When Arcam introduced that it might cascade a number of options all through its most up-to-date, rigorously curated AVR vary, it instantly appealed to that a part of us that may’t resist a cut price. No, it is not bargain-priced – however nonetheless, figuring out which you can purchase a extra reasonably priced product in a producer’s line-up and nonetheless acquire a few of the identical specs discovered on the flagship mannequin could be very compelling and persuasive when weighing up which model to purchase from.
What of the inverse, although? It’s great to have excessive requirements and sonic consistency throughout a variety, and such an strategy typically yields a few of the greatest worth AV merchandise we’ve come throughout. However if in case you have a bit more money to spend than most and are in search of a premium residence cinema receiver such because the Arcam AVR31, does figuring out that it has a lot in widespread with its cheaper siblings reduce its lustre and dampen its draw?
Worth
Sitting on the high of Arcam’s four-strong AVR vary, the AVR31 is priced at £5799 / $5250 / AU$11,495, although it is already out there with a reduction at sure retailers. Beneath it’s the AVR21 (£3799 / $4700 / AU$7995), however each fashions share many options, together with the identical ESS 9026 Professional DAC in addition to having the identical capability for seven channels of energy amplification.
The AVR31 is an equal mannequin to the What Hello-Fi? Award-winning Synthesis SDR35 (£6000 / $8250 / $14,999) from Arcam’s sister model, JBL. The SDR35 has a extra utilitarian design and customized install-friendly connectivity, however likewise makes use of a lot of the identical inside circuitry, in addition to providing seven channels of energy.
This is without doubt one of the most notable areas the place the AVRs from Arcam, and JBL, differ from the remainder of the market, with the likes of Yamaha and Denon providing 11 and 13 channels of energy amplification on their flagship residence cinema amps. Arcam insists that seven channels are the utmost quantity that may be delivered with out vital concessions in comparison with the efficiency of a stereo amplifier, and so adheres to the identical variety of amplifier outputs throughout the board. Nevertheless, with as much as 16 channels of decoding, the AVR31 is able to processing audio for methods as much as 9.1.6.
With wide-ranging audio format assist, together with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced and Auro-3D, in addition to Dolby Digital Peak, DTS Neural:X and DTS Digital:X for methods with out peak audio system, the AVR31 is effectively positioned to be enhanced with the addition of a separate energy amplifier, for a further value. Arcam’s personal steered choices for this embody the PA410 (£1399 / $1650 / AU$2995), which options 4 channels of AB amplification, and the two-channel PA240 (£2200 / $2750 / AU$3995) and seven-channel PA720 (£2900 / $3300 / AU$5995), each of which additionally use the identical class-G amplifier circuits because the AVR31.
Options & Construct
Class G is actually a variation of A/B amplification that makes use of voltage rail switching to assist maximise the amplifier’s effectivity. The AVR31 is the one AV receiver in Arcam’s new line-up that advantages from class-G amplification to ship a claimed 100W per channel with all channels pushed, in addition to an over-engineered toroidal transformer to assist cut back noise.
Although its variety of energy amplifier channels might depart one thing to be desired, there’s nothing missing in regards to the AVR31’s connectivity spec, with a wholesome seven HDMI 2.1 inputs and three outputs. All of those HDMI ports can deal with 8K video alerts at 60fps and 4K at 120fps with assist for VRR, ALLM, Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+. One of many outputs additionally helps eARC
Bodily connections on the rear additionally embody an array of six digital (4 coax, two optical) and 6 analogue (RCA) audio inputs, in addition to optical and analogue outputs and pre-amp outputs. There’s additionally an aerial connector for an FM/DAB tuner, a USB port and set off outputs with IR extenders for 2 zones, together with an RS-232 serial connector and an Ethernet port for wired community connection. Customers can even stream content material wirelessly utilizing Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX HD, Google Chromecast, Spotify Join, Roon and Tidal Join.
Arcam AVR31 tech specs
HDMI inputs x7
HDMI outputs x3 (together with eARC)
HDMI 2.1? Sure, inc VRR, ALLM
Processing 16 channels
Amplification 7 channels
Energy 120W (8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz) with two channels pushed
HDR codecs Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio codecs Dolby Digital+, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Encompass, Dolby Digital Peak, DTS Neural:X, DTS Digital:X
Streaming Google Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth aptX HD, Free MusicLife, helps MQA, Roon Prepared, Tidal Join, Spotify Join
Voice assistants Google Assistant suitable
When casting to the AVR31, album paintings is displayed on the beneficiant full-colour show. This, together with a classy gray end, tactile silver quantity dial and uncluttered design, lends it the looks of an outsized streamer. The AVR31 is undoubtedly a product supposed to take satisfaction of place in your house cinema room fairly than be consigned to a rack someplace out of the best way.
The AVR31 would not output a full-screen menu system to the TV or projector to which it is linked, so when you can tweak one setting at a time utilizing the included back-lit distant in your major video show, for set-up you’ll need a line of sight to the AVR’s entrance display or to entry the GUI by way of a cellphone or laptop computer on the identical community.
This inconvenience is considerably offset by Arcam providing assist for Dirac Dwell’s superior room correction software program with the AVR31, which the corporate says delivers “a bigger candy spot, correct staging, readability and voice intelligibility”. A licence and calibration microphone is included, whereas upgradable entry to Dirac Dwell Bass Management begins at £333 / $349 / AU$491 for a single subwoofer.
Whereas another manufacturers use equalisation software program to flatten a room’s frequency response, Dirac Dwell prioritises a speaker’s impulse response alongside its stability within the room. When you like fine-tuning and entering into the trivialities of response curves, it is an awesome function to have onboard, however getting essentially the most out of it requires greater than a little bit of persistence.
We’d count on that the majority prospects buying the AVR31 may have set-up carried out by knowledgeable installer, nevertheless it’s value mentioning that the amp’s most important menu does embody an inside check tone and choices to assign speaker distances, ranges, filter slope and crossover factors for guide calibration.
Dirac is actually value persevering with, nevertheless. We strive the AVR31 with each Dirac and guide calibration presets. Though the previous has barely much less relative quantity in direct comparability, as soon as compensated for, there’s noticeably a tighter coherence to the imaging when it is engaged for a big Dolby Atmos system.
Sound
For many of our testing, although, we hearken to the AVR31 in its Pure Direct mode and partnered with a 5.2.2 system utilizing speaker toppers as entrance peak drivers, and it is obvious that with or with out Dirac tuning, that is an amp that places in a lustrous efficiency with a clear, managed readability.
Watching No Time To Die on 4K Blu-ray in Atmos, the action-packed chase via Matera has a fragile realism that we aren’t typically handled to. Distinct particulars right here can typically merge, however the direct affect of the deluge of bullets is seamlessly counterpointed by the sonorous church bells, which have a very vertiginous high quality, regardless of the shortage of rear-height audio system in our system.
We’ve watched this scene many, many occasions in our check room. Nonetheless, the AVR31 uncovers a nuance and lyricism throughout the strident rating that we hadn’t beforehand been conscious of, notably in moments the place it pares again to carve out house for different parts. Nothing right here feels artificially spotlighted; there’s simply an considerable degree of refinement, separation and articulation that makes having fun with the breadth of this epic soundscape really feel easy.
Switching to Dunethe AVR31 proves it has the ability to pack a punch in the very best method. There’s additionally a lightness of contact in quiet moments, such because the crystalline squalls of sand which are stuffed with each stillness and motion, which heightens a few of the movie’s colossal bursts of sound, together with when the sandworm first erupts out of the desert.
Right here, the creaking of the sand earlier than the earth begins to shift is neatly audible in amongst the rising crescendo, including to the stress earlier than the climax, during which the orchestra and results are weighty, clearly outlined and effectively unfold with ample house.
The identical scene with the What Hello-Fi? Award-winning JBL SDR-35 yields a contact extra dynamic depth, most obvious within the low finish with just a little extra power and management, however the two amps are very shut when it comes to execution with comparable characters regardless of their completely different supposed audiences.
Streaming music, the AVR31 places in one other tremendous efficiency with Echo And The Bunnymen’s By no means Cease (Discotheque) producing sharp, nimble transients within the introduction’s numerous arco, legato and pizzicato strings, whereas the hammering piano and creamy vocal soar throughout the music’s eighties pop edges for a clean however buoyant and musical sound.
Verdict
It could share a lot of its DNA with Arcam’s extra reasonably priced AVRs, however the AVR31 remains to be a lower above. Other than its restricted variety of energy amplifier channels, this amp delivers trendy AVR performance, paired with a distinguished hi-fi sound. The one residence cinema amp we’d heard that sounds this spectacular is its cousin, the JBL SDR-35, which pips the AVR31 with a contact extra dynamic depth and grip, however its lack of HDMI 2.1 connectivity will low cost it for some.
If future-proofed options are equally as vital to you as having the easiest sound high quality, and your pockets are deep sufficient, then the AVR31 is a perfect option to make your property cinema sing.
SCORES
MORE:
Learn our overview of the JBL Synthesis SDR-35
Additionally think about the Yamaha RX-A6A
Learn our Denon AVC-X6700H overview
Greatest AV receivers: superb residence cinema amplifiers for each finances
