Buy Now or Later? Arcam AV40 Home Theater Processor "Review" | DIRAC, IMAX Enhanced, Atmos, DTSX

FYI: Ripewave Audio is about to release several videos on the AV41

Would love an update with the AV40 or AV41.

Might have to revisit this review or AV31. I hear good things elsewhere about the sound.

Shane have they worked out all the bugs 🐛 on the AV40 yet? A friend of a friend is selling his just want to make sure it’s a go or if I should get the AVM70 or something else

Wow how can they release a $4K+ processor with all these bugs. One thing I like about Denon and Marantz is always rock solid gear. Was hoping to look at Arcam AV41 or Anthem AV70 8K, but nervous about all the bugs.

I just bought the AVR10 replacing my Denon in my 5.3.2 home theater with B&W speakers and REL subs. I'm not using Dirac; I choose to run my speakers full range. I bought the AVR10 over the AVR5 simply because it has Imax Enhanced. I've had no hissing or popping or other artifacts. Sound is so much better than the Denon. More power, better internal DAC really makes my B&Ws come to life. No problems with AppleTV, DirectTV set top box, PS3 or my Blu-ray player, other than a sync delay which was easily corrected with the sync delay correction on the remote. With firmware version 1.54 I think they've got all the bugs worked out. Eventually I'd like to go with an all Emotiva setup, but this is my first step.

GREAT REVIEW.......PERSOALLY, I WISHED THE INTERNET WAS NOT INVOLED IN THE HDMI SETINGS, OR THE RECEIVER ITSELF. MY VERY FIRST HIGH END RECEIVER WAS IN 1996 B&K AVR507........................

Hi ! Thank you for all your very technical videos.
I like them and follow you since many months.

Thank you for your honesty about the noise of the AV-40 Arcam. But don’t you have the same noise (blow: Pshhhhhh ) with other brands like Emotiva? I remember a test video you posted about the xmc-2 from Emotiva and we can clearly hear the same kind of noise on the « gravity »scene test you made.
So do you mean that is only on the AV-40 that you have a blow ?
I precise that I don’t have a preamp not yet and I’m wondering which one to choose.
So it is a neutral question.
Thank you.

I was considering this Processor. Did anything improve since this video per Arcam? I am also considering the Emotiva processor. I presume you prefer the performance of the Emotiva vs Arcam correct? Or did you move on from that as well?

Hi Shane after watching this review few months back. I got real confused that should I buy av40 or not? I could not hear anything good about the av 40 in your review. I was looking for a good processor for the money. You have also said about the size of owners manual that it is like a dictionary. I didn't feel anything positive about the av 40. Then I did my own research. Because I was not able to find a decent 16 channel processor at this price. So finally I have bought one. Im very pleased with it. It didn't give me any issues. Setting up was fairly easy. And the owners manual is very simple. It looks like a dictionary. Because it has about 10 different languages. And english part is consist of only 35 pages. And has very precise instructions. Im sorry but I feel your review is very missleading about av 40 for a normal user. I do watch all your videos. And I have learned a lot from your videos about the hifi equipments. My av 40 is working great.

Faulty unit by the sound of it. Ask for another sample unit. Shit happens.

I almost bought an avr10 for $1200 and I asked the guy to be honest with me and he said that it was one of the worst receivers he ever owned. Too many issues and that’s why he was trying to get rid of it. So I don’t end up buying it. Will probably buy the avr850 instead

Thanks for the video Shane. Being a Quality professional and understanding how important it is to offer a quality product to potential customers, I’m absolutely amazed by some companies’ rationale to turn their customers into beta testers – Especially when we’re talking an awful lot of money here. I have virtually no respect for Arcam now. I know I don’t want to be one of their customers. The same goes for Emotiva. Not only are you a beta tester, but it looks like they’re not going to live up to at least one of their promises as well. I seriously doubt they’ll ever release expansion boards for the RMC-1, and if they do I can only imagine the amount of trouble people are going to have with them. No thanks.

The reason to have Arcam is sound quality. Seems like this one lacks the SQ and is buggy... Pass.
Back to Marantz / Anthem.

Where there any new updates since this last video? If so will you be doing a video

have the same sync problems via Apple TV and NAD T778

Unacceptable. Too many issues for a high end processor . This thing is all show and no go.

I was thinking of getting a three channel Arcam power amp for my system but not after this video.

Well I'm glad I came across this video. I am signed up as a dealer and purchased an AudioControl X7, Savoy G7 amp, and director m6400 amp. I have not had a great experience. I have the hissing issue. I also have a pop sound that outputs all channels when I mute/unmute. Lastly I can still hear low level audio coming from the speakers when the audio level is at 0 (WTH)? Anyway I'm wondering if I made a mistake. It's clear the x7 shares the internals of this Arcam as the display, the menu, and the remote are the same. Can these issues be fixed via firmware?

I am happy with arcam avr850. Amazing brand
I only need to add two channel amp as I am using 4oms speakers

1.20 is out.

Hey Shane have you ever tried connecting you're oppo directly to the power amps ?

Man this thing sounds like a piece of shit, ridiculous that it was released with these kinds of issues

This is very unlike Arcam and dam unussal. I live in London, UK 🇬🇧 and have owned sevral Arcam products in the past. Arcam are most definitely considered one of the very best out their for audio well here in the UK they are. I'm taking about the Arcam when they had both Diva & FMJ Range... AVR 300-350 and DiVa CD73 and CD93T. Also FMJ CD23 or FMJ36 this was when Arcam was at its finest period in my book. DVIVA range was brilliant as you could start of with a CD 73 and then upgrade to a 93T or 192... Anyways. I own. Denon AVR and Marantz CD but Arcam are up their with these guys. Arcam at heart were alaways a Stereo 2-Ch Company they never resly ventured into Home Cinema untill they released their famous AV300 and AV350 back around 2003-2005.

For that kind of cash? One shouldn't have so many problems!? Pass!!! Great review!

I'd love to see a review or assessment of the ARCAM PA720. On paper it seems to be quite appealing.

Sounds like the garbage that Emotiva releases and charges way too much money for. I'll stick with my Marantz and Acurus amps for half the price. Wow, I can't believe Arcam would be like this.

Buy later... Emotiva, Arcam (JBL), Monoprice are all actually on "beta".

So is this a reciever?guess I'm not sure what a processor is.

So the AV40 is the "No Mans Sky" of processors...

This is meant to use with seperates?

thats arcam for you with updates. £4500 not good enough .

Hoping the new Nad will set the standard on AV receivers that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Thanks for being honest with your reviews

Its seems like these high end Pre-pros made by the likes of Emotiva or Arcam that deploy Dirac live are plagued with bugs. Maybe its just these boutique companies that just don't have the in-house expertise or resources the larger Japanese companies have. I'm starting to see a trend?

Sad, Shane don,t review the ONKYO preamp because all high end used receiver I bought , people regretted the huge dynamic of Onkyo in movies. Better than yamaha, and Marantz they have now.... Thank,s

A preamp hissing at 4500$.... 100% shame. .... buy japanese like Onkyo, Marantz, yamaha and an American power amp. That,s it.

Please do another review in some months with Auro 3d and hopefully a better sounding product. ( I have the AVR 550 and wanted to buy the AV 40 but will wait now)

Emotiva would be best, Until Maybe Anthem has a new unit out.. :D

glad i didnt wait on this. marantz 8012 still "best bang for the buck!"




larry

Hi Shane do have plans to review the monolith htp-1 ?

For $4500 I'll stick with my Marantz AV8805. I haven't ran into any issues

Hey Shane when are you dropping the Emotiva review?

$4500, multiple problems, fix some, add some things that should have been in it from the start. Then bring back your hiss, add some more problems, then want to charge $99 to allow you to muck about with subs, what a joke.

This is kind like modern video games.. Release broken game with bugs and then release update after update to fix it.

Great review! For a reputation like ARCAM who is known to be one of the best sound quality processors, really disappointing on their part. Why would they release a product without it being on point is unacceptable for its price point. From what I understand they are now part of HARMON and working out the bugs. An example of a boutique company being corporatised.

For $4500 no thanks. Great review Shane.

Wow............Arcam you suck. WTF. I agree Shane I’ve heard nothing but amazing feedback on their products but after all the issues you’ve mentioned I will never buy one of their products. Totally unacceptable!! Close to 5 grand and it comes complete with all those issues, what a joke. Nevertheless another great and informative review. I’m hoping, I’m really hoping the JVC Nx7 review will be dropping this week. Please, please , please. Take care.