Build the surround sound system of your dreams

A good home theater system is a feast for the eyes and ears. If you're looking to go all-out and get the most accurate, immersive sound, you'll need components that possess serious processing power. Arcam's new AV41 has all the audio and video processing one's home theater could ever need. This potent home theater preamplifier boasts an incredible 16 channels of output, advanced surround sound decoding, plus balanced and unbalanced outputs for connecting amplifiers.

Why use a separate preamp/processor?

Traditional home theater receivers are "all-in-one" solutions. Typically, the amplifier and preamp sections can't be upgraded, meaning you have to buy a whole new receiver to get the latest and greatest features. "Separates" like this Arcam, on the other hand, let you swap out only what you need to. If you have an amplifier you adore and you'd hate to get rid of, you can upgrade your preamp without replacing anything else.

There's also the wide open system flexibility and sheer performance that separates provide. The AV41 has sixteen independent audio outputs to work with, plus two subwoofer outputs. And you aren't limited to just unbalanced RCA connections, either; this bad boy has balanced XLR outs too. You can go pedal-to-the-metal and run a 9.2.6 system right out the gate, or you can start small and expand later down the line.

Immersive sound and video

The AV41 brings enveloping cinematic experiences into your living room. It supports an incredible 16 channels of decoding for "object-based" sound formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and AURO-3D. This preamp does a phenomenal job of reproducing sounds in their exact intended positions.

There are seven HDMI inputs on the rear panel, and all support 8K at 60 frames per second and 4K at 120 frames per second. There are also three HDMI outputs, including an eARC output for your TV and a zone 2 output for feeding signal to a separate display.

Reference quality digital-to-analog converters

This pre/pro has your sound quality covered on the music side of things as well. There are two reference ESS Sabre ESS9026PRO audiophile-grade DACs inside that tastefully unveil the detail and nuance in your music. Each DAC has its own reference ESS voltage regulator, which drastically improves how each chip handles the incoming audio signal.

Streaming albums made easy

The AV41 offers plenty of ways to get your music going. It supports streaming through Apple AirPlay® 2, Google Chromecast, Bluetooth®, Spotify Connect®, and TIDAL Connect. It supports UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) too, which lets you access high-res files stored on your home network. You can select streaming sources through the free MusicLife app (available on Android™ and iOS®). The app also lets you use your phone as a Wi-Fi remote control.

Industry-leading Dirac room correction

Dirac Live® is one of the finest room correction systems in the industry. Use the included microphone and run the Dirac software on your laptop to take precise sound measurements in your room. After the software completes the test, it then creates a personalized EQ correction curve for all your speakers, made to overcome your room's specific acoustic characteristics. By using Dirac, you'll let your speakers achieve their full sonic potential.