Arcam FMJ AVR400 AV receiver

Audio processing and setup

The FMJ AVR400’s auto calibration system does a surprisingly good job at equalising a multi-speaker setup, adjusting for speaker type, distance, level and crossover. It also compensates for resonant room frequencies. Initially, I balanced speaker levels manually and was reasonably pleased with the results. Then I plugged in the supplied mic and tried the auto calibration software. The results sounded even better.

Internet radio and networked audio files can be accessed using the Ethernet port

The unit has a full complement of audio decoders on-board for Dolby and DTS, but no Audyssey DSX side/height tomfoolery or THX post processing modes. It does, however, offer Dolby Volume. This dynamics taming technology minimises differences in volume between disparate source inputs or programmes and ad breaks. This proved surprisingly useful in toning down the odd volume discrepancy that occurs between HD and SD broadcast channels.

The feature set is completed by an integrated DAB/FM/AM radio together with USB and network audio playback plus an Internet radio. Music file support is extensive. I successfully streamed FLAC, MP3, WAV, AAC and WMA tunes from my networked music server. However there is no support for album art.

For the audition, I ran the AVR400 in a 7.1 configuration using Definitive Technology Reference speakers allied to a Velodyne subwoofer. My source component was Arcam’s newly-released and matching BDP100 Blu-ray player.

Also available in black

It wasn’t long before the brand’s honey-sweet character was soon in evidence, as well as a delightful sense of presence. The Dolby TrueHD mix of Crash into Me from the Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Music Hall Blu-ray proved hugely atmospheric. It was enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck.