Is the quality of good AV amp really worse than a good stereo amp when playing CDs?

[ClydeFrog]

I ask the question, since stereo amps seem to be more and more marginalized (at least where I live, outside of UK) and have only old-style RCA connections (no matter what the price but) but the AV amplifiers (even low end ones) have all kinds of higher end HDTV, Optical, Coaxial connections as well as RCA.

 

[Lost Angeles]

ClydeFrog:

I ask the question, since stereo amps seem to be more and more marginalized (at least where I live, outside of UK) and have only old-style RCA connections (no matter what the price but) but the AV amplifiers (even low end ones) have all kinds of higher end HDTV, Optical, Coaxial connections as well as RCA.

They are the equivalent of a Stereo amp 1/3rd of the cost (Clare's answer to a HC post).If I win the Arcam AV competition I am not expecting to sell my Caspian amp.

 

[Gusboll]

Swapped my Arcam AVR for Cyrus8vs2 - even though the Arcam is acknowledged as a good music option for an AV, they are poles apart and I can understand the '1/3' example above from my experience.

 

[Anonymous]

But perhaps not the AVR600. It's suggested that this one breaks the mould, and has an unusually audiophile amplifier section. Certainly seems to in my experience!

 

[JoelSim]

Will Harris:But perhaps not the AVR600. It's suggested that this one breaks the mould, and has an unusually audiophile amplifier section. Certainly seems to in my experience!

Sure it does Will, but I would imagine a £4k stereo amp would sound substantially better on 2 channel. But Arcam AV is up there with the very best.

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Thing is, if the loudspeaker driver is correctly and accurately matching the waveform from the disc, then why and how must it be possible for it to be further improved upon? There must come a point when it basically a perfect reproduction. We're so used to the idea of imperfection, that the idea that something works correctly is too extraordinary to believe. But if it does, then no amount of extra money should matter. Just a thought.