The Arcam AVR31 is a premium receiver whose priorities are amplifier design, sophisticated processing and sound quality rather than the greatest number of powered channels. Seven Class G amplifier channels sit alongside sixteen-channel decoding, current HDMI and included Dirac Live. It is most convincing in a carefully planned system that can justify its price and, where necessary, additional power amplifiers.
Arcam AVR31 — Design, construction and placement
The AVR31 retains the restrained appearance of Arcam’s home-cinema range. The front panel does not try to advertise every function through a separate button, which can make it easier to live with in a mixed music and television room. Detailed configuration is still a substantial task. A visually simple receiver can contain a complex system, so input names, speaker assignments and everyday controls need organising before the owner settles into normal use.
At a published 18.1 kilograms and with significant rear connections, this is a component to place deliberately. Check shelf strength and cable clearance, and allow ventilation according to the installation guidance. Its Class G design should not be taken as permission to enclose it tightly. Keep the rear panel reachable and label amplifier connections. A premium system benefits from serviceable wiring just as much as a budget one, particularly if external amplification will be added later.
Class G amplification in context
Class G uses more than one supply-voltage level to improve efficiency across changing demands. It should not be confused with Class D merely because both differ from a conventional fixed-rail Class AB implementation. The topology is an engineering choice, not a complete description of the sound. Power delivery, protection behaviour, the loudspeaker load and the rest of the circuit still matter. A listening comparison should be judged on the finished system rather than a topology label.
Arcam specifies 120 watts per channel into eight ohms across 20 Hz to 20 kHz at less than 0.02 percent distortion with two channels driven. Its seven-channel figure is 100 watts into eight ohms at 1 kHz and 0.2 percent distortion. Those conditions are different, so neither number should be silently substituted for the other. The larger 140-watt stereo figure also belongs to a different test condition from the full-bandwidth rating.
The practical question is whether the chosen speakers and room need more than the receiver can supply. A moderate listening distance and efficient speakers can make the internal amplification entirely sensible. Demanding front speakers or a large room may justify a separate power amplifier. That decision should follow a real requirement, with gain and input compatibility checked, rather than the assumption that every premium receiver must immediately be accompanied by another expensive box.
Processing capacity and expansion
Seven internal amplifier channels can power a conventional seven-speaker floor arrangement or a five-channel bed plus two heights. Sixteen-channel decoding permits a much larger immersive layout with external amplification. These are separate capabilities. A buyer comparing the AVR31 with a receiver containing eleven amplifiers should include the cost, space and wiring required to power the same finished speaker layout.
With the appropriate assignments, the processing platform can support an ambitious 9.1.6 system. Subwoofer and auxiliary-output assignments use the available resources in different ways, so do not add every maximum from separate examples as though they operate simultaneously. Make a complete channel map from the current manual. The map should show each speaker position, the amplifier that powers it and the output carrying its signal.
This approach is particularly attractive when good external amplification already exists. The receiver can provide current switching, calibration and decoding while retaining those components. It is less simple for someone building an eleven-speaker system from nothing and hoping for a single powered box. The AVR31’s value rests on the quality and flexibility of its particular architecture, not on winning a count of internal amplifier channels.
Dirac Live and room integration
Dirac Live Room Correction is included, while Bass Control is a separately licensed option. The included calibration is a meaningful part of the package and should be used thoughtfully. Establish good physical speaker positions first, keep the microphone stable and save the measurement project. Sophisticated correction does not remove the need to check a loose connection, an obstructed centre speaker or a subwoofer placed in an acoustically difficult location.
Choose the measurement area around actual listening habits. A single chair can justify a different focus from a broad sofa used by several people. Save a reference preset and compare target changes at matched volume, paying attention to whether bass management and processing remain consistent. A more attractive graph is useful only if it supports a better listening result in the occupied area. The calibration should be understandable enough to revisit when a speaker or subwoofer changes.
Optional Bass Control can be relevant to a more involved subwoofer installation, but should not be described as automatically included with the receiver. Confirm the supported licence, firmware and intended layout before paying for it. A buyer who does not need its extra functions can still make good use of the included correction. Budget for the actual room problem rather than purchasing every software option simply because it is offered.
Published sound assessment
What Hi-Fi’s original AVR31 review praised its refinement, separation, articulation and dynamic control with film material, as well as its musical performance. It also identified the limited number of internal power channels as a reservation at the price. Those are the publication’s listening findings, not an Audio Review hands-on test. They support a serious audition while leaving the personal value judgement dependent on the system and current European price.
The strongest audition uses familiar material at the level actually intended at home. Include dialogue with background activity, an energetic action passage and stereo music with exposed voices or acoustic instruments. Listen for intelligibility and composure rather than simply the biggest bass effect. Keep comparisons level-matched and note which correction and upmixing settings are active. A louder or differently processed demonstration can easily be mistaken for a better amplifier.
In a mixed music and cinema system, the ability to retain a coherent setup is more useful than maintaining separate rituals for each source. A well-planned stereo profile and a clearly defined film profile can make the receiver easier to use. The positive original review makes the AVR31 a credible candidate for that role, but speaker compatibility and room acoustics still deserve the same attention as the component itself.
HDMI and network sources
Seven HDMI inputs and three outputs provide extensive switching, including a zone connection and eARC. Arcam lists 4K/120 and 8K/60 input support along with current HDR formats. Test the required source and display modes together, because cable runs and television settings remain part of the chain. A receiver’s HDMI specification cannot establish that every output arrangement with two different displays will retain the newer display’s full capability.
Network facilities include Roon Ready operation, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast. They may remove the need for a separate streamer, depending on the owner’s service and library preferences. Try the intended control devices before buying more hardware. Wired Ethernet is a sensible choice in a permanent installation. Vinyl still requires an appropriate phono stage, and additional analogue sources should be checked for suitable levels and routing.
Value and buying advice
The AVR31 is most persuasive when the owner values its amplifier approach, included correction and large processing platform together. A substantial current discount can make it more attractive, but an old launch price is not a reliable measure of today’s value. Compare the complete system with the external amplification needed for the intended layout, local support and installation costs included.
For a modest cinema, a less expensive receiver may leave a healthier budget for speakers, subwoofers and acoustic work. For an ambitious system retaining existing amplifiers, the AVR31 can make more sense. Its purchase should follow a room and speaker plan. The strongest justification is an audition that confirms the entire package meets the owner’s needs, with the seven-amplifier limitation accepted rather than discovered after purchase.
Alternatives to consider
Arcam AVR11: Compare when the desired system does not justify the AVR31’s amplifier and processing premium.
Anthem MRX 740 8K: A different room-correction and system-control approach worth comparing with complete amplification costs included.
Arcam AVR31 key specifications
- Internal amplification
- 7 channels, Class G
- Decoding
- 16 channels; layout and subwoofer assignments share processing resources
- Power, 2 channels
- 120 W/ch into 8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, <0.02% THD
- Power, 7 channels
- 100 W/ch into 8 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.2% THD
- HDMI
- 7 inputs / 3 outputs including Zone 2
- Dirac
- Room Correction included; Bass Control optional
- Weight
- 18.1 kg
Verdict
The Arcam AVR31 is a persuasive premium choice for a system that values published sound quality, included Dirac Live and flexible immersive processing. Seven internal amplifiers remain its main practical limitation at the price. Buy after an audition and a complete expansion budget, especially when the finished cinema needs more powered channels.
Primary documentation and independent reviews
Arcam AVR31 official specification sheet · What Hi-Fi original AVR31 review
Editorial record
Sources and updates
Product specifications and factual claims were checked against Official Arcam AVR31 product page ↗. Scores and buying advice follow our category-specific editorial methodology.
- Published
- November 7, 2026
- Last updated
- November 8, 2026