power amplifier section an extremely solid and controlled sound. The use of audiophile grade components in critical signal paths ensures that music is reproduced withsubtlety and precision. A bypass switch for the tone control circuits further simplifies the stereo signal path and, when activated, gives a surprising improvement in sound quality."
. . . . . . . . . .
"The AVR 100 is rated at 70 watts per channel in five channel mode and will deliver more than 90 watts per channel when used in stereo mode. Speaker impedance is selectable between 8 ohms and 4-6 ohms. Six 2 channel audio inputs are provided, along with a direct 6 channel input for connection to multi-channel analogue audio sources such as DVD-Audio. There are three digital inputs connected to a powerful 24 bit digital signal processor and six 24 bit DACs for decoding Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital and DTS encoded material. Video routing, complete with on screen graphics, is available for up to four composite and s-video sources."
....just my 2¢
» Mart £ «
Audio Asylum
where the Retentive & Obsessed are the Analysts
Here's a review from E-Town taken from www.aslgroup.com - The US distributor for Arcam.Arcam AVR100 Dolby Digital/DTS A/V Receiver
When I first saw Arcam's gutsy "Home theater that doesn't suck" ad for its AVR100 A/V receiver in Stereophile magazine, my heart swelled with joy. Could Arcam, one of Britain's top-selling high-end audio brands, really produce a receiver that totally decimates its mass-market competitors? Not quite, but the AVR100 is right on target with home theater-curious audiophiles. Take it from me, this thing performs that well.
The AVR100's innards look high-end; there's a massive toroidal power transformer and eight vertically oriented daughter boards. This bad boy was designed for music lovers; it bypasses the digital signaling processing (DSP) in stereo mode, so analog music signals aren't messed with. The AVR100's dynamic range control lets you dial in just the right amount of compression, which will be great for late-night viewings of "Saving Private Ryan."
....just my 2¢
» Mart £ «
Audio Asylum
where the Retentive & Obsessed are the Analysts
And if you're JUST looking for features, and bells and whistles, this is not your receiver. It's no nonsense, no frills, straight smooth sound. . .B
At least I believe Arcam to be British. If so, options would be an oxymoron. I just figured if it had compresion, maybe it had expansion to restore compressed recordings. Anyhow, manufacturers have made me skeptical of claims which can be misunderstood. The ones I've run across seem deliberate deceptions & run the spetra from low to high end, but seem predominately in the mid-fi regeme.
....just my 2¢
» Mart £ «
Audio Asylum
where the Retentive & Obsessed are the Analysts
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