■ AV receiver
■ £5799
When Arcam announced it would cascade several features throughout its most recent, carefully curated AVR range, it immediately appealed to that part of us that can’t resist a bargain. No, it’s not bargain-priced – but still, knowing that you can buy a more affordable product in a manufacturer’s line-up and still obtain some of the same specification found on the flagship model can be very compelling and persuasive when weighing up which brand to buy from.
What of the inverse, though? It’s wonderful to have high standards and sonic consistency across a range, and such an approach often yields some of the best-value AV products we have come across. But if you have a bit more cash to spend than most and are looking for a premium home cinema receiver such as the Arcam AVR31, does knowing that it has so much in common with its cheaper siblings lessen its lustre and dampen its draw?
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