Conclusion
The Arc Audio amplifier is sonically excellent. Plus, the included features are among the best thought out and most useful of any amplifier I have tested in recent memory. But, this performance and flexibility does not come cheap. At a retail price of $1,399.00, this is not an amp for everyone.
If you merely considered the amp in terms of watts per dollar there are quite a few amps that will provide almost double the power per dollar spent. However, very few of those have the attention to detail, flexibility of features and sonic excellence of this one. So, the choice is yours. If money were no object, this would be a pretty easy choice... but I have to wonder how many $1,399.00 4-channel amps are sold... even great ones like this.
| PERFORMACE DATA: ARC AUDIO 4200SE |
| OUTPUT POWER @ 1%THD, 1KHZ, 14.4VOLTS |
| Stereo @ 4 ohms | 4 x 117 |
| Stereo @ 2 ohms | 4 x 225 |
| Stereo @ 1 ohm | 4 x 367 |
| Bridged @ 4 ohms | 2 x 452 |
| Bridged @ 2 ohms | 2 x 738 (fuse blows) |
| OUTPUT POWER @ 1%THD, 1KHZ, 12.5VOLTS |
| Stereo @ 4 ohms | 4 x 119 |
| Stereo @ 2 ohms | 4 x 219 |
| Stereo @ 1 ohm | 4 x 367 |
| Bridged @ 4 ohms | 2 x 444 |
| Bridged @ 2 ohms | 2 x 686 (fuse blows) |
| Distortion at rated power, 1kHz, 14.4volts | 0.06% @ 4 ohms |
| Input sensitivity | 455mV to 5.5V |
| Frequency response ( + 1dB) | <10Hz - 40kHz |
| S/N ratio (A weighted, full 4 ohm power, min gain) | > -110dB |
| Slew rate | More Than Adequate* |
| Damping Factor @ 100Hz, 4 ohms | 160 |
| Idle current | 1.2A |
| Maximum current consumption, unclipped | 185 amps @ 367 watts x 4 @ 1 ohm |
| Efficiency at 1/3rd power lowest impedance | 37.7% |
| Efficiency at full power, 1%THD, lowest impedance | 55% |
| Crossover slope | -12dB/octave or -24dB/octave |
| Crossover range, lowpass | 30Hz - 5500Hz |
| Crossover range, highpass | 30Hz - 5500Hz |
| Low frequency boost | 0 to +18dB @ 20 - 80Hz |
| Remote level control | -60db to 0dB referenced to main gain setting |
| Dimensions | 20"L x 8"W x 2.5"H |
| *Explained in editorial |