Arcam AVR250 any good?

Trick

Trick

Trick

Soldato
Joined
7 Oct 2003
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Location
York
Hi,

Anyone have any experience of this amp? I've got the chance for a good deal on one in the near future to go alongside my Audiolab setup and was wondering if this was a decent enough - it's from a few years back I know but I'm not too bothered about the latest formats or hdmi switching if the Arcam is substantially better in the sound quality dept than similarly priced new Onkyo/Sony stuff.
 
I can confidently say it will outperform any AV amp twice the price in stereo, I've heard it & its that good. For 399 notes its a billy bargain!
 
I'd be keeping the Audiolabs for stereo (via Arcam Preouts) and using the Arcam to do two rear channels plus sub.
 
Yeah, sorry, my mistake! I don't actually have a sub so yep, whichever I buy would be powered. As it stands the avr250 would only have to power the rears (I've an old pair of Wharfedales that can take care of that until I buy some dedicated ones) and I'd buy a separate sub (prolly an SVS SB12-Plus).
 
Trick said:
Hi,

Anyone have any experience of this amp? I've got the chance for a good deal on one in the near future to go alongside my Audiolab setup and was wondering if this was a decent enough - it's from a few years back I know but I'm not too bothered about the latest formats or hdmi switching if the Arcam is substantially better in the sound quality dept than similarly priced new Onkyo/Sony stuff.
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i'd say for HT duties the Onkyo actually have more presence than the Arcams and handle it better but the Arcams are more musical for stereo - well the Onkyo 805 models and above anyway.

seeing how you're using the AV amp as more a processor than amp i think you'd be foolish to spend a decent amount on one such as the Arcam and not get the latest formats etc.
 
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I'm in a similar situation - picked up an old Marantz 4200 (they were 400quid in 2002) for 30quid to see if it does a reasonable job with the rears, and will take pre-out to audiolab for the fronts :)

I plan to use AC3 filter to do the processing (mux LFE into fronts until I get a sub) and this cheapo thing to do the rears... might be crap but worth a go at 30quid!
 
It's a fair point though, if the Arcam is only going to be decoding and driving the rear channel seems little over kill, and won't actually be used for what it's good at... playing music through to the fronts ! ..... Save some money and get a more flexible alternative.
You'll not hear hear any improvement on just the rears.
 
I just bought the AVR280 Black for £400 and it has the same decoding goodies as the AVR350. It is the best sound I've heard in a long long time in stereo and 5.1. Its twined with the Xonar D2. Have a shop around you should find a similar price. Hope I'm not breaking any forum rules but I see Overclockers no longer sell HiFi stuff.
 
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