I['ll have to start digging into the Anthem. I'm not sure what I can do with it. My pre-amp can't do anything for me. I have been considering a sub. I'm not ready to make anoter purchase. I really like my svs pb3k's. Do you think a single sb2000 will be enough? And your thoughts on how they might pair up with these speakers. Or should I be considering something more hi end
Where are you using your Marantz SR7012?
It is compatible with the Audyssey App.
I would try that before buying a sub! Since you have true full range speakers, it makes sense to see what you can get from them before spending more,
The Audyssy app costs only $20 and it is a phone (or tablet) app that allows you control over Audyssey. Based on your comments you should try it at frequencies below 300Hz. If that makes a significant difference, then you can spend more time tuning things. If not, the sub is a no-brainer.
To be sure, your experience is similar to mine (the problems were in the lower frequencies where the room has more control than the quality of your gear. Salon 2's are established as excellent speakers and I am certain they provide all of the response you need. The problem is you are limited in where you can locate them because they also have to act as your speakers! That is the key advantage of a sub (plus it will play lower for HT special effects and pipe organ). The room modes can be very problematic and often Audyssey cannot completely fix them, but it definitely improves them. If you do use a sub, you would still want to perform correction to compensate for room modes, so the Audyssey app is still worth the $20!
... to be clear, the Audyssey app will let you determine what frequency range you want Audyssey applied to and I am recommending below 300Hz as a starting test point to deal with room modes while not messing with the higher frequencies!
You would get the app through the Google Play store for android or whatever Apple uses for their apps, but here is Marantz's reference to it:
www.us.marantz.com
Edit: I had a brain-fart and said I have a SR7011, I actually have a SR7008. I went back and corrected my previous posts to read SR7008! I wish I did have the 7011 because it is compatible with the Audyssey app!