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Need Advise On Upgrading My System

My current sound system includes an ARCAM AVR 550 receiver, Paradigm Prestige 85F tower speakers, Paradigm Prestige center channel, two REL S2 subwoofers, OPPO Blue Ray player and a BlueSound Node 2i streamer.  I wanted a system that could play TV and Movies through a sound system as well as to listen to 2 channel.  

My question is to find out if I could achieve better sound quality by upgrading to an ARCAM 30 receiver.  This receiver has G amplification where the first 50 watts produces pure A Class amplification.  The ARCAM 30 sells for $6,000 vs my ARCAM AVR 550 which sold for $3,000.  Since the ARCAM 30 costs twice as much as the ARCAM AVR 550, would this be a worthwhile investment to take sound quality to the next level?  Also, will I be able to hear the sound difference?
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loomisjohnson
1,903 posts
 
i briefly owned the arcam 450--it was okay for 2 channel when unamped, but really improved when i amped the front channels with a good power amp (i believe it was the proceed amp2)--i'd try something similar before trading in your 550.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
The AVR30 is about 5.5 lbs heavier than your AVR550, which would indicate a slightly larger/beefier power supply.  However, the output isn't significantly better, so ultimately you might get a very small amount of improvement, but I don't know that it would be $3,000 better, lol.  I would look at really nice external amplifier.  Just keep in mind that the sound may be different because the Arcam Class G has a very unique sound.
soix
8,651 posts
 
My question is to find out if I could achieve better sound quality by upgrading to an ARCAM 30 receiver.
NO!!! Frankly, I got to compare this AVR directly to a comparable Yamaha AVR, and the Yammy Aventage was better. That said, NO!!! Do the right thing by your nice speakers and just get a dedicated stereo integrated amp that mates well with your speakers. Route the front L/R preouts from your AVR into the integrated and you’ll be SO much better off (and likely for less $$$) than upgrading your AVR. AVRs are fatally compromised for 2-channel from the power supply on down, so going with a dedicated stereo preamp will be light years better than an AVR, and you won’t be sinking $$$ into better surround circuitry, etc. you probably aren’t looking for anyway. Just do it. Your speakers are too good to be compromised by an AVR. Just my $0.02 FWIW.

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