Help spending $6,000.00 on upgrades.

[PENG]

In addition to XT32, Dynamic EQ is awesome if you're listening at less than reference level.

Actually DEQ alone is enough to push me to the Denon side.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Actually DEQ alone is enough to push me to the Denon side.

Amen, brother.

All I need is the Subwoofer auto EQ and DEQ.

 

[JonnyFive23517]

Actually DEQ alone is enough to push me to the Denon side.

DEQ and Anthems bug issues are why I didn't get the Anthem 510. I know it has a Dolby equivalent of DEQ, but I'm hesitant as to whether it'll be as good as or not.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

DEQ and Anthems bug issues are why I didn't get the Anthem 510. I know it has a Dolby equivalent of DEQ, but I'm hesitant as to whether it'll be as good as or not.

One of my friends have an Anthem 710. He doesn't normally use any Dolby Volume or Dolby Volume Leveler. But I asked him to turn it on for me in his 5.2 system. I can't say I heard much of a significant difference. Maybe a little difference. But I can't say it sound better. He is not as familiar with Dolby Volume as I am with DEQ, so we didn't play with it for too long. Afterwards, he turned Dolby Volume OFF completely because he didn't like it.

Dolby Volume "leveler" just doesn't seem to instill that warm fuzzy feeling for me.

I just don't trust the world "Volume" even with the word "Leveler" after it.

That is why Audyssey distinguishes between Dynamic Volume (dynamic compression, which is bad) vs Dynamic EQ (none of that dynamic compression).

I have compared Dynamic Volume vs DEQ a lot. Dynamic Volume compresses the high level or dynamics, so you lose a lot on sounds that are very dynamic. But on highly compressed sound, it seemed to work just fine.

Dynamic EQ is a jewel to me. I've already praised the heck out of it, so I'll leave it there.

So based on my limited exposure to Dolby Volume Leveler, I find Audyssey Dynamic EQ king of the EQ.

I still bypass the Audyssey Room correction for my main speakers, though. The other speakers get Audyssey Flat, which is almost as good as Bypass.

I didn't ask him about the Anthem "bugs". What are they?

 

[JonnyFive23517]

There were two big bugs related to bass dropping out as well as channel muting when you switched inputs. After I had decided I couldn't live without DEQ I stopped following the progress of the bug fixes. A friend of mine has an Anthem pre-pro, and I can't help but think it sounds incredibly musical. But I'll have to trade that musicality for DEQ and XT32.

 

[PENG]

But I'll have to trade that musicality for DEQ and XT32.

My front L/R are powered by an 225Wx2 amp, prepro being the 8801, yet I find it no more musical then anything else I had before, not in direct/pure direct anyway. I doubt you traded anything away, just be happy and enjoy the music.

 

[blcskate]

I did the exact upgrade your talking about AE900U to Epson 8350UB. It can says a few things about it.

1) The Epson is light years brighter even when comparing new bulbs. In the theater with the lights off this didn't matter much, but when leaving lights on for my kids it was night and day better.
2) The Epson is a lot larger and way heavier. I used to take my AE900U with me to hotels and watch it on the walls. The Epson was far to large for me to feel comfortable taking down from my ceiling mount once it was up there.
3) The lens and focus on the AE900U stayed steady longer. I had to adjust my 8350 more often.
4) The 8350 pumps out some heat so I hope you have a good room for cooling. My old basement theater would get nice and toasty after 2+ hours.
5) Overall image quality the 8350 was hands down better. I can't say the AE900U was bad (for its time it was amazing), but the 8350 is a huge step up and you will notice it immediately.

I am in process of building my next theater (and house ). Personally I am going to wait on the projector until this fall since the house won't be done until 8/22. I am hoping to see some new models in the fall. The 8350 is great and the prices are good, but it is getting close to the end of its life cycle. If you need something now it is absolutely a great machine for the price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There were two big bugs related to bass dropping out as well as channel muting when you switched inputs. After I had decided I couldn't live without DEQ I stopped following the progress of the bug fixes. A friend of mine has an Anthem pre-pro, and I can't help but think it sounds incredibly musical. But I'll have to trade that musicality for DEQ and XT32.

In Direct mode they would sound alike.

Did you compare DEQ to Dolby Volume Leveler? This is where they differ.

 

[JonnyFive23517]

My front L/R are powered by an 225Wx2 amp, prepro being the 8801, yet I find it no more musical then anything else I had before, not in direct/pure direct anyway. I doubt you traded anything away, just be happy and enjoy the music.

I heard that in direct/pure direct many AVRs pre/pros become equivalent because they all use the same base processing. I currently use my Marantz SR6006, Aud XT set to Audyssey bypass L/R. I was hoping the AV8801 would be a step up, musically speaking, with the same setting (XT32 + bypass L/R).

 

[JonnyFive23517]

In Direct mode they would sound alike.

Did you compare DEQ to Dolby Volume Leveler? This is where they differ.

I don't run direct mode, I use Aud Bypass L/R. The DEQ vs Dolby VL is a big difference, but also the Anthem pre-pro I heard just seems to be more musical than my Marantz. Maybe that's just in my head, I dunno.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't run direct mode, I use Aud Bypass L/R. The DEQ vs Dolby VL is a big difference, but also the Anthem pre-pro I heard just seems to be more musical than my Marantz. Maybe that's just in my head, I dunno.

I also use Audyssey Bypass L/R + DEQ.

What at did you think of Dolby VL? Difference how?

When you say "musical", in which mode was the Anthem more "musical"?

 

[JonnyFive23517]

I also use Audyssey Bypass L/R + DEQ.

What at did you think of Dolby VL? Difference how?

When you say "musical", in which mode was the Anthem more "musical"?

There was no ARC or Dolby VL in use on the Anthem. I haven't heard either of these technologies. It was a different system, so there are probably two many moving parts to say it was just the Anthem. I'll retract my statement regarding the Anthem being more musical, citing the need for double blind study.

 

[PENG]

There was no ARC or Dolby VL in use on the Anthem. I haven't heard either of these technologies. It was a different system, so there are probably two many moving parts to say it was just the Anthem. I'll retract my statement regarding the Anthem being more musical, citing the need for double blind study.

I used to think the Arcam AVR-300 was musical and my 3805 at the time was not as musical. I eventually realized it was the speakers I listened to that had given me the impression. It is going to be subjective without at least conducting some sort of blind AB comparison listening sessions. I did not challenge your claim at all, I just suggested that you enjoy your system now, and not think about having traded something away for the feature you wanted. I am sure the 6006 is a very nice unit if used within its capability. When I went from the AV7005 to AV8801 I did not feel there was any gain in SQ, just features and better REQ, but that too is only my subjective opinion.

 

[superman180]

Thank you to all that have responded!! After much debate, reading reviews and personal opinions I finally decided to go with the latest Yamaha offering the new RXA-3040. I have been extremely pleased with my rxv2500 so that was a big part of making this selection.


I will receive the unit next week and hope to have it up and running along with my new epson 5030ub projector I ordered as well.


Again thanks for the advice I am sure I will have some questions regarding setup and things of that nature in the future.


Mike.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Congrats!

Looks like a great AVR with potent power.