Move From AVR to Integrated?
Check out the now discontinued Arcam SR 250. MSRP was $3600 but Music Direct has it listed for $1499 (trying to clear out stock i would assume). https://www.musicdirect.com/receiver/Arcam-SR250-Stereo-AV-Receiver-2?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0MD_BRCTARIsADXo... |
The Arcam SR 250 is a 2.1 oddity of sorts. You can call it an integrated with HMDI benefits or a 2.1 channel AVR, so it most likely won't win over too many purists around here. I have a similar situation as you. I wanted to move away from an AVR and multi-channel but I am still using this with my TV in the main family room. The Arcam is musical and was a huge improvement over my Marantz AVR with an external amp. It has Dirac room correction and bass management which is miles ahead of any Audessy product I have used. Im using it with my Revel F208 towers and don't feel its underpowered. You still get HDMI switching and it has a built in DAC which I can't say much about as I use an external DAC and streamer for a digital source. At $1499 NIB its a good deal that will be hard to beat IMO. The used Parasound Hint 6 integrated would be my second choice but it will probably cost you more used than the Arcam. |
@guy-incognito That is definitely a sweet deal/set up. I know watts are not made equal, but was hoping to have a bit more power. That said, 90 vs 110 isn’t a big deal. With the separate route I could have 2x200 and still come in under the cost of the Arcam. Again tradeoff is modular ability vs integration. A niche product but definitely something designed for my kind of use. I’m weighing options for sure. |
Read some reviews on the Arcam if you have any interest. That 90 watt rating is conservative. There is a bench test with measurements that confirms this (that i couldn't easily find right now). My Revel F208 towers don't seem underpowered so I am sure this would easily drive your bookshelves. This route would not be a loss in power compared to your AVR regardless of how the specs are interpreted. This would also be a step up overall from the Parasound classic line in my mind. I am a big fan of the parasound halo stuff though, like a P6/A23+ combo but now you are back up around $3200 new or $2200ish used. |
I still can't find the review with the bench test measurements but per the stereophile review... "Power output: 90Wpc into 8 ohms (20Hz–20kHz, <0.02% THD) (19.5dBW), 125Wpc (21dBW), both channels driven, at 0.2% THD." https://www.stereophile.com/content/arcam-fmj-sr250-stereo-av-receiver-specifications |
