ARCAM AVR300 - beware


Heads up..DO NOT BUY any ARCAM products!

AVR 300 which have had a number of problems, including overheating leading to capacitor replacement, diode replacement and eventually motherboard replacement that occurred shortly after the warranty expired on 2011. I was able to resolve this problem by having the unit repaired for $400 at the time, however at the time I was never offered the partial buyback or upgrade option that Arcam rep, Mike Marko, admitted there were design/build problems with those series of receivers. Currently this same unit is having yet another issue. When I turn the unit on it powers off almost immediately after the "SAT" clicks on to hear my DVR. I called a local repair center and they said it's a known issue with the MB and a fix is in the $450-500 range. Unfortunately, the problem remains unresolved. I even contacted the new rep Tom Mcgee who was completely unhelpful. He never return any calls or responds.
jswell666

Showing 1 response by mcintech

I have to agree with Akg ca: we cannot lump ARCAM into unreliable status over a series of receivers. The AVR250-350 units were built immediately after the EU enacted RoHS standards in 2006. eliminating lead from solder, from which a great many products were built horribly. ARCAM's previous AV receivers; the AVR100 and AVR200 were built with leaded solder and are still regarded as reliable tanks all these years later.

Industry wide electronics reliability was so vastly compromised by eliminating lead in solder that both the Aviation and Medical industries were granted exemptions from enforcement at first!!!

I was an ARCAM Authorized Service Center back then and we had the best service billable year EVER in the history of my employer thanks to RoHS and all the piss poor manufacturing that was coming in the door from both Pro and Consumer electronics brand regardless of country of origin.

ARCAM is and always was, truly committed to good sound and it was unfortunate that RoHS nearly killed them. I love my ARCAM DV88 dvd player for its sonics, it's still the best CD player I have ever owned