Yes, sorry, I've not had enough time to do a full, well thought out post yet, but here are my initial thoughts:
I listened to both the TAG AV32R and Arcam AV8. In the end, due to a lack of time and difficulty in juggling three different processors I dropped the AV30R from my list. The superior upgradability (potentially to AV192!) and no-compromise design persuaded me that I would probably go for the AV32R anyway even if there was not much to choose between them in sound.
I listened to both with the Arcam DV88, a Linn power amplifier as this was a 'neutral ground' for the battle and a B&W 600 S3 series 5.1 setup. As such my audition probably didn't allow the two processors to show off to their full potential but it was important to me to see whether it was worth going for something this high quality in my much lower price band system.
I listened to three clips of movies: the pod race from SW:TPM, the opening battle of Gladiator (dts) and the scene from JP3 from just before the moment when the pteradactyl (spelling??
??) swoops off with the boy.
Wow - what a difference. Compared to my AVR100/A85 combination the sound from both was hugely superior. (To answer another thread processor or power amp first: processor
). Basically there appeared to be more detail and clarity in the treble - especially the surrounds.
The verdict: the Arcam won the pod race and the battle scene. I'm not sure why but there just seemed to be a little more detail in these really busy bits of action. The TAG won the Jurassic Park III scene. In this scene there are quite a lot of distinct echos and creaks from the metal bridge which they are crossing and the combination of sounds and echos seemed slightly better placed and the slow crescendo of the drum beat was a bit more involving.
I have to say that the differences between the two were extremely marginal and I would be interested to hear them both in a more 'reference' setup. (I won't though even if given the opportunity as I've given my GF a no more upgrades (for a long time - apart from maybe just one) oath.)
Just looking at the features, they both do most processing formats:
TAG has a £450 price advantage unless you want 7.1 when it's a tie
Arcam has the usual Arcam green display - TAG has cool, funky blue display
Arcam has independent second stereo zone - TAG doesn't (might do in AV192R future form???)
TAG is definitely upgradable - Arcam, well, probably is to at least a certain extent.
TAG McLaren Surround 5 (or 7) - Arcam: just the usual PLII modes ??
So what happened to me? I've been tagged! Basically, the £450 cheaper with proven upgradablility and funky blue display won it for me. The sound quality was so similar in the setup that I'm likely to stay with for some time that I couldn't pick an obvious winner. I'm loaning the shop AV32R until mine arrives (their's is actually 7.1 but I can't get speakers into decent positions so I won't try!).
My A85 drives the front speakers - I'm just using it as a power amp now and the AVR100 drives the (bass limited) other three channels. I've thought quite a bit about power amps and I'll being getting a matching P85/3 (Arcam gets the consolation prize
) and selling my AVR100. This is a relatively cheap way forward and I won't be able to afford anything much better for a *long* time!
The dual switchable speaker outputs of the A85 give me enough of a 'second zone' functionality without requiring more power amps. I now let the TAG do the CD DAC job from the DV88, it certainly seems no worse than the analogue connectino from the DV88 to the A85 used to be.
Hopefully this weekend I can do some head to heads. Movie sound: AVR100 processing vs AV32R processing. Unfair, of course, but then I can see what the TAG gains me. CD replay: (i) DV88 via analogue to A85 preamp vs (ii) DV88 via analog to TAG input vs (iii) DV88 via analogue to TAG part of 5.1 bypass input vs (iv) DV88 via digital to TAG. This should be interesting I think the last option will win but I'm quite interested in (i) vs (iii) as I have been quite attached to the A85 preamp stage sound.
Eek, is that the time? Must go to work...
Charles.