[A.I.]

Originally Posted by Nuri58

IMO you need ask a home demo and hear for yourself if it can match 2ch. (I think nobody is in a position to answer as they didn't audit it and how it compares to your present set up is another issue - room eq may make it superior to the present set-up assuming it features room eq).

That's exactly what I'm going to have to do.

Thanks

[RumNYC]

Originally Posted by ReTrO

We had our AVR400 demo unit come in this week. Not sure on the available stock at present as we are waiting for our first non-demo unit to arrive.

It's certainly a good capable receiver, much more flexible than the AVR500 due to the extra time since the 500's development and the extra pre-outs etc. We've had it running with Dynaudio Excite and B&W CM speaker systems and been impressed.

Glad to hear they are shipping out.

1) how are the DACs in the AVR400

2) What is the OSD/GUI like in the AVR400? I saw the OSD on the Anthem MRX and these UIs have come a long way and the Anthem one is extremely configurable and not a blocky eyesore. Does it work over HDMI with video overlay and sound? Is it fast or is there a flicker/pause when the OSD cuts in/out?

3) How quick or noisy is the HDMI switch? lot of clicks/pops?

4) How is the room correction? have you set it up? Does it noticably improve sound? A lot of people are speaking very highly of the Anthem ARC room correction, but there is no word on the Arcam implementation so any feedback on that would be very much appreciated

[dglozic]

Originally Posted by RumNYC

Glad to hear they are shipping out.

1) how are the DACs in the AVR400

2) What is the OSD/GUI like in the AVR400? I saw the OSD on the Anthem MRX and these UIs have come a long way and the Anthem one is extremely configurable and not a blocky eyesore. Does it work over HDMI with video overlay and sound? Is it fast or is there a flicker/pause when the OSD cuts in/out?

3) How quick or noisy is the HDMI switch? lot of clicks/pops?

4) How is the room correction? have you set it up? Does it noticably improve sound? A lot of people are speaking very highly of the Anthem ARC room correction, but there is no word on the Arcam implementation so any feedback on that would be very much appreciated

According to Kal Rubinson from Stereophile, Arcam's room correction is decent but not at the same level as Audyssay or Anthem's ARC. Arcam itself markets is as something to handle the worst room modes - a more modest goal than the other leading systems. They also suggest that addressing the room problems directly is more beneficial than trying to cancel them out by EQ.

[RumNYC]

Originally Posted by dglozic

According to Kal Rubinson from Stereophile, Arcam's room correction is decent but not at the same level as Audyssay or Anthem's ARC. Arcam itself markets is as something to handle the worst room modes - a more modest goal than the other leading systems. They also suggest that addressing the room problems directly is more beneficial than trying to cancel them out by EQ.

Can you point me toward this comment? I have read his articles and comments at the avsforum site.

[eaglemmoomin]

Google?

[ReTrO]

Originally Posted by RumNYC

Glad to hear they are shipping out.

1) how are the DACs in the AVR400

2) What is the OSD/GUI like in the AVR400? I saw the OSD on the Anthem MRX and these UIs have come a long way and the Anthem one is extremely configurable and not a blocky eyesore. Does it work over HDMI with video overlay and sound? Is it fast or is there a flicker/pause when the OSD cuts in/out?

3) How quick or noisy is the HDMI switch? lot of clicks/pops?

4) How is the room correction? have you set it up? Does it noticably improve sound? A lot of people are speaking very highly of the Anthem ARC room correction, but there is no word on the Arcam implementation so any feedback on that would be very much appreciated

Answers for you.

1) I've not sat down and listened to them in stereo mode properly yet. I'll update when it has had some more run in time.

2) It uses the same GUI as the AVR500/600 and gives full overlay on all signals I have put through so far. I suspect overlay on 3D will be the same as before too (I think it gets dumped on one eye and not the other) but as I haven't tried with a 3D source or display I'm not sure yet.

3) It does seem faster to switch than the AVR500/600 and so far I haven't noticed any errant sounds coming from it.

4) I've not specifically run this yet in our small demo room when it is currently residing.

[dglozic]

Originally Posted by RumNYC

Can you point me toward this comment? I have read his articles and comments at the avsforum site.

Sure, it is here:

Music in the Round #39 | Stereophile.com

The comment in question:

"Arcam's EQ is not the equal of Audyssey or Anthem Room Correction, but it's effective and useful."

[rushwj]

maybe i missed it, but i haven't seen anywhere that it mentions the 400 having any kind of room correction. it just says auto-setup (meaning speaker distance?). does this unit have room correction or not?

[spl23]

Originally Posted by rushwj

maybe i missed it, but i haven't seen anywhere that it mentions the 400 having any kind of room correction. it just says auto-setup (meaning speaker distance?). does this unit have room correction or not?

According to the manual (now available on Arcam's site), it does indeed have Room EQ, which can be selectively enabled for each input.

While looking for that, I was amused to see the description on the AVR400 page -
"The AVR400 sounds precise, detailed and natural. More like an upmarket hi-fi separate amp in sound quality than the uniformly disappointing noise served up by most AV amps which aren’t even good enough for Country and Western."

Someone in the Arcam PR department is clearly not a big Johnny Cash fan... ;-)

[rushwj]

Originally Posted by spl23

According to the manual (now available on Arcam's site), it does indeed have Room EQ, which can be selectively enabled for each input.

While looking for that, I was amused to see the description on the AVR400 page -
"The AVR400 sounds precise, detailed and natural. More like an upmarket hi-fi separate amp in sound quality than the uniformly disappointing noise served up by most AV amps which aren’t even good enough for Country and Western."

Someone in the Arcam PR department is clearly not a big Johnny Cash fan... ;-)

Thanks man! i did not see it mentioned anywhere when they talk about its features, but didn't think of checking the manual.

i agree about the C&W comment! i'm not a big country fan myself, but an interesting comment to make. let's wait and see if it stays up there or gets changed/removed

[mac_monkey]

I can't wait for the independent reviews to come in on this.

It appears to have all the features I want at the right pricepoint (of course it could be cheaper).

I never followed the 500/600 threads (out of budget) so I'm unaware of what "issues" they have. Going to read up know and pray they're all fixed for the 400.

[ianmacd]

I had to really try hard not to go get one at the weekend. I should wait for a review but......I really want one now.

[ReTrO]

Originally Posted by mac_monkey

I can't wait for the independent reviews to come in on this.

It appears to have all the features I want at the right pricepoint (of course it could be cheaper).

I never followed the 500/600 threads (out of budget) so I'm unaware of what "issues" they have. Going to read up know and pray they're all fixed for the 400.

There certainly shouldn't be any of the over-heat issues that were associated with the 500 as this was sorted before the 400 came to release. Our demo 400 is running away happily on some Naim S-400 speakers at present to run in and sounding better as it goes.

[Slackadder]

Thanks for the update Richard,

Currently have a no new black box regime in force by the other half having to satisfy the "urge" with tweaks she can't see....

Once we move I can re-instate the home cinema in the new man room and a new receiver will be needed.

Anthony

[ianmacd]

Get the 400 in the same colour as your 300 and tell her the volume knob fell off.

[RaceTripper]

Originally Posted by ianmacd

Get the 400 in the same colour as your 300 and tell her the volume knob fell off.

Yeah, but the 400 is taller.

[eaglemmoomin]

.....and got taller and more curved at the front.

[Jaunty]

Originally Posted by RaceTripper

Yeah, but the 400 is taller.

I need to measure..but don't think it will fit in my current Blok rack which is perfect at the moment for all my kit and centre speaker

[RaceTripper]

Originally Posted by Jaunty

I need to measure..but don't think it will fit in my current Blok rack which is perfect at the moment for all my kit and centre speaker

If I get the AVR400, I will need to do some surgery to the back of my component stand. The 400 is a bit deeper than the 300 too. I'm also looking to find another Alpha amp.

WDH including feet
AVR300 = 433 x 420 x 145mm
AVR400 = 435 x 440 x 172mm

[Rock Danger]

Originally Posted by ReTrO

Our demo 400 is running away happily on some Naim S-400 speakers at present to run in and sounding better as it goes.

Do solid state amps need to 'run in' for more than a couple of hours? What exactly is supposed to change internally to make it sound better? I know valve amps can change sound but it's just simply due to wear on the tubes.

[ianmacd]

And here we go again.

[Bossk128]

I take it as warming up, which I have heard many a time of having an effect. Running in, don't know - all my good kit is second hand!!

[davisa]

Originally Posted by Jaunty

I need to measure..but don't think it will fit in my current Blok rack which is perfect at the moment for all my kit and centre speaker

Ah, I cunningly got my Blok made a bit bigger than required for my AVR280 "Just in case"

[neo_2009]

Any change of comparing the 400 and the 350 SQ ?

[spl23]

Originally Posted by Slackadder

Currently have a no new black box regime in force by the other half having to satisfy the "urge" with tweaks she can't see....

Don't overestimate the ability of the fairer sex to spot changes to hi-fi gear - my SO failed to spot that I'd replaced the 32" TV with a 40" one until I pointed it out a few weeks later... ;-)

[RaceTripper]

Originally Posted by spl23

Don't overestimate the ability of the fairer sex to spot changes to hi-fi gear - my SO failed to spot that I'd replaced the 32" TV with a 40" one until I pointed it out a few weeks later... ;-)

My SO can tell when I go over 90 MPH by the sound of the engine. She spots hi-fi gear upgrades when all I've done is started thinking about one.

[ianmacd]

Well I bit the bullet and have ordered one. Getting a black one to match the 4310 so hoping it will be seamless swapout .

[Nuri58]

Originally Posted by RaceTripper

My SO can tell when I go over 90 MPH by the sound of the engine. She spots hi-fi gear upgrades when all I've done is started thinking about one.

Uff - maybe upgrade spouse or add to upgrade cost some for diamonds or furs

[RaceTripper]

Originally Posted by Nuri58

Uff - maybe upgrade spouse or add to upgrade cost some for diamonds or furs

I'm afraid her tastes run to Aston-Martin.

[Nuri58]

Originally Posted by RaceTripper

I'm afraid her tastes run to Aston-Martin.

Ok let's stay OS once this said - get the AV 888 (won't make much difference in that case) or I can sell you a Aston Martin logo to fit on her present car.

I wish I could be of assistance as to audit it vis-à-vis my 600. The only thing I can say is the the 600 I found "twice as good" as the 300 I had - normally you'll get something better at double cost, but IMO not "twice as good" which I felt I got sonic wise. It did add flaws and did leave out the "Music mode" I'd come to like at least at certain occasions.