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Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 – 8K now standard

Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31, these three new AV receivers expand the range of the English HiFi forge Arcam, whereby these can come up with the most modern equipment. Twice are thus solutions with Class AB, once with the typical for the English Class G available.

With the models Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31, there are three new AV receivers that Harman International Industries is now presenting as new solutions in the home cinema sector under the Arcam brand. Thus, ambitious home cinema enthusiasts should find solutions with the most modern equipment features, which are at the same time settled on the high quality level, which one can expect from systems of the Arcam brand.

As the product names of the three new network AV receivers from A & R Cambridge Ltd. alone suggest, these systems are the successors to the Arcam AVR10, Arcam AVR20 and Arcam AVR30 models, which have established themselves as very powerful and flexible solutions and are therefore extremely popular with home cinema enthusiasts. It is interesting to note that although the English company A & R Cambridge Ltd. announced last year the Arcam HDMI 2.1 upgrade for the Arcam AVR10, Arcam AVR20, Arcam AVR30 and also for the AV processor Arcam AV40, but now already presents their designated successors.

Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 – An evolution

It can be said clearly, the new models Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 are not a revolution, and no one will expect that, but rather an evolution in the field of AV receivers adapted to the latest state of the art at A & R Cambridge Ltd.

It is noticeable that the new solutions are almost identical to their predecessors in terms of design alone, and the basic features have hardly changed, but the standards supported by the network AV receivers have, because the solutions Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 are now state-of-the-art in the field of home cinema.

8K/60Hz now standard – From Dolby Atmos to DTS:X and Auro-3D

All models are now not only equipped for content in 4K/120Hz, but are also ready for 8K/60Hz, which means they are all equipped with HDMI 2.1 interfaces that come with support for HDCP 2.3.

Support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG is thus also part of the basic equipment of all three new models, and even the smallest model of the new trio, the Arcam AVR11, has a proud seven HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs. The Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 systems even have three HDMI outputs each.

When it comes to the signal processing of surround sound, all three models are also equipped for all relevant standards, they thus support from Dolby Digital or DTS to Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X even Auro-3D and thus leave nothing to be desired in this regard.

The Arcam AVR11 is designed as a 7.1.4-channel surround system, the systems Arcam AVR21 as well as Arcam AVR31 are able to decode up to 16 channels for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D.

Especially since in this context it must of course be mentioned that the solutions Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 once again rely on DIRAC Live Room Correction, which is particularly popular among home cinema enthusiasts, to guarantee an optimal configuration based on the individual conditions in the home theater. All three solutions are also Ready for DIRAC Live Bass Control, a feature that can be purchased as an option. The microphone, which is indispensable for calibration, is of course included in the scope of delivery in each case.

Excellent D/A converter, powerful amplifiers

According to the data sheet, the Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 models use ESS Sabre ES9026PRO HyperStream II 8-channel audio DACs from the specialist ESS Technology Inc.

This lays the most important foundation for impeccable sound quality, on which the English place particular emphasis and also offer this in the AV segment with particularly sophisticated amplifier systems.

Thus, although the new solutions Arcam AVR11 and Arcam AVR21 are systems that rely on amplifier modules in Class AB, the Arcam AVR31 is a network AV receiver that can rely on amplifiers in Class G, which is just typical for products of the Arcam brand.

Especially with Arcam, the performance data must be particularly emphasized, because compared to other manufacturers in the AV segment, whose data in this regard are more theoretical in nature, the English always give values determined under comparatively realistic conditions.

Thus for example the Arcam AVR11 supplies already a power of twice 85 Watts at loudspeaker systems with an impedance of 8 ohms, even twice 120 Watts at systems with an impedance of only 4 ohms, one exhausts its potential with seven channels completely, then 60 Watts are available per channel in each case at 8 ohms and/or 85 Watts at 4 ohms.

The Arcam AVR21 is in the position, in the pure stereo enterprise twice 125 Watts and/or twice 175 Watts, for the Surround enterprise also here seven output stages are available, in each case however with 90 Watts and/or 110 Watts.

The Arcam AVR31 is not only a potent surround solution with seven amplifier channels implemented in Class G and 100 watts or even 180 watts each, but also a very fine stereo system that can offer 140 watts or even 220 watts twice.

  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
  • Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31

Extensive streaming functionality

As designated network AV receivers, all three new additions to the Arcam brand’s AV line up are designed to be extremely flexible streaming solutions. In the simplest case, of course, they allow streaming via the industry standard UPnP, are dlna-certified for this.

In addition, the Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 systems also support Google Chromecast as well as Apple AirPlay 2 and are designated as Roon-ready. The Spotify and TIDAL services can also be accessed directly via Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, respectively. For the latter service, it is also relevant that the systems can also process content encoded in MQA.

The integration into the network can be done via cable or integrated Wi-Fi modules.

The Arcam MusicLife app for Apple iOS and Google Android is available for the Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 solutions to ensure particularly simple, even intuitive control during streaming.

Those who want to play content from a smartphone or tablet directly via the new AV receivers without integration into the network can do so via Bluetooth, whereby the implemented Bluetooth modules support SBC and AAC as well as aptX and aptX HD.

Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31
Foto © A & R Cambridge Ltd. | Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31

Open to many sources and control solutions

To act as versatile interfaces, the new models Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31 are all equipped with numerous analog as well as digital audio interfaces and also an integrated FM or DAB tuner may not be missing. It must also be emphasized that the three new AV receivers have a connection for headphones and are equipped with all interfaces such as an RS232 and trigger connections, so that these products can also be integrated into complex control solutions. Thus, nothing stands in the way of integration into systems from Crestron, Elan or Control4.

Prices and availability

The new Arcam-branded network AV receivers are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2022, according to the manufacturer. Entry starts with the Arcam AVR11 with a suggested retail price of €3,199, the Arcam AVR21 will cost €4,599 and the Arcam AVR31 €6,899.

Getting to the point

It is a really rock-solid product range in the field of AV receivers, which the English hi-fi and home cinema specialist A & R Cambridge Ltd. now presents at the Arcam brand with the solutions Arcam AVR11, Arcam AVR21 and Arcam AVR31. Two network AV receivers in Class AB, one with the very special amplifier technology Class G, typical of Arcam, are available here, whereby it applies to all three that they come up with equipment that makes them the best equipped solutions for all needs in home cinema.

PRODUCTARCAM AVR11, ARCAM AVR21 UND ARCAM AVR31
PriceArcam AVR11 € 3.199,-
Arcam AVR21 € 4.599,-
Arcam AVR31 € 6.899,-
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
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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.

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