Arcam AVR11 - 7.2-channel home theater receiver (Renewed)

Honest Review of the Arcam AVR10/AVR11 When I first replaced my old Marantz pre-pro with the Arcam FMJ AVR390, I was blown away. The sound quality was unlike anything I had ever heard in my home theater. That upgrade completely changed my expectations for what a system could deliver, and from that moment on, I considered myself an Arcam lifer. So when I stumbled into an unbelievable deal on an Arcam AVR10, I didn’t hesitate. The main difference from the AVR11 was HDMI-related, and since I wasn’t planning to upgrade my projector anytime soon, the AVR10 seemed like the perfect choice. I genuinely believed the newer model would give me everything I loved about the AVR390—maybe even more. Unfortunately, that assumption turned out to be a major mistake. Expectations Set by the AVR390 The AVR390 was rock-solid for me. It delivered a massive leap in sound quality, never gave me a single issue, and only felt “dated” in terms of its age and appearance. Because of that experience, I expected the AVR10 to at least match the sound I loved, if not improve on it through updated software and processing. That didn’t happen. User Experience Frustrations The first disappointment hit immediately: no on‑screen menu. Everything had to be configured through an outdated, clunky web-based GUI or by crouching on the floor to read the tiny front-panel display. I enjoy diving into the technical side of my gear, but this wasn’t “tweaking”—it was tedious. The only thing that felt like an upgrade at this point was how the unit looked in my AV rack. Dirac Live: A Rough Start Dirac, which I normally love, became a chore. I had to turn my speakers down so low just to get the software to run properly that the calibration process turned into hours of frustration. I must have run the full calibration five times. It stopped feeling like a hobby and started feeling like work. Software Bugs Everywhere Then came the bugs—power issues, sound issues, random behavior. But the worst problem was one that never got resolved, even after sending the unit in for service. To Arcam’s credit, their customer service was excellent. They included a handwritten letter detailing everything they tested and corrected. But the core issue remained: an intermittent speaker crackle that jumped between my front left and surround right channels. It sounded like a momentary loss of power, so I initially suspected the transformer or capacitors. Service confirmed that wasn’t the case. I tested my speakers with multiple amps and receivers, and the only “fix” was to power-cycle the AVR10 mid‑movie once the crackling started. Sometimes we made it through a film without the issue, but more often than not, we had to reboot the unit. Based on what I’ve read online, this seems to be a known problem affecting some Arcam units. The Final Straw After months of troubleshooting and hoping for a firmware fix that never came, I finally accepted that the AVR10 wasn’t going to be the successor to my beloved AVR390. That realization sent me searching for a replacement—and that’s how I ended up moving to Anthem AV.

Very bad HDMI bleed through, 2 day in and it goes into protect mode. The reseller says they tested it before it went out. I'd be surprised if that wasn't just an on off check. I will be sending it back.

Having previously used a Yamaha then a Marantz home theater projector, I finally got the Arcam. The filtering of the HDMI input increases pic quality much more than the previous receivers and I was surprised that it was just as much about audio as it was video. I’m running KEF up front and rear with 2 SVS Subs upfront and 2 REL subs in the back. Definitely overkill but I had two separate viewing rooms that were combined. The power is crisp and clean and the control functions are easy to use and adjust. Definitely recommend as the other Arcam receivers have more power that, for me, is unneeded.

I've went threw so many receivers in search for the best sound quality for my bowers and wilkins speakers and picture quality and no other receiver came close, I've went threw receivers such as marantz cinema 60 : which gives out a excellent picture but the sound quality is so bad compared to the arcam. I've also had denon, but after listening to the arcam nothing compares to it I'm 100 percent satisfied and it's worth ever penny. I brought 2 one for the living room and the other for my bedroom both receivers connect to bowers and wilkins