Entertaining and musical at a lower price - BRAND NEW Arcam AVR5 AV Receiver
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NEW PRODUCT 〰️
In this month’s article we would like to introduce Arcam’s new audio/visual entertainment hub, the entry level AVR5. AV products made by Cambridge based Arcam are renowned for their build quality and ability to bring music and movies to life, and this is exactly why we at Audio T Swindon love them and they reinforce why we are so passionate about this industry.
Arcam AVR5
The AVR5, out of the box is a seven channel receiver, meaning individual amplifiers to drive seven speakers. Although there are only seven channels of amplification, the top configuration can be an impressive eleven speakers plus subwoofer 7.1.4 set-up (four ATMOS speakers, in-ceiling or upfiring), with the help of an external power amplifier for the second pair of ATMOS speakers. And yes, there can be more than one subwoofer but that’s another tale that we talked about in one of our previous blogs - see here REL 3D
What’s under the bonnet?
Quite a lot to be honest. The AVR5 is very well built and we couldn’t resist to take a look inside.
Can I connect it ? Yes you can!
Arcam AVR5 rear panel
What can be connected? Pretty much everything in the audio/visual world. Games consoles, set-top boxes, blu-ray players and video streamers can be connected via HDMI, digital coax or optical cables. CD players and turntables (via a separate phono box) can be connected to an analogue phono input..
More features are:
• Dolby Atmos & DTS:X 7.1.4 decoding
• 4K (UHD) HDMI2.0b with HDCP2.2
• 7 HDMI inputs, 2 HDMI outputs, eARC compatible
• Ready to use with Dirac Live® room correction*
• ESS 9026 PRO audiophile DAC
• 7 Channels of Class AB power amplification
• Wifi / Ethernet, RS232 and IR control
• Chromecast/UPnP capability for streaming audio
• Bluetooth aptX® HD
• Free MusicLife iOS and Android UPnP and control app
• Supports MQA
• Roon Ready
It’s worth mentioning that the free MusicLife app makes streaming easy from services like Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music and internet radio.
Sound Check - Music and Movies
Many av receivers sound fantastic in movie mode but they lack the punch and precision of a two channel amplifier when listening to music. Multichannel surround sound versus two channel music - How does the sound differ?
Movie sound can wizz around the room for around two hours, and that’s exactly why watching movies can be so much fun. For music, we aim for a soundstage between the two front speakers and we start setting up home cinema systems with the focus on these two channels before we add the surround channels.
For the best results we select the Direct Mode before we start listening to music. The AVR5 sounds very good right of the box and Jack Johnson’s album “In Between Dreams” and Beck’s “Morning Phase” never disappoint and are a delight to listen to. What a great start.
Now it’s movie time and for first impressions we put on Godzilla (which one? - Take a look at the photo above). This movie and in particular the sound draws us in every time we put it on.
At the end of Chapter 3 / beginning of chapter 4, Bryan Cranston is being questioned and knowing what’s coming to mankind if people don’t listen to him, he tries to warn the scientists. The monster, held in a secure complex, makes loud thumping noises (sounds great with a good subwoofer) while feeding on several nuclear reactors and eventually manages to break free and escapes - At the end of that scene a person breathes through a gas mask and the breathing fades away through the rear speakers.
Wow, we feel exhausted because it sounded like we were there.
The AVR5’s sound and build quality is great and it serves both movies and music really well.
For more information please feel free to book a demonstration and call us on 01793 538222 or send an email to swindon@audio-t.co.uk.
Thanks for reading - Stefan & Andy - Audio T Swindon.
