Fantastic Sound

Limited speaker setups

Not all the "extras" for the price point (£800), but it does sound fantastic.

Not necessarily as "exciting" as others, e.g. the Rotel I listened to, but hence much better when it comes to straight stereo. I spent an hour at the dealer's demo room listening to CD players with it too and it was excellent.

Used with:
Toshiba SD2109 DVD player
B&W 601 S2 front speakers
B&W CC6 centre
B&W 302 rears

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, Sony

bass management, power for HT, build quality

I just boxed this unit up and will be taking it back tomorrow. I had this unit for 3 weeks and it plays ok. I was not impressed with the 2 channel sound that this board raves about and I thought it was grossly underpowered and strained in 5 channel mode. The remote is a joke. I find this unit's build quality fair, this unit is very light! I bought it for $999, Arcam just lowered the price by $200 on the retail price. I guess they are not selling a lot or people are complaining that its about the same as the NAD and they are lossing business to NAD. There are better units that do a better job for less money. If people think that this unit is 5 stars, what is a B&K 307 or Denon 5800?

Similar Products Used:

been threw to many receivers and amps w/pres

OK sound in both audio and video

you can get the NAD T760 for only US$882 - it is some 95% the same amplifier

I bought the AVR 100 a few months ago expecting the usual Arcam style in sound, features and look.
After some weeks I concluded that it worked the sound OK - both in audio and video but still it could be better. However the features were not satisfying at all. I could not regulate my sub in two different levels allowing me to set it low in audio and high in video. Neither could it 'remember' the sound mode it played last time on the different inputs resulting in having to change the sound mode shifting from TV to CD - Pro Logic to Stereo. Next to a very bad remote control receiving eye enabling me to control my Arcam Alpha 7 CD form anywhere in the room but not my brand new AVR 100 unless pointing straight at it. Together with the very limited possibilities in the menu e.g. speaker settings I concluded that this receiver was too bad for me. Fortunately my dealer took it back with no questions asked and I went for the FMJ series instead with a substantial price difference to come along.
I rated it only two because of the large discount one can get by going for the NAD.

Similar Products Used:

Arcam AV50, Arcam Alpha 10 DAVE+2xArcam Alpha 10 3P

amazing sound, simplicity of set up, design

a little under powered, but still so sweet

This review is actually for the new AVR200, basically this unit look identical except for a descrete Dolby Pro-logic II logo. From a technical perspective the AVR200 has 5 digital inputs rather than 3. It also has another S-video conection and digital output. The pre-amp layout has been improved, as have the set up menus. But the biggest change is Dolby Pro-Logic II, there are 5 more sound fields.

I would like to think that the sound is better than the AVR100, but if so?? it is very negligable in stereo, but with the extra sound fields there impresive surround sound from 2 channel sources.

To some up; " even more brilliant!!!!"

Similar Products Used:

AVR100,

2 channel sound

only 90 watts per channel in 2 channel stereo sound

i paid 2500 for the combo dv-88 and avr100. Over all i am happy with the set. I wish i had a little more reseves on my stereo set up. I am drving the b&w804n with the avr100 and it is simply not enough power. I am thinking of adding the arcam a85 power amp to bi-wire the 804. Not sure if that will give me enough power to drive the 804. For plain surround sound the dv88, avr100 combo is perfect. make sure you do not pick too big of speakers to drive them and make sure that you pick speaker in the 90dB-91dB range it will help. For new buyers definalty get the dv88, avr200 set.

my system:

dv88
avr100
b&w804
htm2
rock solids (looking to upgrade to the scm-1)

any suggestion for av processor upgrade are welcome - i want to keep the dv-88 i just hope the pro-scan upgrade will get more affordable.

Similar Products Used:

marantz

Warm sound, good soundstage, nice design

Limited controls, power is fine for my steup, but some may want more muscle: by Arcam's P85 amps...

Many over-enthusiastic reviews have been misleading and have obviously exagerated everyone's expectations. It is NOT perfect. But it DOES sound very different then a Yamaha, Sony, Denon, Rotel or even a NAD. Yes it shares the same basic platform as the Nad T760, but if you sit down and listen to both units, you will see that the tho units do not sound the same. It is a question of taste. Is it worth the extra dollars? Maybe for some, not for others.

If the AVR100 does not live up to your expectations, don't buy it! But be fair, and give it a least 3 stars: their are far worse receivers out there in the market.

By the way, here are a few excerpts of some reviews on the AVR100. In general, they are fairly positive reviews... What do YOU know that they don't?
----------------------
DVD review, Issue 23
"The level of performance is certainly as good as, if not better than, anything else in its price range and even chllenges the standard of many higher priced models."
"You need never buy an amp again."
-------------------
Essential Home Cinema, March 2001
"The performance of the AVR100 is something to marvel at. The guys at Arcam really seem to have done their homework." "You'll never need to buy an amp again!"
-------------------
What Hi-Fi?, February 2001
"Capable in surround mode; outstanding in stereo..."
----------------------
T3, January 2001
DV88/AVR100 combination "This Arcam DiVA combination offers flexibility, upgradeability and a staggering performance with both sound and pictures."

Similar Products Used:

Nad t760, Nad AV316, Arcam Alpha 7, Rotel RSX 965 & 972

Apparently anyone who likes this unit is an Arcam sales person................so opinionated and narrow minded. Anyway, no one is being mislead, everyone can listen for themselves, I did and here's what I found. The Arcam sounds far and away better in 2 channel than the NAD ( not even close) much better than the Marantz 8000...the best way to describe this one was that it was warm, almost muddy and veiled. The one I liked best next to the Arcam was the Nakamichi AV10. Does the Arcam kick butt in HT....not even close, but it is sufficient to do the job, and in stereo, where it shines, is where music sounds like it should. Read the review in the latest edition of Home Theater Sound...................they said it is the best receiver EVER, hands down. But then again, to say that, they MUST be Arcam salesman, so nevermind!!!
If you want a killer HT receiver, this is not the one, I admit, but if you want great CD sound, do yourself a favour and listen to this one.

Elegant design, solid build quality, and sounds beautiful in both stereo and 5.1.

Remote and lack-of component video.

Life is good. First, the movie industry is now consistently producing titles that are worthy of the DVD format. Secondly, Arcam has produced an AV receiver that focuses solely on performance - no unnecessary bells and whistles that would just clutter a clean design.

With the AVR100, Arcam has successfully re-factored the traditional Japanese AV receiver design into an audiophile class stereo component. My Paradigm 9se's have never been happier. With the AVR100 delivering ~110 watts into my 6ohm speakers the bass is controlled, the mid's are full, and the highs are bright and colourful. Paul Simon never sounded so good!

In the past four weeks I have watched 6 DVD's using the AVR100. What impressed me the most were the subtleties. Sounds such as a leaky faucet, rustling trees, and background conversations really seem to become part of a scene. For me, this makes movies much more realistic and enjoyable. I can now actually justify now having 5 speakers in one room!

I would highly recommend this unit to anyone, even a critically listening audiophile. Nothing touches it at this price point. Trust me, I checked.

The only downfall of being so taken with Arcam's Diva line-up is that I will probably spend another $1,600 this week on Arcam's DV88 DVD player. Man, my wife is going to kill me.

Similar Products Used:

Auditioned the AVR100 directly against Denon, Rotel, and Yamaha AV receivers.

Very dynamic sound, very smooth as well. Great for 2-channel audio.

None so far

I thought I was happy with the Marantz until the day I heard this baby over at a friends who had just picked one up. After listening to the Arcam and the way it manhandled both 2-channel audio as well as DVD's I knew I had to get my hands on one. The Arcam is particuarly impressive in bringing out the very low-level details on various DVD's. Performance on 2-channel audio was just as impressive, as I've never heard a receiver that could bring out such a deep soundstage while making you feel as if you are right there in the studio. The imaging and presentation of various cd's is stunning, probably due to the mating of the Arcam CD-72 with the AVR100. This receiver brings out the best in my NHT's with plenty of power to spare. I haven't even fully burned it in yet, but it is easily the best HT rceiver in it's price range IMO. I haven't even finished building my HT setup yet. I can only imagine what it will be like once I have a full setup to fully take advantage of the capablities of this receiver. My current setup is:

Arcam AVR100
Arcam CD-72
Pioneer Elite DV-37
NHT Superone's and Supercenter

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR7000

Good construction (the way the boards are connected to the main board), good sound exept for some hum

Well the hum, and the clicks when you change volume

When you select a stereo source (if there is no signal is easier to notice this) even if the volume is at 0db there is an hum in the central and a little less in the read speakers and if the level is higer then 73db it is also in the front speakers.

And some more, if you put that source in prologic or hall the hum is still there exept if you rise the level to more then 0db but in this case if you rise the level to more then 60db (that is an normal level to some cd's and dvd's) then you get your nice hum back with a new improvment it is also in your front speakers, what is very nice for the quality that they claim and we pay. (this hum is still there even with the upgrade from Arcam that is supoused to eliminat it!!!)

Similar Products Used:

Nad T751
Nad T761