AV ReceiverHiFi ElectronicsHome CinemaNews

Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor – Amazing realism

The finest musicality and immersive surround sound for a fascinating home theater experience, this is what Harman Luxury Audio promises for the new solution of the subsidiary A & R Cambridge Ltd. of the Arcam brand, the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor.

The new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor is the successor to the Arcam AV40 AV Processor from the renowned English company A & R Cambridge Ltd., the solution that the subsidiary of the consumer electronics group Harman International Industries recommends as the reference solution in the field of central interface in home cinema for particularly ambitious home cinema enthusiasts.

With the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor, the company presents a solution that is ideally equipped for all current and future relevant standards, and of course can easily meet the high quality standards of the British company in the proven manner.

It is interesting that A & R Cambridge Ltd. is one of the few remaining manufacturers that is equally dedicated to high-quality hi-fi solutions and home cinema. In order to survive in this highly competitive segment, the company relies first and foremost on virtues that are rarely found anymore, namely the ability to upgrade existing solutions. This is a very important factor, especially in the home cinema segment with its comparatively rapidly replacing standards.

Last year, for example, A & R Cambridge Ltd. presented the Arcam HDMI 2.1 Upgrade, which is intended for the Arcam AV40 AV Processor in addition to the AV receivers Arcam AVR10, Arcam AVR20 and Arcam AVR30, thus allowing existing customers to upgrade their solutions to HDMI 2.1 and content in 8K/120Hz.

New customers, on the other hand, will now be lured by the Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor and thus – as already mentioned – the designated successor to the Arcam AV40 AV Processor.

Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor – The inner values

It is hardly surprising that the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor hardly differs at first glance from its predecessor, of course, this generation of the AV processor has also relied on the design concept of the Arcam HDA range, which has been tried and tested for years and still presents itself as extremely elegant.

This ensures, for example, that the new solution can be easily combined with existing components of the product line, first and foremost of course the power amplifiers, which starting with the Arcam PA240 Class G Power Amplifier over the Arcam PA410 Class AB Power Amplifier up to the Arcam PA720 Class G Power Amplifier are available as play partners for the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor.

Equipped for 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz

The new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor has no less than seven HDMI inputs and three HDMI outputs, all of which are HDMI 2.1 compliant and support HDCP 2.3. This means that they are just as equipped for content in 4K/120 Hz as they are for 8K/60Hz. The Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor supports Dolby Vision as well as HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. Of course, the HDMI outputs not only support ARC, but also eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), so that content in immersive surround formats such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney+ can be transferred from a TV to the AV processor.

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D

When it comes to audio, the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor even flaunts 16-channel signal processing, with the ability to decode content in Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D, ultimately covering all relevant standards for a thrilling soundscape, including immersive surround sound.

DIRAC Live Room Correction

Once again, the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor comes with DIRAC Live Room Correction on board, in order to make an optimal adjustment to the individual room conditions by means of a calibration with the help of a measuring microphone, which is naturally included in the scope of delivery.

It should be emphasized that the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor is also ready for DIRAC Live Bass Control, although this is an optional feature.

Fine D/A converter from ESS Technology Inc.

The signal conversion is based on a fine D/A converter of the type ESS Sabre ES9026PRO HyperStream II 8-Channel Audio DAC from the specialist ESS Technology Inc., whereby analog signals of the 16-channel signal processing can not only be output via unbalanced RCA connectors, but also balanced XLR connectors.

Speaking of interfaces, the Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor is of course not lacking in options for integrating a wide variety of audio sources in both analog and digital form, and integration into a wide variety of control solutions from Crestron to Control4 to Elan is also easily possible via the corresponding interfaces – RS232, trigger inputs and outputs.

An integrated tuner for FM as well as DAB+ is not missing, nor is a connection for headphones.

  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor

Flexible streaming client

Of course, the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor also presents itself as an extremely flexible streaming client, initially relying on UPnP. In addition, there is direct support for Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, TIDAL including TIDAL Connect, Spotify including Spotify Connect, and the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor is also certified as Roon-ready.

The integration into the network can be done either via cable or the integrated WiFi module, and those who want to use smartphones and tablets as a source even without a network can do so via the integrated Bluetooth module, where in addition to SBC, AAC and aptX, aptX HD is also supported.

Convenient control

First and foremost, you will of course use its remote control to control the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor, but when it comes to streaming, the free MusicLife app for Apple iOS and Google Android is available.

Prices and availability

The new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor should be available in the second quarter of 2022, according to the manufacturer. Those who are enthusiastic about this solution will have to factor in a suggested retail price of € 5.399,- for it.

Getting to the point

Even if the new Arcam AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV Processor is hardly distinguishable from its predecessor Arcam AV40 AV Processor at first glance, from a technical point of view the new generation presents itself as a state-of-the-art solution and should thus without a doubt fulfill what the renowned English HiFi forge A & R Cambridge Ltd. promises for this new solution of the Arcam brand: an excellently equipped, flexible interface with impeccable signal processing for particularly ambitious home cinema enthusiasts.

PRODUCTARCAM AV41 HDMI 2.1 AV PROCESSOR
Price€ 5.399,-
BrandARCAM
ManufacturerA & R Cambridge Ltd.
Distribution AustriaR.M.S. State of the Art Audiovisual Products
Distribution GermanyGP Acoustics GmbH
Distribution SwitzerlandGP Acoustics GmbH
More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG
Show More

Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button