I used to be the tech for an Arcam Service Center, and let me tell you the entire line of AVR's (2XX-3XX)apart from the AVR200, had overheating motherboards and the new (then)lead-free solder and the rectifier diodes failed like mad.
The problem was that all rectification (AC to DC conversion) and regulation (keeping 12 volts 12 volts) was on the motherboard with almost no cooling from the fan that was located under the power amps' heatsinks. The AVP700 was even worse since it didn't even have cooling vents in the top cover. I also felt they under spec'd the regulator IC's since they got hot enough to burn skin.
Their first warranty solution was for us to remove the motherboard, replace 24 rectifier diodes with beefier, and now stood-off the board for heat dissipation, 3A diodes and be done with it, but there were hundreds of now overheated solder joints (that the Distributor refused to compensate the labor for but I reworked anyway since the board was out).
After they realized that the first solution was simply prolonging the inevitable, they began to replace the motherboards with now much larger heat sink'd regulators and the beefier diodes installed. I love Arcam and their dedication to great sound, but this series of receivers must have nearly put them down with what could have easily been 100% failure rates. Between the then new lead free solder (which was a learning curve for everyone a few years ago) to the poor cooling, these units were putting my kid thru school.
That 3300uF cap will need replacing, but wait til you see all the bad solder joints under every diode and regulator.
The problem was that all rectification (AC to DC conversion) and regulation (keeping 12 volts 12 volts) was on the motherboard with almost no cooling from the fan that was located under the power amps' heatsinks. The AVP700 was even worse since it didn't even have cooling vents in the top cover. I also felt they under spec'd the regulator IC's since they got hot enough to burn skin.
Their first warranty solution was for us to remove the motherboard, replace 24 rectifier diodes with beefier, and now stood-off the board for heat dissipation, 3A diodes and be done with it, but there were hundreds of now overheated solder joints (that the Distributor refused to compensate the labor for but I reworked anyway since the board was out).
After they realized that the first solution was simply prolonging the inevitable, they began to replace the motherboards with now much larger heat sink'd regulators and the beefier diodes installed. I love Arcam and their dedication to great sound, but this series of receivers must have nearly put them down with what could have easily been 100% failure rates. Between the then new lead free solder (which was a learning curve for everyone a few years ago) to the poor cooling, these units were putting my kid thru school.
That 3300uF cap will need replacing, but wait til you see all the bad solder joints under every diode and regulator.