Arcam vs Anthem AV processors Preferences ?

[Romaman]

Any comparisons between Arcam and Anthem AV processors? Preferences and why. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on upgrading

 

[PENG]

Any comparisons between Arcam and Anthem AV processors? Preferences and why. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on upgrading

I can only comment on ARCG vs Driac Live (with DLBC) as looks and features are hard to compare. To me, and I suspect to most (except the Anthem fans) users, it is much easier to get better results with Dirac.

One thing I found hilarious (the likes of comments below) is that both seem to have their fair share of bugs in their early days:

"...Bug wise Anthem and Arcam are very similar with their current firmwares.,,,"

Arcam AV 40 vs Anthem AVM 90 | AVS Forum

For my money, if I am ready to spend $7,500, I would avoid Arcam and Anthem's and go with Marantz's AV10 for sure.

 

[CB22]

As an Anthem owner, I can tell you first hand their firmware is buggy. It does not stay connected to WiFi and is a pain in the azz to run arc without having an Ethernet cable plugged in. Also, I get some digital clipping every once in a while when changing inputs. Go with Dennon/ Marantz IMO; more stable firmware and less buggy.

 

[PENG]

As an Anthem owner, I can tell you first hand their firmware is buggy. It does not stay connected to WiFi and is a pain in the azz to run arc without having an Ethernet cable plugged in. Also, I get some digital clipping every once in a while when changing inputs. Go with Dennon/ Marantz IMO; more stable firmware and less buggy.

I haven't tried wifi but hardwared Ethernet has been trouble free. Agreed with ARCG being a pain but in my case it is not because of wifi, it's about its performance. I actually prefer Audyssey by a wide margin. Funny most reviewers seem to prefer ARCG, but few showed evidence supported by measurements, and we all know subjective measurements don't mean a lot. Other than that Anthem does seem to have excellent preamp/dac section, probably the best (for now, until the AV10 gets measured) based on specs and measurements, on paper anyway.

 

[Trell]

It does not stay connected to WiFi and is a pain in the azz to run arc without having an Ethernet cable plugged in.

I hardwired Ethernet as much as possible at home as that generally works the best for me.

 

[CB22]

I hardwired Ethernet as much as possible at home as that generally works the best for me.

Unfourtantly, I do not have an ethernet port close to my avr so I have to run a 50ft ethernet cable through the house every time I want to run ARC. But it works fine after that. I do like the arc software though. They updated it about 2 years ago and it soooo much better than before. It's an easy to use interface once everything is working properly.

 

[Trell]

Unfourtantly, I do not have an ethernet port close to my avr so I have to run a 50ft ethernet cable through the house every time I want to run ARC. But it works fine after that. I do like the arc software though. They updated it about 2 years ago and it soooo much better than before. It's an easy to use interface once everything is working properly.

I’ve a similar length of cable to the AVR, but laid out nicely and by the AVR is a switch that the AVR, TV, Apple TV and Chromecast is connected to.

If you’re able to drag an Ethernet cable it’s worth the effort.

 

[everettT]

Unfourtantly, I do not have an ethernet port close to my avr so I have to run a 50ft ethernet cable through the house every time I want to run ARC. But it works fine after that. I do like the arc software though. They updated it about 2 years ago and it soooo much better than before. It's an easy to use interface once everything is working properly.

Do you have cable TV in your house or unused coax? If so you can use it to get "hardwired" internet throughout the house. WiFi should always be a last result with AV and security.

 

[CB22]

Do you have cable TV in your house or unused coax?

I do have unused coax near the arv, however, I can't move my internet modem to that room. I need my work computer hard-wired into the WiFi router that is connected to the internet modem.

 

[everettT]

I do have unused coax near the arv, however, I can't move my internet modem to that room. I need my work computer hard-wired into the WiFi router that is connected to the internet modem.

You only need one of these if your router is MoCA compliant.
MoCA reciever/transmitter

 

[CB22]

You only need one of these if your router is MoCA compliant.
MoCA reciever/transmitter

Nice! I never knew about that. Thanks for sharing. I'll buy one right now. Looks like it should be MoCA-compliant with Spectrum.

 

[everettT]

Nice! I never knew about that. Thanks for sharing. I'll buy one right now. Looks like it should be MoCA-compliant with Spectrum.

Then you can add a 4-8 port gigabit switch and hardwire all of your av gear.

 

[ryanosaur]

Then you can add a 4-8 port gigabit switch and hardwire all of your av gear.

This!
I have one ethernet cable running from my router to an 8port switch, and have all my gear hardwired... TV, AVR, Playstaion, Blue Ray, and even my Hue Bridge is on that switch!

I just ordered the switch from Monoprice while I was ordering my Ethernet cable.

 

[everettT]

This!
I have one ethernet cable running from my router to an 8port switch, and have all my gear hardwired... TV, AVR, Playstaion, Blue Ray, and even my Hue Bridge is on that switch!

I just ordered the switch from Monoprice while I was ordering my Ethernet cable.

High speed internet distribution has become much easier in the last 10 years for homes that aren't prewired and don't have easy access to install new wiring.

 

[ryanosaur]

High speed internet distribution has become much easier in the last 10 years for homes that aren't prewired and don't have easy access to install new wiring.

I also recently bought a spool of Cat6a cable, and bag of connectors and a crimper for them. I want to hardwire my mesh routers if possible due to the shape of our home (very long, so the best placements aren't necessarily in good locations for wifi connection between routers).
I used to think terminating Ethernet cable was a black art... It's stupid easy, though!

 

[jsbranham7]

As an Anthem owner, I can tell you first hand their firmware is buggy. It does not stay connected to WiFi and is a pain in the azz to run arc without having an Ethernet cable plugged in. Also, I get some digital clipping every once in a while when changing inputs. Go with Dennon/ Marantz IMO; more stable firmware and less buggy.




Wow. My MRX has been flawless with firmware, functionality. As for the wifi, its been stellar and my router is even on another floor in the home and I'm in love with the web UI.

 

[CB22]

From what I've read on the forums about the MRX, some also experience WiFi issues along with some QC complaints. Perhaps luck of the draw that I did not get a perfect unit but for what I paid for it I'm not upgrading my AVR anytime soon. The next time I upgrade it will be with Denon or Marantz.