Hopefully the Dirac implementation goes better for Marantz than ARC-g went for Anthem otherwise we may be looking at a year from now to get a real comparison.
I would love to do an ARC vs Dirac comparison as well. My friend has a NAD M17 v2 with Dirac, one day I want to do a comparison between it and the AVM90. I would also love to test the Marantz AV10, I hope they are able to implement Dirac without issues. Marantz does typically release a fully "baked" product that operates smoothly, but even they have had their blunders in the past.
I started with a avm70 (now used in another room) and moved to the avm90. I did notice some little audible improvements but they were subtle. Definitely not any huge audible differences like I was expecting. Two channel Music did seem a bit more improved over movies. I use the Anthem STR Preamp for 2 channel and that still preformed better than the AVM90. I played with these units back to back with the same configuration. I really did not see the big differences that you claim. Why I don't know? I was hoping to sell the STR pre if the 90 was at least equal or better but that did not work out. My setup is very revealing using the Persona C and 7F's powered by Parasound JC5 and Anthem STR for the center. I'm also using Multiple JTR RS2's subs and the Room is fully treated/calibrated with the help from a friend who is a acoustical engineer. That's just my 2 cents on the two models. Anyway keep up the good work Barrett! I Enjoy the content!
Sorry to hear you didn't experience the upgrade you were hoping for. I know of someone else in the exact same shoes you are in, but with a different outcome. He had the STR Pre as well, and went from the AVM70 to the AVM90. He experienced very similar results as I did, with it being a noticeable upgrade. He got rid of the STR and now only uses the AVM90, because he decided there was no need for the STR after he heard the AVM90. I guess every room and every experience is different, but I do hope you find the upgrade you were searching for. Perhaps it's time to have a look at the NAD M17 v2 with Dirac or even the Trinnov Altitude 16?
Hi Barrett, I do believe there should be some audible difference when price is double or more, but is the price difference worth the upgrade? I am Avm 70 owner, debating it I should go and upgrade or not, am I going to feel that price difference?
Awesome video!! I do have a question though, is the sound difference worth double the cost over the avm 70? For me I could see $1000 or so more but just find it hard to believe a 2x the cost is justified, and the same would go for the trinnov being 2x+ the cost of the avm 90. Maybe I'm wrong though.which is why i ask, but i am thrilled with my avm 70. And before i get mad hate i totally understand it is all to the eye or in this case the ears of the beholder and the bank account status of the purchaser. But paying 2-3-4x for something that i am extremely happy with at the lower cost is a tough one. For me it becomes a diminishing returns thing unless money would at some point become a non factor. It is like going 12 subwoofers in a room, are you really using it to it's potential more than what 2 or 4 would be all the time and listening at 140db or is it just to say i have 12 subs because i can lol
So I recently returned my avm70 and will be buying the avm90 the avm 70 Sounds way better than my denon 4400h the separation is on another level and it feels more enveloping the sound is finally 3D as with the denon I could hear what speaker it was coming from I am looking foreword to the avm90 its expensive but compared to trinnov and other high end brands i think it’s a good decision
I have the AVM 70 8K for my 9.2.6. It sounds beyond magical. I didn't think the increase in whatever it can increase was work $3500 more. I'd rather buy my R/T flight to Turkey. Great video
Hello. I replaced my Anthem AVM 60 today, with a new AVM 90. Only hooked it up, have not heard it yet. A guy from the dealer will come and set up ARC. Your video's helped convince me and I subscribed several weeks ago.
thanks to you I updated via the webui This whole ordeal took about 4 hours but after I read the instruction manual and watched some videos along with your comment on the webui I was finally able to get it updated Coming from the avm70 to me it honestly is like 50 percent better kinda like the veil on the avm70 you mentioned was removed and the sound is so airy and lifelike the movies sound so much better there’s things I never heard before of movie demos I’ve watched atleast 30 times and music is the best I’ve heard it’s hard for me to believe what a big difference it is to the avm70 but it just like ear candy everything just sounds so good I couldn’t be happier a music concert I listened to on TH-cam sounded like there was a grand piano in my room I never heard that real lifelike music before In my room movies become alive it’s weird but it feels almost like a vr experience when the sound is that good along with a big screen I gotta say the avm90 exceeded my expectations
Oh I am really glad to hear you got it sorted out. I completely agree with your assessment, the AVM90 is just another level of audio clarity and ambiance.
Anthem does make some nice products, I had the D2 processor in my old theater back in 2008 plus I had an AVM20 before that and have owned some of their amplifiers. The only problem is that I've never had any good experiences with their customer support. I really hate having to deal with them unfortunately. Right now I'm trying to get my AVM60 repaired but not having much luck with that. I was hoping to get it shipped out to them so it could be repaired while I'm away in Germany so it might be back by the time I am but they refuse to allow it. I have to try that, "factory reset" first despite the fact it won't even power on before they will provide an RMA. So while I like the looks of the AVM70 and 90 I hesitate to buy anything else from them.
Sorry to hear that you are having such trouble. I truly hope they get you sorted out. I don't blame you for being hesitant if that is the experience you are having.
the pro mode is there so you can make further tweaks and possibly get that flattened out more. The reason why ARC couldn't do a better job, per se, is it has purposeful limitations to how much correction it can do. If you have a nasty null, the #1 step is to try speaker placement and room treatment. While many of us are limited, in some ways, we sometimes have to accept what it is and then let ARC do what it can with it. It just can do miracles i can only bump your nulls by 6db which is intentional so your speakers don't get damaged.
Greatly appreciate your video review on the AVM90. I am definitely interested in your A/B with AVM70. I saw this video only after acquiring the AVM70 (it's still on its way) so I am really curious to know what I will be missing out. I am also curious on how this compares to Trinnov Altitude 16 (or JBL SDP-75) which costs like 3X.
Thanks for your channel. I appreciate your content! I'll be honest here... I am not too sure that the perceived sonic difference of the AVM90 is worth the extra $4K, given the relatively minor parts cost increase of the higher-end ESS DACs. It is just a marketing move by Anthem to position the AVM90 to well-heeled buyers who are risk-averse to buying "cheaper" boxes.
Everyone has different priorities and different budgets. If the sonic difference isn’t worth it to you, that is okay too, there is no right or wrong answer. It is in the realm of diminishing returns, but to some it’s worth it still for the bump in audio clarity and separation. That said you aren’t wrong, the extra cost for materials/labor for Anthem is not almost double the cost, but they charge what the market will allow for. Just like a Trinnov is not worth 20k-30k when you look at the sum of the materials/parts used. Some find that they are worth it for the sound quality they produce though. It’s all relative to personal preference and budget. I appreciate your support on the channel…cheers!
I just purchased the AVM 90. I agree with your assessment for movie surround. When I listen to TH-cam TV channels the sound is in stereo and not surround. Why is that? With Netflix I do get surround sound or with DVD movies.
Thank you for mentioning the screen!!! I think Marantz and Anthem should have a screeen at LEAST as large as an Galaxy S22. Why would people want a huge screen on their fridge or gas pump and have a tiny screen on a $5K plus home theater processor?
@@SpecOfTech Someone will always say OHH - but that will increase the cost - it is a $6500 prepro. You can get a 10" tablet for $120 bucks - that includes a tablet brain, battery and charger. I don't think an extra $100 is going to kill someone willing to pay $6500 for a prepro.
If you have the budget for t he AVM90, you will not be sorry. The AVM70 is a fantastic unit as well, but the AVM90 takes the sound quality to the next level.
Curious how the Marantz AV 10 will stack up against Anthem. Any chance you can check that out when available? Thanks for the review! I hope to get one of these some day
@@kack7130 Hi kack, did ever find anyone that did the AV10 and the AVM90 comparison? I had the Anthem D2V and wanted to upgrade to the AVM90 but they removed the XRL inputs, deal breaker for me. I wound up getting the AV10 1 month ago and I'm sorry I didn't get the AVM90. The D2V had Much...Much...Better sound... Please let me know if you found that comparison, I think I'm sending back the AV10. still have a month and 1/2 to decide. Thanks!!!
Hi Homes, did ever find anyone that did the AV10 and the AVM90 comparison? I had the Anthem D2V and wanted to upgrade to the AVM90 but they removed the XRL inputs, deal breaker for me. I wound up getting the AV10 1 month ago and I'm sorry I didn't get the AVM90. The D2V had Much...Much...Better sound... Please let me know if you found that comparison, I think I'm sending back the AV10. still have a month and 1/2 to decide. Thanks!!!
Decisions between the AVM90 vs AV10…I cannot wait for you to get the av10 from marantz and compare that to your current setup. I think it’s hard to beat avm90…definitely the best at its price range around $7000
@@SpecOfTech it will be interesting to hear your thoughts - can Marantz beat Anthem - with Dirac on board this might be finally possible. I totally agree - Marantz is one, if not the best looking AVR/ processors.
Very nice! The AVM90 sure seams like a great processor. I have the AVM 70 and ARC is having severe problems sometimes and induces clipping and crackling in my dedicated and treated home theater... Unfortunatly there are few other processors that are as bugfree as the Anthems ... Only other option is the JBL and Arcams...
I don't think you will get a better functioning unit out of the Arcam. I can't really speak on the JBL's reliability and functionality, maybe it's less buggy...? I think for me personally, if I were to switch from the AVM90, I would give the Marantz AV10 a try. Similar price, but Marantz is typically very smooth with very little to no bugs. If they do have a bug, you know they are working diligently to fix it. With Anthem, I am never sure if they are doing what they can to fix it. For example, ARC still does not recognize my cal mic because I have 2 new laptops and ARC doesn't like the drivers. It has been this way for several months. I messaged Anthem recently, we'll see what their reply is.
I look at their website showing that it has 19 channel count. So does that mean I can do a 10.3.6 configuration with this processor? I want to do a LCR, FWL, FWR, SL, SR, RL, RR, and RC, with three subs and 6 height channels.
No, that would be nice, but it doesn't work like that for the AVM90. 4 of the channels are dedicated to subwoofers, and the other 15 channels are for speakers, and they have to be used as such.
@@SpecOfTech I figured, just wanted to confirm that was the case hehehe, one can dream right :D Thank You sir for looking into it!! Would it work then if it was an 8.3.6 configuration ? 8th being RC.
Great vid man! Was waiting for this one to come out. Do you think anthem will be bringing DTS:Pro out to us with a software upgrade on the AVM 70/90 soon?
Thanks man. From what I have found online, the AVM70, AVM90 and MRX 1140 have been updated to DTS:X Pro already. I haven't confirmed on my unit, but all the information I found online points to those units having it.
I can't see it iny avm 70 in the input set up. All I have available is dts neural and dts virtual. Can you check yours and confirm what you have and if it is available?
It's far too early to tell for sure. I haven't had a whole lot of time to listen to the Emotiva, with my out of town work schedule. My first impression of the Emotiva, was that it is on par with the AVM90 on clarity, detail and overall sound staging. Where the Emotiva lacks is in UI, software and bugs. That said, they did update their firmware which is supposed to have improved the bugs...so still too early to tell on that as well.
Why is Anthem still not allowing you to calibrate all the subs together, I bought this receiver especially for having 4 subwoofers! Does the Marantz AV10 has the ability to calibrate all four subs at once?
Hi Barret , My current processor is Marantz 7706 and thinking to upgrade to next level .. i hv zero issue with my 7706 with rock solid of HDMI .. my current line up for next upgrade is JBL SDP 58 or AVM 90 … im just need ur advice … TQ
Can you please confirm if the avm90 is 48gbps. Website says it is but I'm not sure how that would be possible unless they made their own boards. The only way to test it would be with a 48gbps tv and pc though and seeing if you get 4k 120hz rgb and 12 bit.
Wonderful video. Thank you. What is your opinion on adding the AnthemSTR Pre-amp to an AVM70 for 2channel music? (As you know, the AnthemSTR Pre-amp has HT bypass). Alternatively, would the AVM90 essentially do what the AVM70/STR combination would do?
Great video. Are you ready for a 5th X15? Lol. I pickup one up locally in Saskatoon that’s way huge (physically) for my 9x7 office setup! It sounds very good in the room though.
lol no I couldn't possibly fit another X15 in my space. Just use it as an end table or something, just make sure anything you put on the top is stuck on there good lol.
Great job bro I need one of those.😎👍 i have a question on one of your videos I got a “you have win something please in box me”. Was that a scammer that was you?
That was a scammer unfortunately. There seems to be a couple scammers targeting my viewers in the past month or 2. You know you've made it when the scammers target you lol.
@@SpecOfTech thank you. I’ve seen quite a few people using outdoor type speakers even in rooms where they could have installed in ceiling speakers. They say they sound a lot better.
Do you use a universal remote to switch to different inputs on the anthem? The Anthem doesn't automatically switch to another device while it's actively on another input does it? Thank you!
according to your opinion if I change my marantz av 8805A For the anthem avm 90 I will have an improvement in stereo and in multichannel music and in movies thanks
I have not heard the 8805A, but I do imagine the AVM90 would offer better sound. Not sure if it would be worth the upgrade, I guess that's for you to decide.
As a DIRAC user, I really like what it does. For 2ch it is amazing. I haven't used it in a HT application in some time unfortunately. I think it would be very difficult to compare the two side by side. I love the way the AVM 90 looks and all the software/settings. My NAD M17 v2 interface looks in comparison like Fred Flintstone designed it!! But works very well...simple. I am still considering getting a Minidsp 2x4HD. Just seen one on EBAY for around 500 CAD plus shipping with a UMIK-1. Is the MiniDSP worth the money?
We should really do a AVM90 vs M17 v2 video one day ;). Minidsp along with REW does have an uncanny ability to give you an almost board flat response with some effort. It is probably the best thing you can do for your bass if you are after a flat response.
I thought processors would allow you to manually adjust subs the way mini cap would. I haven’t bought a mini dap 2x4 HD, and I have 4 subs, because I’ve been waiting for emotiva to release their newer processors with 4 independent sub outs. Do you think I still need a mini dsp with the emotiva processors to get the best bass?
From my experience, the Minidsp does do a better job, with help from the user, of getting a flat bass response. Processors can do a decent job, but most often won't get a board flat response, like what is capable with a Minidsp. That being said, you have to ask yourself if a board flat response is what you want.
@deankim6687 If they have manual phase adjustment and manual PEQ's then yes. Using those you should be able to get a pretty flat response manually, but it will be all manual adjustment. Typically the room cal doesn't get the same results as a Minidsp. Minidsp combined with REW makes the manual adjustment a little easier with less guess work. Hope that helps...cheers.
I'm considering this pre pro. I do have a question. Can the Anthem Avm 90 be ran as a 17.2 as opposed to a 15.4? I would rather run a second pair of side surrounds and 2 subs.
Thanks for the video. How many dB higher is the LFE channel over the rest of the frequencies? I say this because in the video the bass is very noticeable vs the rest of the frequencies. written with translator Greetings
@@SpecOfTech Thank you for the courtesy to answer. If at any time you have time, it would be nice to be able to see a video with measurements of your room and thus see what is reflected in the measurements such as Impulse, Filtered IR, Waterfall, Spectrogram, TR20, 30, Topt, etc, etc, so we can make a idea vs acoustic treatment. Greetings
Any chance you can take some rew measurements of each individual sub response then one of the 3 toegther? Before and after Genesis, Please. We've been asking for months on Avs and noone will do it.
Man I don’t now, if you add a pair of Focal speakers, it might be over the top clear. Seems like a good pairing if you have a warmer sounding speaker? What if you lift the 4-5khz region 2-3 db? Does it sound even better or does it become fatiguing?
I don't think I would want to boost the treble at all, at least not for my preference. The clarity and detail come from the AVM90's ability to retrieve detail, it isn't really just a treble thing though.
@@SpecOfTech Just trying to figure out the explanation for the added clarity. There are a few situations we’re I notice the veil lifting, revealing speaker such as the Focal 816 (not for me, gets too shrill on certain notes), compression, such as dynamic volume (quieter sounds are lifted up), speaker positioning, ie pulling speakers away from boundaries, etc. I’m sure it sounds great, just wonder if the DACs, etc. are “enhancing” the sound.
Great review Barret. No Auro upmixer on Anthem is a bit of a bummer. Also wish the AVM70 had 4 sub outs and you didn't have to go all the way up to the 90. There's some serious competition at lower prices.
Do you have an Auro 3D set up? As far as I can tell online, the Anthem processors DO support DTS:X Pro now, they didn't at launch but have been updated.
@Tom Smith My apologies if it's not true. I got the information from an authorized dealer page that stated they had been updated to DTS:X Pro. Here is the page link: www.audio-one.ca/products/view/anthem-avm-series-av-preamplifier-or-processor-with-toroidal-transformer---avm-70
I follow the ARC instructions of putting the microphone less than 3 feet apart from the first measurement. What aspect of my sub settings are you asking about, the gain, the trim or the distance?
@@Samzep I can't remember the exact gain, but ARC will stop and tell you if the subwoofer's gain is set to high. I did not run quick measure beforehand though. I am not sure that really has anything to do with the nulls and peaks. All the gain will do is increase the SPL of all the frequencies in the response equally, it won't change the frequency response itself. Unless ARC is doing something weird that is not typical of all other room cal?
@@SpecOfTech well it makes big difference i have done many arcs with different volume set on sub before arc and makes a massive difference how the sub sounds.some people like to set the sub volume to peaks and then run arc in most cases sub is very weak i find the best way is to set it high and arc will say its to high and i just back it off one click at a time until arc too loud message lets you continue
@@Samzep Good point, I always relied on ARC to tell me to turn my subwoofers down, just enough for it to stop telling me they were too high. Not because I thought it would do better, only because I am a basshead and always had them turned up more than ARC thought I should lol. I am pretty confident I ran ARC properly and gave it several tries as well. It just doesn't seem to do as well as something like a Minidsp. Nor should it, the Minidsp requires more tinkering and manual adjustments to get it that way. I imagine an ARC pro could have gotten better results. I did make some manual phase adjustments after running ARC and I was able to get a better response than just ARC on it's own. I didn't show it in the video because that is manual adjustments to help ARC do it's job. I only wanted to showcase what it did on it's own.
Variations in frequency graphs don't have to have large variations for there to be a noticeable difference. Just an extra 3db takes twice the power to output, so even a 3db difference is noticeable.
How do you use a mini DSP to do Multi Channel stuff with a processor? Again I'm really really stupid and I really really would love it if someone could explain this to me thank you
Don't say that, we don't know what we don't know, it's all good. You use your subwoofer out from the pre/pro to the minidsp, and do your subwoofer calibration using the Minidsp instead of the processor itself. If you want, you could use both to calibrate, but it's best just to use the Minidsp alone, if you do plan on using one.
Anyone ever compare a nad M17 v2i processor to the anthem 90. I would love to know how they compare. The anthem chip factory burn down and I had to buy the M 17 a year or so ago
I'd like to see your experiences is a true blind test with the AVM70, 90 and other processor's you regard highly. Too often our own cognitive bias get in the way and knowing that I can't bring myself to accept any remarks that differences are possible in x,y,z way. Listen to Andrew Robinson discuss his experience doing this at a KEF event and how it crushed his self view of skilled audio assessor. I don't make these remarks to criticise, but to express my frustration at not being able to genuinely discern what is better about gear in objective tests. I can't demo at local boutiques and say what is due to any particular component or aspect of room design... it's a system. I do take away that you have enjoyed the performance of your AVM70 more than previously owned D&M branded gear. AVM90 is better again.
Dirac versus ARC is what I would like to hear in person for myself. Marantz AV10 is clearly aimed right at the AVM90 for specs and price.
Hopefully the Dirac implementation goes better for Marantz than ARC-g went for Anthem otherwise we may be looking at a year from now to get a real comparison.
I would love to do an ARC vs Dirac comparison as well. My friend has a NAD M17 v2 with Dirac, one day I want to do a comparison between it and the AVM90. I would also love to test the Marantz AV10, I hope they are able to implement Dirac without issues. Marantz does typically release a fully "baked" product that operates smoothly, but even they have had their blunders in the past.
Same here KUTTJ. I’ve been wanting to hear for myself
@@SpecOfTech I offered to bring my Htp-1(when I still had it) for a comparison to the avm70 on Avs.. Nothing but crickets.
I started with a avm70 (now used in another room) and moved to the avm90. I did notice some little audible improvements but they were subtle. Definitely not any huge audible differences like I was expecting. Two channel Music did seem a bit more improved over movies. I use the Anthem STR Preamp for 2 channel and that still preformed better than the AVM90. I played with these units back to back with the same configuration. I really did not see the big differences that you claim. Why I don't know? I was hoping to sell the STR pre if the 90 was at least equal or better but that did not work out. My setup is very revealing using the Persona C and 7F's powered by Parasound JC5 and Anthem STR for the center. I'm also using Multiple JTR RS2's subs and the Room is fully treated/calibrated with the help from a friend who is a acoustical engineer. That's just my 2 cents on the two models. Anyway keep up the good work Barrett! I Enjoy the content!
Sorry to hear you didn't experience the upgrade you were hoping for. I know of someone else in the exact same shoes you are in, but with a different outcome. He had the STR Pre as well, and went from the AVM70 to the AVM90. He experienced very similar results as I did, with it being a noticeable upgrade. He got rid of the STR and now only uses the AVM90, because he decided there was no need for the STR after he heard the AVM90. I guess every room and every experience is different, but I do hope you find the upgrade you were searching for. Perhaps it's time to have a look at the NAD M17 v2 with Dirac or even the Trinnov Altitude 16?
Hi Barrett, I do believe there should be some audible difference when price is double or more, but is the price difference worth the upgrade? I am Avm 70 owner, debating it I should go and upgrade or not, am I going to feel that price difference?
Awesome video!! I do have a question though, is the sound difference worth double the cost over the avm 70? For me I could see $1000 or so more but just find it hard to believe a 2x the cost is justified, and the same would go for the trinnov being 2x+ the cost of the avm 90. Maybe I'm wrong though.which is why i ask, but i am thrilled with my avm 70. And before i get mad hate i totally understand it is all to the eye or in this case the ears of the beholder and the bank account status of the purchaser. But paying 2-3-4x for something that i am extremely happy with at the lower cost is a tough one. For me it becomes a diminishing returns thing unless money would at some point become a non factor. It is like going 12 subwoofers in a room, are you really using it to it's potential more than what 2 or 4 would be all the time and listening at 140db or is it just to say i have 12 subs because i can lol
I always think that. It's like saying NA NAH I HAVE A 850 CREDIT SCORE to someone with a 792. Banks don't see the difference
So I recently returned my avm70 and will be buying the avm90 the avm 70
Sounds way better than my denon 4400h the separation is on another level and it feels more enveloping the sound is finally 3D as with the denon I could hear what speaker it was coming from I am looking foreword to the avm90 its expensive but compared to trinnov and other high end brands i think it’s a good decision
I think it's a great decision as well, let me know what you think after receiving it.
@@SpecOfTech I will
You should have kept the Legacy speakers. I'd love to see a comparison between the Anthem AVM90 and Arcam AV41 with Dirac.
I have the AVM 70 8K for my 9.2.6. It sounds beyond magical. I didn't think the increase in whatever it can increase was work $3500 more. I'd rather buy my R/T flight to Turkey. Great video
Barret i will be more than happy to bring my Trinnov ALT32 over for a comparison video. We live in the same city.
Hello.
I replaced my Anthem AVM 60 today, with a new AVM 90.
Only hooked it up, have not heard it yet.
A guy from the dealer will come and set up ARC.
Your video's helped convince me and I subscribed several weeks ago.
Oh ya, the same goes for the Paradigm XR 11 sub I bought in June.
It's excellent!
That's awesome buddy! I'm glad my videos were helpful. You will undoubtedly love the AVM90.
thanks to you I updated via the webui This whole ordeal took about 4 hours but after I read the instruction manual and watched some videos along with your comment on the webui I was finally able to get it updated Coming from the avm70 to me it honestly is like 50 percent better kinda like the veil on the avm70 you mentioned was removed and the sound is so airy and lifelike the movies sound so much better there’s things I never heard before of movie demos I’ve watched atleast 30 times and music is the best I’ve heard it’s hard for me to believe what a big difference it is to the avm70 but it just like ear candy everything just sounds so good I couldn’t be happier a music concert I listened to on TH-cam sounded like there was a grand piano in my room I never heard that real lifelike music before In my room movies become alive it’s weird but it feels almost like a vr experience when the sound is that good along with a big screen I gotta say the avm90 exceeded my expectations
Oh I am really glad to hear you got it sorted out. I completely agree with your assessment, the AVM90 is just another level of audio clarity and ambiance.
Anthem does make some nice products, I had the D2 processor in my old theater back in 2008 plus I had an AVM20 before that and have owned some of their amplifiers. The only problem is that I've never had any good experiences with their customer support. I really hate having to deal with them unfortunately.
Right now I'm trying to get my AVM60 repaired but not having much luck with that. I was hoping to get it shipped out to them so it could be repaired while I'm away in Germany so it might be back by the time I am but they refuse to allow it. I have to try that, "factory reset" first despite the fact it won't even power on before they will provide an RMA. So while I like the looks of the AVM70 and 90 I hesitate to buy anything else from them.
Sorry to hear that you are having such trouble. I truly hope they get you sorted out. I don't blame you for being hesitant if that is the experience you are having.
the pro mode is there so you can make further tweaks and possibly get that flattened out more. The reason why ARC couldn't do a better job, per se, is it has purposeful limitations to how much correction it can do. If you have a nasty null, the #1 step is to try speaker placement and room treatment. While many of us are limited, in some ways, we sometimes have to accept what it is and then let ARC do what it can with it. It just can do miracles i can only bump your nulls by 6db which is intentional so your speakers don't get damaged.
I’ve always been curious to know if a processor is really game changing compared to a really good avr
Greatly appreciate your video review on the AVM90. I am definitely interested in your A/B with AVM70. I saw this video only after acquiring the AVM70 (it's still on its way) so I am really curious to know what I will be missing out. I am also curious on how this compares to Trinnov Altitude 16 (or JBL SDP-75) which costs like 3X.
Thanks for your channel. I appreciate your content! I'll be honest here... I am not too sure that the perceived sonic difference of the AVM90 is worth the extra $4K, given the relatively minor parts cost increase of the higher-end ESS DACs. It is just a marketing move by Anthem to position the AVM90 to well-heeled buyers who are risk-averse to buying "cheaper" boxes.
Everyone has different priorities and different budgets. If the sonic difference isn’t worth it to you, that is okay too, there is no right or wrong answer. It is in the realm of diminishing returns, but to some it’s worth it still for the bump in audio clarity and separation. That said you aren’t wrong, the extra cost for materials/labor for Anthem is not almost double the cost, but they charge what the market will allow for. Just like a Trinnov is not worth 20k-30k when you look at the sum of the materials/parts used. Some find that they are worth it for the sound quality they produce though. It’s all relative to personal preference and budget. I appreciate your support on the channel…cheers!
I just purchased the AVM 90. I agree with your assessment for movie surround. When I listen to TH-cam TV channels the sound is in stereo and not surround. Why is that? With Netflix I do get surround sound or with DVD movies.
Try changing the sound mode to surround while in TH-cam.
Thank you for mentioning the screen!!! I think Marantz and Anthem should have a screeen at LEAST as large as an Galaxy S22. Why would people want a huge screen on their fridge or gas pump and have a tiny screen on a $5K plus home theater processor?
Exactly, use the front real estate more efficiently.
@@SpecOfTech Someone will always say OHH - but that will increase the cost - it is a $6500 prepro. You can get a 10" tablet for $120 bucks - that includes a tablet brain, battery and charger. I don't think an extra $100 is going to kill someone willing to pay $6500 for a prepro.
@@boedilllard5952 that's not how R&D costs function on scale. Tablets sell by the millions. $7000 HiFi units sell by the dozens.
I keep looking between the Anthem AV70 8k vs the Anthem Av90
If you have the budget for t he AVM90, you will not be sorry. The AVM70 is a fantastic unit as well, but the AVM90 takes the sound quality to the next level.
Have you been bothered by the fan noise at all? Have heard that the internal fan does spin up and can be noticeable.
It was in my rack, I never heard the fan even once. That could be because it's in my rack and not out in the open.
Curious how the Marantz AV 10 will stack up against Anthem. Any chance you can check that out when available? Thanks for the review! I hope to get one of these some day
waiting for the compare too
@@kack7130 Hi kack, did ever find anyone that did the AV10 and the AVM90 comparison? I had the Anthem D2V and wanted to upgrade to the AVM90 but they removed the XRL inputs, deal breaker for me.
I wound up getting the AV10 1 month ago and I'm sorry I didn't get the AVM90.
The D2V had Much...Much...Better sound...
Please let me know if you found that comparison, I think I'm sending back the AV10. still have a month and 1/2 to decide.
Thanks!!!
Hi Homes, did ever find anyone that did the AV10 and the AVM90 comparison? I had the Anthem D2V and wanted to upgrade to the AVM90 but they removed the XRL inputs, deal breaker for me.
I wound up getting the AV10 1 month ago and I'm sorry I didn't get the AVM90.
The D2V had Much...Much...Better sound...
Please let me know if you found that comparison, I think I'm sending back the AV10. still have a month and 1/2 to decide.
Thanks!!!
@@Harleykid58 i got av10, best for me, bought it like 58k. never going back to emotiva
@@Harleykid58 I’m on the same boat you found yourself on with the AV10 compared to the AVM90. What did you end up doing?
I'm looking forward to your review of those Sonus Faber Lumina V.
Decisions between the AVM90 vs AV10…I cannot wait for you to get the av10 from marantz and compare that to your current setup. I think it’s hard to beat avm90…definitely the best at its price range around $7000
The new Marantz units look AMAZING. I would love to check out the new AV10.
@@SpecOfTech it will be interesting to hear your thoughts - can Marantz beat Anthem - with Dirac on board this might be finally possible. I totally agree - Marantz is one, if not the best looking AVR/ processors.
Very nice! The AVM90 sure seams like a great processor. I have the AVM 70 and ARC is having severe problems sometimes and induces clipping and crackling in my dedicated and treated home theater... Unfortunatly there are few other processors that are as bugfree as the Anthems ... Only other option is the JBL and Arcams...
I don't think you will get a better functioning unit out of the Arcam. I can't really speak on the JBL's reliability and functionality, maybe it's less buggy...? I think for me personally, if I were to switch from the AVM90, I would give the Marantz AV10 a try. Similar price, but Marantz is typically very smooth with very little to no bugs. If they do have a bug, you know they are working diligently to fix it. With Anthem, I am never sure if they are doing what they can to fix it. For example, ARC still does not recognize my cal mic because I have 2 new laptops and ARC doesn't like the drivers. It has been this way for several months. I messaged Anthem recently, we'll see what their reply is.
I look at their website showing that it has 19 channel count. So does that mean I can do a 10.3.6 configuration with this processor? I want to do a LCR, FWL, FWR, SL, SR, RL, RR, and RC, with three subs and 6 height channels.
No, that would be nice, but it doesn't work like that for the AVM90. 4 of the channels are dedicated to subwoofers, and the other 15 channels are for speakers, and they have to be used as such.
@@SpecOfTech I figured, just wanted to confirm that was the case hehehe, one can dream right :D Thank You sir for looking into it!! Would it work then if it was an 8.3.6 configuration ? 8th being RC.
Great vid man! Was waiting for this one to come out. Do you think anthem will be bringing DTS:Pro out to us with a software upgrade on the AVM 70/90 soon?
Thanks man. From what I have found online, the AVM70, AVM90 and MRX 1140 have been updated to DTS:X Pro already. I haven't confirmed on my unit, but all the information I found online points to those units having it.
I can't see it iny avm 70 in the input set up. All I have available is dts neural and dts virtual. Can you check yours and confirm what you have and if it is available?
@@modepp5811 I am out lf town right now. Have you done the latest update?
Yes I have the latest update uploaded
@@modepp5811 do you have dtsx pro yet?
Thanks for the great review, I have my eye on this for future upgrade. Does it sound much better than the emotiva?
It's far too early to tell for sure. I haven't had a whole lot of time to listen to the Emotiva, with my out of town work schedule. My first impression of the Emotiva, was that it is on par with the AVM90 on clarity, detail and overall sound staging. Where the Emotiva lacks is in UI, software and bugs. That said, they did update their firmware which is supposed to have improved the bugs...so still too early to tell on that as well.
Why is Anthem still not allowing you to calibrate all the subs together, I bought this receiver especially for having 4 subwoofers! Does the Marantz AV10 has the ability to calibrate all four subs at once?
Great review!! even through earbuds, I could hear the difference ARC made. I would like to try out an Anthem processor sometime
Hi Barret , My current processor is Marantz 7706 and thinking to upgrade to next level .. i hv zero issue with my 7706 with rock solid of HDMI .. my current line up for next upgrade is JBL SDP 58 or AVM 90 … im just need ur advice … TQ
Can you please confirm if the avm90 is 48gbps. Website says it is but I'm not sure how that would be possible unless they made their own boards. The only way to test it would be with a 48gbps tv and pc though and seeing if you get 4k 120hz rgb and 12 bit.
Great review!!! Do you have an opinion between the AVM 90 & Arcam AV 41?
No sorry, I don't have an opinion on that. I haven't had any experience with the AV41.
@specoftech love your channel, you’re reviewers are really helpful! what speakers do you use for height channels? Thanks!
You need to run ARC on your subs first (if you still have the X15's), then run ARC on your processor. That should yield better results.
That is exactly how I did it with the X15's, but I stated in the video, the calibration I was showing was for 3 JTR RS2's.
@@SpecOfTech Anthem AVM 90 vs Tonewinner AT 300?
Wonderful video. Thank you. What is your opinion on adding the AnthemSTR Pre-amp to an AVM70 for 2channel music? (As you know, the AnthemSTR Pre-amp has HT bypass). Alternatively, would the AVM90 essentially do what the AVM70/STR combination would do?
Great video. Are you ready for a 5th X15? Lol. I pickup one up locally in Saskatoon that’s way huge (physically) for my 9x7 office setup! It sounds very good in the room though.
lol no I couldn't possibly fit another X15 in my space. Just use it as an end table or something, just make sure anything you put on the top is stuck on there good lol.
Great job bro I need one of those.😎👍 i have a question on one of your videos I got a “you have win something please in box me”.
Was that a scammer that was you?
That was a scammer unfortunately. There seems to be a couple scammers targeting my viewers in the past month or 2. You know you've made it when the scammers target you lol.
@@SpecOfTech I had a feeling it was but anyways, keep up the great job!
Awesome unit. What speakers are you using on the ceiling ?
I am using Klipsch AW650 outdoor speakers for Atmos because I wasn't able to do in-ceiling speakers.
@@SpecOfTech thank you. I’ve seen quite a few people using outdoor type speakers even in rooms where they could have installed in ceiling speakers. They say they sound a lot better.
@@MrBonger88 They do work incredibly well because the bracket allows for them to be aimed right at the listeners.
Test the Marantz AV 10 vs the Anthem AV90 in a comparison
I would love to, but I have since sold the AVM90.
@@SpecOfTech What processor are you using now?
Just wondering if you have ever 🤔 put both a sealed and ported boxes. In same room?
I certainly have, if you search my channel videos, I even made a video about it. Spoiler alert, it can work lol.
Do you use a universal remote to switch to different inputs on the anthem? The Anthem doesn't automatically switch to another device while it's actively on another input does it? Thank you!
If it sounds as good as it looks then it's definitely a winner, great job with the video 😀
Hey, thanks for popping in! It definitely sounds as good as it looks, they have a winner here for sure.
according to your opinion if I change my marantz av 8805A For the anthem avm 90 I will have an improvement in stereo and in multichannel music and in movies thanks
I have not heard the 8805A, but I do imagine the AVM90 would offer better sound. Not sure if it would be worth the upgrade, I guess that's for you to decide.
I thought you sold the JTR’s
I sure did, this video was recorded right before I sold them.
As a DIRAC user, I really like what it does. For 2ch it is amazing. I haven't used it in a HT application in some time unfortunately. I think it would be very difficult to compare the two side by side. I love the way the AVM 90 looks and all the software/settings. My NAD M17 v2 interface looks in comparison like Fred Flintstone designed it!! But works very well...simple. I am still considering getting a Minidsp 2x4HD. Just seen one on EBAY for around 500 CAD plus shipping with a UMIK-1. Is the MiniDSP worth the money?
We should really do a AVM90 vs M17 v2 video one day ;). Minidsp along with REW does have an uncanny ability to give you an almost board flat response with some effort. It is probably the best thing you can do for your bass if you are after a flat response.
@@snootz I completely forgot about Solen. Thanks for the tip!
I thought processors would allow you to manually adjust subs the way mini cap would. I haven’t bought a mini dap 2x4 HD, and I have 4 subs, because I’ve been waiting for emotiva to release their newer processors with 4 independent sub outs. Do you think I still need a mini dsp with the emotiva processors to get the best bass?
From my experience, the Minidsp does do a better job, with help from the user, of getting a flat bass response. Processors can do a decent job, but most often won't get a board flat response, like what is capable with a Minidsp. That being said, you have to ask yourself if a board flat response is what you want.
@@SpecOfTech But so processors allow you to manually adjust to get it just as flat?
@deankim6687 If they have manual phase adjustment and manual PEQ's then yes. Using those you should be able to get a pretty flat response manually, but it will be all manual adjustment. Typically the room cal doesn't get the same results as a Minidsp. Minidsp combined with REW makes the manual adjustment a little easier with less guess work. Hope that helps...cheers.
@@SpecOfTech That totally helps. Appreciate it!
I'm considering this pre pro. I do have a question. Can the Anthem Avm 90 be ran as a 17.2 as opposed to a 15.4? I would rather run a second pair of side surrounds and 2 subs.
Unfortunately no. The subwoofer channels are for subwoofers only and can't be re-assigned.
@@SpecOfTech Thank you.
Thanks for the video.
How many dB higher is the LFE channel over the rest of the frequencies?
I say this because in the video the bass is very noticeable vs the rest of the frequencies.
written with translator
Greetings
Microphones tend to pic up the bass frequencies more so than the other frequencies.
@@SpecOfTech Thank you for the courtesy to answer.
If at any time you have time, it would be nice to be able to see a video with measurements of your room and thus see what is reflected in the measurements such as Impulse, Filtered IR, Waterfall, Spectrogram, TR20, 30, Topt, etc, etc, so we can make a idea vs acoustic treatment.
Greetings
Any chance you can take some rew measurements of each individual sub response then one of the 3 toegther? Before and after Genesis, Please. We've been asking for months on Avs and noone will do it.
Remind me in the new year and I will do my best to do it for you. I might even make a quick video about it.
Where can I get the Dolby Atmos demo you played?
I use the Dolby app on my Xbox Series X, it has several Dolby Atmos demos on there.
i think you have to run multiple positions to get it right
I did follow the ARC directions and it took 5 measurements from 5 different locations.
Man I don’t now, if you add a pair of Focal speakers, it might be over the top clear. Seems like a good pairing if you have a warmer sounding speaker? What if you lift the 4-5khz region 2-3 db? Does it sound even better or does it become fatiguing?
I don't think I would want to boost the treble at all, at least not for my preference. The clarity and detail come from the AVM90's ability to retrieve detail, it isn't really just a treble thing though.
@@SpecOfTech Just trying to figure out the explanation for the added clarity. There are a few situations we’re I notice the veil lifting, revealing speaker such as the Focal 816 (not for me, gets too shrill on certain notes), compression, such as dynamic volume (quieter sounds are lifted up), speaker positioning, ie pulling speakers away from boundaries, etc. I’m sure it sounds great, just wonder if the DACs, etc. are “enhancing” the sound.
Great review Barret. No Auro upmixer on Anthem is a bit of a bummer. Also wish the AVM70 had 4 sub outs and you didn't have to go all the way up to the 90. There's some serious competition at lower prices.
no auro and no dts x pro
Do you have an Auro 3D set up? As far as I can tell online, the Anthem processors DO support DTS:X Pro now, they didn't at launch but have been updated.
@Tom Smith My apologies if it's not true. I got the information from an authorized dealer page that stated they had been updated to DTS:X Pro. Here is the page link:
www.audio-one.ca/products/view/anthem-avm-series-av-preamplifier-or-processor-with-toroidal-transformer---avm-70
@@tomsmith2340 no roon too after 2 year lol
Don’t put your mic positions too far apart.and also what do you set your subs at before launching arc ?
I follow the ARC instructions of putting the microphone less than 3 feet apart from the first measurement. What aspect of my sub settings are you asking about, the gain, the trim or the distance?
@@SpecOfTech so before running arc what sub volume did you set the subs do you run quick measure and set sub volume before running arc ?
@@Samzep I can't remember the exact gain, but ARC will stop and tell you if the subwoofer's gain is set to high. I did not run quick measure beforehand though. I am not sure that really has anything to do with the nulls and peaks. All the gain will do is increase the SPL of all the frequencies in the response equally, it won't change the frequency response itself. Unless ARC is doing something weird that is not typical of all other room cal?
@@SpecOfTech well it makes big difference i have done many arcs with different volume set on sub before arc and makes a massive difference how the sub sounds.some people like to set the sub volume to peaks and then run arc in most cases sub is very weak i find the best way is to set it high and arc will say its to high and i just back it off one click at a time until arc too loud message lets you continue
@@Samzep Good point, I always relied on ARC to tell me to turn my subwoofers down, just enough for it to stop telling me they were too high. Not because I thought it would do better, only because I am a basshead and always had them turned up more than ARC thought I should lol. I am pretty confident I ran ARC properly and gave it several tries as well. It just doesn't seem to do as well as something like a Minidsp. Nor should it, the Minidsp requires more tinkering and manual adjustments to get it that way. I imagine an ARC pro could have gotten better results. I did make some manual phase adjustments after running ARC and I was able to get a better response than just ARC on it's own. I didn't show it in the video because that is manual adjustments to help ARC do it's job. I only wanted to showcase what it did on it's own.
are you getting the marantz av10 ?
I would really love to check it out, but right now there is no official plan for it.
What is an amazing video thank you very much
Glad it was helpful, cheers.
What are those height speakers??
They are Kipsch AW650's.
Have you ever experienced auro 3D?
I haven't experienced a true Auro 3D setup no.
Maybe I'm really stupid but I don't see much of a difference between these two graphs. What am I missing
Variations in frequency graphs don't have to have large variations for there to be a noticeable difference. Just an extra 3db takes twice the power to output, so even a 3db difference is noticeable.
How are those nuprime amps?
Love them, a great class D option for multichannel.
How do you use a mini DSP to do Multi Channel stuff with a processor? Again I'm really really stupid and I really really would love it if someone could explain this to me thank you
Don't say that, we don't know what we don't know, it's all good. You use your subwoofer out from the pre/pro to the minidsp, and do your subwoofer calibration using the Minidsp instead of the processor itself. If you want, you could use both to calibrate, but it's best just to use the Minidsp alone, if you do plan on using one.
But what about the center channel? Does mini DSP do something here? Or does it do just the mains and the sub for homes theater ?
@@iampuzzleman282 Most people use minidsp to calibrate the subwoofers only. Then use the AVR calibration for speakers.
Until ASR reviews it and provide measurements in addition to subjective review!
Anyone ever compare a nad M17 v2i processor to the anthem 90. I would love to know how they compare. The anthem chip factory burn down and I had to buy the M 17 a year or so ago
I am curious about the same thing, I would love to compare the 2 one day.
All that big display and it only shows -35 etc?
Yeah, they really didn't utilize the real estate there very well. They should have made the screen even bigger and provided more information.
@SpecOfTech thought maybe VU , equalizer..etc...flash stuff but still cool
@@patriot7734 No, I wish they would update it to have some cool and interesting displays
Unfortunately it can always get better, trick is not to listen to it. ☺ ☺
I need to learn that trick for my wallets sake...and for my wife's sanity ;P.
@@SpecOfTech You and me both!
I'd like to see your experiences is a true blind test with the AVM70, 90 and other processor's you regard highly. Too often our own cognitive bias get in the way and knowing that I can't bring myself to accept any remarks that differences are possible in x,y,z way.
Listen to Andrew Robinson discuss his experience doing this at a KEF event and how it crushed his self view of skilled audio assessor.
I don't make these remarks to criticise, but to express my frustration at not being able to genuinely discern what is better about gear in objective tests. I can't demo at local boutiques and say what is due to any particular component or aspect of room design... it's a system.
I do take away that you have enjoyed the performance of your AVM70 more than previously owned D&M branded gear. AVM90 is better again.