Opinions of Anthem Users. I am considering the Anthem AVM 70 8K

[TLS Guy]

Correction: If I remember right, the latest Yamaha flagship YPAO R.S.C. does allow 8 bands of PEQs post calibration. If that is, true then I would rank it about the same as XT32+App, and should be better than XT32 without using the app. In both cases, one has to know how to use PEQs well (Yamaha), and the app well (D+M).

For those who can't be bother with manual tweaks, i.e. would just run it and leave it, then I would rank Dirac 1, 2 and 3, and Anthem ARC G 6th.

Note: While I am at it, for those who knows how, don't mind spending infinite hours, and most importantly use REW or equivalent for objective assessment, then I would rank DLBC, XT32 1, 1.5, Anthem ARC G YPAO RSC+PEQ 2, though on YPAO, I have not actually tried it so it is just based on projection/speculation. In that case they are all good, even for TLS Guy, if he wasn't preconceived/bias, he might be happy enough to use them.

I just need two sub outs, actually one is enough, as the first AVPs only had one sub out.

I don't have any need of any form of EQ and that feature would never be used.

Both the AVP10 and the Anthem units have 19" racks available.

At the moment the AVP 7706 is working perfectly. That spark on brief shut down on switch on last week, seems to have cured the fault for now. At the moment the rig is very quiet with zero background at all listening positions.

So, that spark I suspect has remade a bad solder connection.

My Av room is basically designed round the Marantz universe. This includes the facilities and the way the bass management is designed.

So the easiest changeover is a Marantz unit.

My biggest concern about Anthem is glitchy and slow software, and not SQ.

I doubt the difference in SQ without EQ is audibly detectable between any units. I don't need or want Eq as I don't want the rig to sound any different than it does now. It is incredibly life like and very close to actually being there. The bass is superbly tight, deep and realistic with never a trace of boom.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

For those who can't be bother with manual tweaks, i.e. would just run it and leave it, then I would rank Dirac 1, 2 and 3, and Anthem ARC G 6th.

Anthem ARC G 6th Place if no manual adjustments?

So if you just simply did AUTO ARC-G and XT32 and did absolutely nothing else, would XT32 do a better job?

My CX-A5100 can do Auto YPAO + Manual PEQ after using the YPAO, which was what Gene did.

 

[PENG]

Anthem ARC G 6th Place if no manual adjustments?

Based on my many REW graphs yes, that's doesn't mean it is a fact. Others, hopefully Gene or Theo would show their graphs to humor me. Until then, I can only state it as a matter of opinion, again, not facts.

So if you just simply did AUTO ARC-G and XT32 and did absolutely nothing else, would XT32 do a better job?

I got flatter response with XT32 consistently when nothing else was one post calibration runs, but I suspect in many cases, users may not likely the effect of that "BBC" dip, that could not be removed without using the app, or Audyssey pro.

My CX-A5100 can do Auto YPAO + Manual PEQ after using the YPAO, which was what Gene did.

That's what I thought but I forgot if it allows 8 PEQs or less. If 8 or more, then it would be like adding a minidsp 2X4HD but actually better practically speaking because the minidsp can only do the front 2 channels if used with an AVR, and it would create a spaghetti junction of wires.

 

[ski2xblack]

I don't have any need of any form of EQ

Of any form? Kind of veering off topic with this question, so forgive the digression. But it seems to me that eschewing eq of any form would necessitate only listening at volumes at which the system was calibrated, or very near to it. Lets say you calibrate at 85 db for optimum response. If you listen at 65-70 db, the overall tonal balance will be relatively anemic. If you calibrate the system at 70 db, listening sessions at 85 db will be relatively booming and bombastic. We can't just ignore the differences of our hearing's sensitivity to frequency extremes at different spls. It's just the nature of human hearing. So it seems that eq for loudness compensation is justified.

Granted, the Dynamic EQ that D&M product offers is not my favorite, as it doesn't allow as much adjustment as I would like (I do a lot of listening at rather low volume, where even with offsets maxed DEQ doesn't deliver the palp factor). Also, I know that in your rig the bsc and bass are meticulously tuned to your room, which would mitigate the need for loudness compensation eq somewhat.

Anywho, hope you get your pre/pro problem sorted, however that works out. Intermittent glitches are annoying as all get out.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That's I forgot if it allows 8 PEQs or less.

Yamaha AVP/AVR PEQ is 7-bands.

 

[PENG]

Yamaha AVP/AVR PEQ is 7-bands.

close enough! One can spend hundreds to get 1 more for 2 channels. If Anthem has such am option I would be willing to pay $200 more.

 

[TLS Guy]

Of any form? Kind of veering off topic with this question, so forgive the digression. But it seems to me that eschewing eq of any form would necessitate only listening at volumes at which the system was calibrated, or very near to it. Lets say you calibrate at 85 db for optimum response. If you listen at 65-70 db, the overall tonal balance will be relatively anemic. If you calibrate the system at 70 db, listening sessions at 85 db will be relatively booming and bombastic. We can't just ignore the differences of our hearing's sensitivity to frequency extremes at different spls. It's just the nature of human hearing. So it seems that eq for loudness compensation is justified.

Granted, the Dynamic EQ that D&M product offers is not my favorite, as it doesn't allow as much adjustment as I would like (I do a lot of listening at rather low volume, where even with offsets maxed DEQ doesn't deliver the palp factor). Also, I know that in your rig the bsc and bass are meticulously tuned to your room, which would mitigate the need for loudness compensation eq somewhat.

Anywho, hope you get your pre/pro problem sorted, however that works out. Intermittent glitches are annoying as all get out.

Calibrating for different levels is nonsense. If that were required then when there is just one or two instruments playing softly and then a full orchestra, there is easily a 60 db. or more difference.

No, I don't use Eq, the system is designed as a totality. The bass is truly realistic and uniform throughout the space.

The major part of the last three octaves in this room are produced by TL lines. Pipes interact with room spaces totally differently than any other design in the lower frequencies. No other design other than TLs has ever truly satisfied me in the last three octaves.

Pipe organ builders have long known this. The bass of a pipe organ and actually the whole spectrum is highly uniform in large spaces. On the other hand electronic organs using speakers have widely different sounds and levels all over the space and are markedly inferior. Pipes have a property, which is still not entirely understood, that is known as encircling.

So, these TLs create a very different situation than what the rest of you are used to. In addition the room has optimal dimension ratios by design. In addition the space for those dual line mains is part of the total design.

So, even the slightest attempt at Eq, will spoil the 'cake'. so to speak.

 

[ski2xblack]

Calibrating for different levels may be nonsense, but *listening* at different levels happens, and human hearing is what it is. And let's not conflate system calibration to eq-ing for specific program material.

I would love to hear your tl rig some time. It's too bad tl's are necessarily huge and haven't caught on more broadly. I don't doubt your claims about how they couple to the room. Aperiodic/non-resonant alignment can result in very tight, well delineated, convincingly realistic bass.

 

[TLS Guy]

Calibrating for different levels may be nonsense, but *listening* at different levels happens, and human hearing is what it is. And let's not conflate system calibration to eq-ing for specific program material.

I would love to hear your tl rig some time. It's too bad tl's are necessarily huge and haven't caught on more broadly. I don't doubt your claims about how they couple to the room. Aperiodic/non-resonant alignment can result in very tight, well delineated, convincingly realistic bass.

I probably listen at pretty much the same level. Classical music has a pretty wide dynamic range, especially in this digital arena. In the days of LP there was obviously some dynamic compression used. However modern digital sources are pretty much wide open.

So, if you have it too quiet, then you will barely hear the quiet passages. If too loud the fortissimos will blow you out of your seat. I think I pretty much listen at concert levels. Now I know a lot of rigs, actually most, will not do that, but this one will with headroom to spare.

I don't listen to any rock or music in the popular domain, unless forced to when doing editing for someone else. Those guys seem to like it ear bleeding loud, so I do as little of that as I can. I just can't abide practically all music in the 'pop' domain so I don't have to worry about it to any extent.

 

[ski2xblack]

I think I pretty much listen at concert levels.

You know that those classical composers were the OG headbangers, right? If you get an overwhelming urge to jump out of your chair and start conducting the orchestra painted in your mind's eye by that awesome setup of yours, you just might be one too!

Back on topic...may your miraculously self-healing pre/pro stay healthy, and may your dealer give you a square deal if/when you deem a replacement necessary. Rock on, Brother Mark!

 

[famasfilms]

I hated the 1140 and got rid of it after a month for the Denon a1h, which instantly put a smile back on my face.

The 1140 was disappointing sound - even after getting recommended forum gurus to tweak my arc file. "This Modern Age" by The Strokes was unlistenable.

It took 5-6s to resume audio after unpausing in Plex.

Plus - the fan noise.

I will never touch Anthem products again

 

[PENG]

I hated the 1140 and got rid of it after a month for the Denon a1h, which instantly put a smile back on my face.

The 1140 was disappointing sound - even after getting recommended forum gurus to tweak my arc file. "This Modern Age" by The Strokes was unlistenable.

It took 5-6s to resume audio after unpausing in Plex.

Plus - the fan noise.

I will never touch Anthem products again

If one browse the AVSF site, you will get a very different picture and you might not want to post what you did over there lol...

I don't have sound quality issue when I switched from my Denon AVR-X4400H to the AVM70, but I never felt there was a gain either. It is my belief that people who rave about how sound quality improve to the point they often described as night and day, easily audible with no need to controlled and/or blind tests are practically useless because of their highly subjective nature.

I have seen no evidence the MRX-1140 would not be transparent in terms of sound quality, when ARC Genesis is disabled, if enabled, then obviously it depends. And, I also have not seen evidence that supports people's claims that their ARC G file could be tweaked by some so called gurus, who just tweaked their files site unseen, and no measurements ever presented to show the before and after...., how the heck would that be possible other than just by chance in some cases, yet such claims/tweaked events apparently has no trouble making so many users believe....., absolutely amazing. It just shows it isn't hard to convince people to believe something regardless.

Anyway, glad to know the A1H is able to put a smile on your face. Everyone who is in the market in an AVR, and is consider Anthem's should read yours and similar posts that share the dark side, so they could at least see both sides, instead of just believing hearsay that for music, Marantz, Anthem, Arcam are better, whereas Denon, Yamaha are better in movies kind of nonsense that we see all the time on forums.

 

[famasfilms]

If one browse the AVSF site, you will get a very different picture and you might not want to post what you did over there lol... I don't have sound quality issue when I switched from my Denon AVR-X4400H to the AVM70, but I never felt there was a gain either. It is my belief that people who rave about how sound quality improve to the point they often described as night and day, easily audible with no need to controlled and/or blind tests are practically useless because of their highly subjective nature. I have seen no evidence the MRX-1140 would not be transparent in terms of sound quality, when ARC Genesis is disabled, if enabled, then obviously it depends. And, I also have not seen evidence that supports people's claims that their ARC G file could be tweaked by some so called gurus, who just tweaked their files site unseen, and no measurements ever presented to show the before and after...., how the heck would that be possible other than just by chance in some cases, yet such claims/tweaked events apparently has no trouble making so many users believe....., absolutely amazing. It just shows it isn't hard to convince people to believe something regardless. Anyway, glad to know the A1H is able to put a smile on your face. Everyone who is in the market in an AVR, and is consider Anthem's should read yours and similar posts that share the dark side, so they could at least see both sides, instead of just believing hearsay that for music, Marantz, Anthem, Arcam are better, whereas Denon, Yamaha are better in movies kind of nonsense that we see all the time on forums.

Not sure how much I've written here before on subject, but I previously had a Denon 6500 picked up second hand from a seller who originally said it was a 6700. So from day 1 i perceived it as less than the 6700

I then bought into the hype about Denon being mass market and anthem being enthusiast levels of quality, but my first reaction when I heard 1140 for first time was "oh"

Perhaps I was wrongly expecting some audible improvement. (It also didn't help the anthems that the audyssey one calibration tool has recently been used)

I also know now that the 6500 was/is still a very capable avr

But I persisted. The issue with getting a forum guy to tweak arc remotely was not being able to describe to him how it sounded and how I wanted it to sound, I just don't have the vocabulary for that.

I even got a local pro calibration for the 1140 at same time as my TV, but that guy didn't even touch ARC so not sure what he did lol

But yeah, the A1h continues to impress and is truly an end game avr for me. Having audyssey one to do the calibration optimisation means I can relax and just enjoy the sound

 

[Golfx]

I am always impressed with how much sighted/known bias rules our hearing. Anthem does have its disciples on AVS forum for sure. As does PSA!