(1) At it's worst, ARCAM is no worse than all the others in a crowded
strata of AVRs.
(2) At it's best, it's audio and video performance compared to the
alternate choices, are among the very best out there.
(3) WRT build quality and resulting reliability expectation: At the '300' price
point it was and still is "a pick 'em" choice in a built to the
cheapest cost in ChiFi arena that triggers a buzzilion choices from all
manufacturers.
Regrettably, that is why I eventually abandoned the AV receiver and
migrated up to three "hi- end" UK designed AND built power amps (non
Arcam), the ARCAM BluRay and a "hi-end" US AV preamplifier/processor
separates in a 7.2 HT system, (for the best-of-breed build quality and
reliability and not just for the performance uptick. )
The old discontinued models (like the 300) have been upgraded by
several replacement versions since these old models passed their sunset
milestones wrt to reliability.
There is an invariable time honored fact in this hobby, and especially so in
the HT market = build quality matters, and you get what you pay for.
The high(er) end ARCAM AVRs are class leaders (Google the reviews )
There are numerous posts in Audiogon about how ARCAM fell into the
Crappy Chi-Fi Build trap for a while before moving it's flagship AV
receivers back to the UK
The gremlins that initially infected and haunted the 300 and other sunset
products do not warrant automatically ARCAM as problematic. there are
equally many many posts of similar breakdown in all of the other receivers
strata of AVRs.
(2) At it's best, it's audio and video performance compared to the
alternate choices, are among the very best out there.
(3) WRT build quality and resulting reliability expectation: At the '300' price
point it was and still is "a pick 'em" choice in a built to the
cheapest cost in ChiFi arena that triggers a buzzilion choices from all
manufacturers.
Regrettably, that is why I eventually abandoned the AV receiver and
migrated up to three "hi- end" UK designed AND built power amps (non
Arcam), the ARCAM BluRay and a "hi-end" US AV preamplifier/processor
separates in a 7.2 HT system, (for the best-of-breed build quality and
reliability and not just for the performance uptick. )
The old discontinued models (like the 300) have been upgraded by
several replacement versions since these old models passed their sunset
milestones wrt to reliability.
There is an invariable time honored fact in this hobby, and especially so in
the HT market = build quality matters, and you get what you pay for.
The high(er) end ARCAM AVRs are class leaders (Google the reviews )
There are numerous posts in Audiogon about how ARCAM fell into the
Crappy Chi-Fi Build trap for a while before moving it's flagship AV
receivers back to the UK
The gremlins that initially infected and haunted the 300 and other sunset
products do not warrant automatically ARCAM as problematic. there are
equally many many posts of similar breakdown in all of the other receivers