AV Receiver Reviews

All measurements were taken on the left channel. The AVR250's 2-channel stereo analog frequency response, from the CD input to the speaker output in Bypass mode, was -0.13dB at 10Hz, -0.03dB at 20Hz, -0.39dB at 20kHz, and -2.29dB at 50kHz. The response from the multichannel input to the speaker output measured -0.12dB at 10Hz, -0.03dB at 20Hz, -0.39dB at 20kHz, and -2.25dB at 50kHz.

The Dolby Digital frequency response (optical input to speaker output) measured -0.04dB at 20Hz and -0.35dB at 20kHz, in both the left and center channels. With the left-surround channel set to "small" and the crossover frequency set to 80Hz, the highpass filter response was -6dB at 81Hz, -3dB at 102Hz, and -0.35dB at 20kHz. The subwoofer line output, normalized to the response at 40Hz, was -0.00dB at 20Hz, -3dB at 109Hz, and -6dB at 116Hz.

The S/N (A-weighted, 2.83V@8Ω) measured -91.2dB. Gain measured 28.4dB, CD in to speaker out, with an 8Ω load and the level control set to 94.

THD+noise in stereo at 2.83V into 8Ω measured 0.027% at 20Hz, 0.026% at 1kHz, and 0.025% at 20kHz. At 2.83V into 4Ω, the corresponding results were 0.026% at 20Hz and 1kHz, and 0.024% at 20kHz.

Driving all seven channels into 8Ω, the AVR250 delivered 59Wpc at 20Hz (the protection circuit engaged repeatedly during this measurement) and 75Wpc at 1kHz (to the nearest watt) before clipping (1% THD+noise). Into 4Ω, all seven channels operating, it delivered 94Wpc at 20Hz and 103Wpc at 1kHz.

With only two channels operating, at 1kHz, the Arcam clipped at 76Wpc into 8Ω and 147Wpc into 4Ω.—TJN