Anthem AVM70 Review (AV Processor)

[Anton S]

I pulled the trigger and ordered over the phone, and decided to drive over and pick it up to avoid any risk of shipping damage. Got there and the box was open so asked about it. Turns out the unit was a trade in being sold without warranty. They never said a word until i asked! So yeah I didn't take it home. Wasted 4 hours of my day but at least I won't call up Anthem a year from now for service to find out then that I'm out of luck.

Bummer. Anthem warranties are not transferable. Original purchaser only.

 

[Prolix]

Did they offer a super low price? Regardless, I think you make the right choice, not a good idea to buy one that has no warranty. I would have thought warranty is transferable unless that trade-in unit is already 3 years old.

I think the price was similar to the recent sale price. I assumed they were just continuing the sale unofficially.

 

[peng]

I think the price was similar to the recent sale price. I assumed they were just continuing the sale unofficially.

Thanks, in that case I would have to say try another dealer, as this one should not have done this sort of things to customers shopping for a semi boutique brand AVP.
If you can't wait, and if you can find a brand new AVR-X3800H or X4800H at deep discount price then just grab it. I love my AVM70, and would recommend it, but I had no better choices at the time, if it was now, it would likely have been the 4800 or the 3800, or the Cinema 50 if I were in Europe, almost nothing beat the 3800 in value at the moment. All those talks about better sound quality are really mainly grossly exaggerated by imagination lol... At the end of the day, the important criteria to me are build quality, room correction (effectiveness, not how good looking the human face is), feature set, and price, followed by aesthetic but of course ymmv so I have no idea why your final pick is the Anthem (again, I do recommend it, to a point).

 

[2fatpugs]

Anyone know how to get Airplay from the iphone to work with the AVM 70? I see the AVM 70 from the available selection but when I pick it, it asks for an on screen Airplay Code but my screen is blank since it is streaming.

 

[nathan]

Connect the hdmi output of the avm70 to a tv and the code should appear on the tv.

 

[2fatpugs]

Connect the hdmi output of the avm70 to a tv and the code should appear on the tv.

It's connected to a TV but no display, I tried assigning HDMI 1 video to Streaming but still no code.

 

[nathan]

That is weird. Even that setting shouldn’t matter. Sorry I don’t have any ideas.

 

[JasonC331]

It's connected to a TV but no display, I tried assigning HDMI 1 video to Streaming but still no code.

Do you have EARC working that input would be where it would show, at least when I tested it.

 

[Anton S]

Anyone know how to get Airplay from the iphone to work with the AVM 70? I see the AVM 70 from the available selection but when I pick it, it asks for an on screen Airplay Code but my screen is blank since it is streaming.

I'm not an Apple guy, so not sure, but I don't see any mention of a "Secret Squirrel" connection code in my AVM 70 documentation, which is as follows ...


"Depending on your network type, follow one of the procedures below to stream via AirPlay.

Wired Network Connection:

1. To listen to audio via AirPlay on your processor, ensure that your Apple device is connected to the same network as the AVM.
2. Select the processor as the AirPlay audio playback device.

Wireless Network Connection:

Ensure that your Apple device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network to which your AVM processor is connected.

1. Enter the Apple device’s Wi-Fi Settings Menu.
2. Locate the “AVM” device under the “Set up new AirPlay speaker” setting.
3. Select the processor and allow it to connect.

NOTE: The processor is always listed as “AVM” in the AirPlay speaker menu.

I don't recall encountering any issue setting up Chromecast from my Android to my AVM 70, which is similar.

 

[2fatpugs]

I am not using an Apple TV, I am trying to stream through my iphone.

 

[2fatpugs]

Do you have EARC working that input would be where it would show, at least when I tested it.

View attachment 434726

Strange I don't see HDMI eARC as an option for Audio Input. I only see HDMI Audio Return Channel

 

[nathan]

Strange I don't see HDMI eARC as an option for Audio Input. I only see HDMI Audio Return Channel

Same thing in this case IIRC.

 

[nathan]

I am not using an Apple TV, I am trying to stream through my iphone.

These instructions are not related to the Apple TV.

I'm not an Apple guy, so not sure, but I don't see any mention of a "Secret Squirrel" connection code in my AVM 70 documentation, which is as follows ...


"Depending on your network type, follow one of the procedures below to stream via AirPlay.

Wired Network Connection:

1. To listen to audio via AirPlay on your processor, ensure that your Apple device is connected to the same network as the AVM.
2. Select the processor as the AirPlay audio playback device.

Wireless Network Connection:

Ensure that your Apple device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network to which your AVM processor is connected.

1. Enter the Apple device’s Wi-Fi Settings Menu.
2. Locate the “AVM” device under the “Set up new AirPlay speaker” setting.
3. Select the processor and allow it to connect.

NOTE: The processor is always listed as “AVM” in the AirPlay speaker menu.

I don't recall encountering any issue setting up Chromecast from my Android to my AVM 70, which is similar.

 

[nathan]

@2fatpugs You may want to ask in the owners thread on AVS Forum. There are likely more active owners/users there.

 

[2fatpugs]

Ok I called Anthem support and we were able to determine that the problem was my cell phone. I use my personal iphone for work as well. To do this I had to download a security management profile which requires a password for airplay even if it is just pure audio.

 

[Audiophilehi]

I’m looking to upgrade from my Marantz AV8801. I’m leaning towards the Anthem AVM70 largely due to the sound quality and would like to know if there are still any handshake issues that I read about in some of the reviews.

 

[Anton S]

I’m looking to upgrade from my Marantz AV8801. I’m leaning towards the Anthem AVM70 largely due to the sound quality and would like to know if there are still any handshake issues that I read about in some of the reviews.

Mine is an 8K unit, and I have experienced no HDMI handshake issues (running the latest firmware revision). I have sources connected to several different HDMI inputs as follows:

• Samsung Allshare Hub HD streamer
• Sony NSZ-GT1 Google TV & HD disc player
• Scientific Atlanta 4240HDC 1080i cable interface
• Panasonic UB-9000 4K disc player
• Amazon Fire Cube 4K streamer

Switching among them is quick and reliable, even shifting among different resolutions ranging from 1080i up to 4K.

 

[Audiophilehi]

Mine is an 8K unit, and I have experienced no HDMI handshake issues (running the latest firmware revision). I have sources connected to several different HDMI inputs as follows:

• Samsung Allshare Hub HD streamer
• Sony NSZ-GT1 Google TV & HD disc player
• Scientific Atlanta 4240HDC 1080i cable interface
• Panasonic UB-9000 4K disc player
• Amazon Fire Cube 4K streamer

Switching among them is quick and reliable, even shifting among different resolutions ranging from 1080i up to 4K.

Thanks so much Anton! That’s very encouraging news. I’ll be on the lookout for sales.

 

[Anton S]

Thanks so much Anton! That’s very encouraging news. I’ll be on the lookout for sales.

Sure thing. Just ensure the bandwidth of your HDMI cables is adequate for each source, and you shouldn't have any issues. These were inexpensive and work well with my highest resolution source units: Monoprice Certified 8K Cables.

 

[peng]

I’m looking to upgrade from my Marantz AV8801. I’m leaning towards the Anthem AVM70 largely due to the sound quality and would like to know if there are still any handshake issues that I read about in some of the reviews.

I replaced my AV8801 with a AVR-X4400H and was very happy with the results, but traded it in 5 years later for the AVM70. Mine was made in late 2023 so 99% of the bugs must have been fixed, no HDMI issues. You just have to make sure you don’t get one that has fan issues and if that happens, get it replaced right away when it is still returnable.