"...the IAR review of the AVR300 is the strongest recommendation of a product I have ever read." (Obrown)
THIS MEANS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NOTHING!! Infact, what am I thinking? I should be driving my Wilson's with the AVR300!...yeah, NOT!
I've been in/or around the audio/video high end biz since the early 90's. I've worked in 4 high end salons, and 2 higher end chain audio video stores in that same time. I've sold just about every concievable product you can imagine, and have kept tabs on reivews and ratings in the hifi rags in just as long. let me repeat: (as, yes, I've read (it's like reading the inquirer...it's just teasing and stimulation really) the Arcam 300 review) THESE BIASED REVIEWS ARE SIMPLY MARKETING HYPE, AND PAYOFFS FROM MANUFACTURERS!...I garantee it! I've seen it time and time and time again.
Now, as receivers go (limited), yes the Aracam receiver is probably a good receiver. I used to deal in the original model 100. But, it's just a receiver. Reading this review is reminiscent of all the other overhyped reviews I've come across over the years in Stereophile, HT magazine, Stereo Review, SGHT magazine, and others!
Case's in point: All Def Tech and Paradigm speakers are rated as mostly "State of the Art" by mag's like HT. Stereophile Rates products like Adcom GTP750 preamp, B&W N805's,Bryston 9b amp, and such "Class A"...yeah right. I've sold all these, they are not super special. Someone got paid off to write shinning reivews. And for the record, there's never been any Bryston product worthy of "Class A" IMO.
These are just examples (others like Sony EP9es dd/dts pre and B&W DM302's in "class B" Stereophile). Ofcourse many such products keep slipping down the totem poll quickly...this way they can justify their claims of "over-zellous" reviews, and say they were mistaken later on. Baby, it's definitely about the money, and selling product.
So, anyone here who'd like to think in their convenient imagination that the Arcam is the best thing to happen to audio since the advent of the speaker, reconsider!
The Arcam won't be replacing most any good separates anytime soon! It's a receiver...like the Denon 5803, the Marantz SR14, the Yamaha stuff, etc. They're just receivers. Nice for what they are...not as dynamic and resolved as better separates, among most other sonic area.
You can take the Arcam down off the pedestal of worship now. Trust me.