Arcam AVR400 Connecting speakers, E-19, Bi-Amping the Front Left & Right speakers, Speaker cables

Connecting speakers

To connect each of the speakers, unscrew the corresponding terminals on the back of the AVR400, insert the speaker wires through the hole in each post and screw the terminals back up. Make sure that the red (positive/+) terminal of the speaker is connected to the red (positive/+) terminal on the back panel, and the black (negative/–) terminal of the speaker is connected to the black (negative/–) terminal on the back panel.

Bi-Amping the Front Left & Right speakers

Bi-amping is the use of two amplifier channels per speaker. Bi-amping can provide better sound quality than conventional single wiring. If you do not have Surround Back speakers (i.e. you have a 5.1 surround system, not a 7.1 system) then you can use the spare Surround Back speaker outputs to bi-amplify the front left and right speakers, if your speakers support bi-amping. The spare channels can alternatively be used to power stereo speakers in another room (Zone 2).

Speakers that support bi-amping have two sets of +/- terminals per speaker, usually linked together by metal strips. These metal strips must be removed when bi-amping; failure to remove them will result in damage to the amplifier that is not covered under warranty.

To bi-amp the front left and right speakers, remove the metal strips from the speaker terminals. Connect the woofer or LF terminals to the FL and FR terminals on the AVR400. Connect the tweeter or HF terminals to the SBL and SBR terminals on the AVR400. Finally, navigate to the Setup Menu “Spkr Types” and set the ‘Use Channels 6+7 for” menu option to “BiAmp L+R” — see page E-32.

Using external power amplifiers

The internal power amplifier of the AVR400 can
be supplemented or replaced with external power
amplification. Connect the preamp out sockets to your	English
power amplifier inputs:

FL, FR, C

It is important that no stray strands of wire from these connections are allowed to touch another cable or the product casing. Failure to ensure this can cause a short circuit and damage your AVR400.

Do not over-tighten the loudspeaker terminals, or use a wrench, pliers, etc., as this could damage the terminals and this would not be covered under the product’s warranty.

Link MUST

be removed

SBR FR FL SBL

Link MUST

be removed

Connect these to the equivalent (Right, Left and Centre) front channels of your power amplifier.

SUB

Subwoofer output. Connect this to the input of your active subwoofer, if present.

SR, SL

Surround Right and Surround Left outputs. Connect these to the Surround Right and Left power amplifier inputs.

SBR, SBL

Speaker cables

The speakers should be connected to the amplifier using good-quality, high-purity, low impedance copper cables. Cheap speaker cables should be avoided – they are a false economy and can significantly degrade the sound quality.

The cable runs to the speakers should be as short as practicable. Connections to the speaker terminals should always be finger tight, whether using bare wires or spade connectors.

Connecting subwoofers

The AVR400 also allows an active subwoofer to be connected to the Sub output.

See your subwoofer handbook for the correct setting up and connection for your particular subwoofer.

Surround Back Right and Surround Back Left outputs (only used in 7.1 channel systems). Connect these to the Surround Back Right and Surround Back Left power amplifier inputs.

All pre-amplifier analogue outputs are buffered, have a low output impedance and are at line level. They are able to drive long cables or several inputs in parallel if required.

E-19