• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Anthem AVM70 Review (AV Processor)

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
That was my point too. I know their website currently does not say which dac chips are used. It just seems that whenever they (not just Anthem, but in general, others as well) used, or planning on using a dacs that have better specs than the ones used before, or better than competitors, they would emphasize their choice/use of the better ones, but if it's the opposite way, they would not tell you which ones are being used.

Using Denon/Marantz as example, they went from the better PCM1792, 1791 and the 1795 to the PCM1690 and the AK4358 without saying anything about the change, but when they switched from those lesser chips to the AK4458 and 4490 in around 2016, they made a deal deal, including updating their product sheets to let people know which AKM chips are used. Then they changed from the AK4458 and 4490 (for legit reasons), but when they chose to use the PCM5102A that has lower specs, they again did not say anything or very little about it. Even when people asked, they were still told that it's the AKM chip, and only confirmed the PCM5102 much later.

Again, for the nth time, I am not too worry about the 93 dB SINAD of the 5102A, but am disappointed with the apparent lack of transparency.
Fortunately Amir and Erin pull the covers off and let us know what is hiding behind it!
 

kmidst

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2022
Messages
40
Likes
36
Location
Wisconsin, USA
Here's my initial comparison of the Anthem MRX 740 8K to Marantz Cinema 50 (the edge goes to the Marantz)
 

DonM

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2021
Messages
37
Likes
34
For everyone following this Anthem AVM70 thread and considering a purchase, the following news could be of interest:

Anthem are listing their AVM70 for a limited time period with approximately a 20% discount. This offer is just available from their website.

Announcement: Nov 24, 2022

Regular price: 4,299.99 (CAD)

Sale price: 3,499.99 (CAD)

CAD Price reduced by 19%

Orders can be placed directly here.

Anthem AVM70.png



The AVM 70 was reviewed in this thread by Amir in Oct 2021 and was recommended.

When you also consider the projected inflation rate for the next year, this special offer is an opportunity that anyone in the market should act on as soon as possible.
 

MacCali

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 21, 2020
Messages
1,122
Likes
539
The updated version with HDMi 2.1 is now &3999!
Yea I just pointed that out, better jump on this if you are interested. I am fairly close to pulling the trigger since denon failed to out perform it's last gen.

My question though is if I use this with RCA what's the sinad going to be? doesn't it take a hit with lower voltage? did amir post those later/after? I will be using it with RCA for a cool minute and want to make sure it's worth it
 

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
Yea I just pointed that out, better jump on this if you are interested. I am fairly close to pulling the trigger since denon failed to out perform it's last gen.

My question though is if I use this with RCA what's the sinad going to be? doesn't it take a hit with lower voltage? did amir post those later/after? I will be using it with RCA for a cool minute and want to make sure it's worth it
The issue for me is it doesn’t have HDMi 2.1 and therefore won’t be best with the PS5 so I will pass on this one even so it is tempting.
Also charging $1000 extra for HDMi 2.1 is obnoxious!!!
 

gew55

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Messages
29
Likes
15
Nice review :cool:
Now I am really curious how it compares to the Rotel RSP-1576mkII
 

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
Is this true
“DACs in the
- AVM70 AKM AK4490EQ 32bit/768kHz these DACs are no longer manufactured?

- AVM90 AK4499EQ 32bit/768kHz”
Price $100 per unit
 
Last edited:

ban25

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Nov 5, 2022
Messages
736
Likes
711
Is this true
“DACs in the
- AVM70 AKM AK4490EQ 32bit/768kHz these DACs are no longer manufactured?

- AVM90 AK4499EQ 32bit/768kHz”
Price $100 per unit
Based on reports from earlier in this thread, both the AVM70 and AVM90 contain DACs from ESS.
 

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
Based on reports from earlier in this thread, both the AVM70 and AVM90 contain DACs from ESS.
Where is the official information!

Based on their advertising it clearly shows that

AVM90 15.4 CHANNEL AUDIO/VIDEO PROCESSOR
• Upgraded Audio Circuity
• Four Independent
Subwoofer Outputs
• Toroidal Power Supply
• 32-Bit/768 kHz DAC (AKM AK4499EQ)
• Wi-Fi/Ethernet Enabled
• IP and Serial Control
• Dolby Atmos
• DTS: X, DTS:X Pro, DTS Virtual:X • Apple AirPlay 2
• Google Chromecast Audio
• Bluetooth v4.2
HDMI & VIDEO
• Dolby Vision
• IMAX Enhanced
• HDMI 2.0b & HDCP 2.2
• HMDI eARC
• 4:4:4 Subsampling @ 4K60 (18.2 Gbps)

AVM70 15.2 CHANNEL AUDIO/VIDEO PROCESSOR
• Two Independent Subwoofer Outputs
• ToroidalPowerSupply
• 32-Bit/768 kHz DAC (AKM AK4490EQ)
• Wi-Fi/Ethernet Enabled
• IP and Serial Control
• DolbyAtmos
• DTS:X,DTS:XPro,DTSVirtual:X • AppleAirPlay2
• GoogleChromecastAudio
• Bluetoothv4.2
HDMI & VIDEO
• DolbyVision
• IMAXEnhanced
• HDMI2.0b&HDCP2.2
• HMDIeARC
•4:4:4 Subsampling@4K60 (18.2Gbps)
• HighDynamicRange(HDR)• HybridLogGamma(HLG)
• BT.2020ColorGamut
• 4K50/60Switching
• Zone2HDMIOutput
• DualHDMIOutputs


 

ban25

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Nov 5, 2022
Messages
736
Likes
711
Where is the official information!

Based on their advertising it clearly shows that
That looks like an old datasheet from August 2020. If you check the current datasheet linked from their website for the AVM90, you will find the following quote on Page 3:

https://www.anthemav.com/downloads/anthem-avm90-spec-sheet-rev6.pdf

"The critical conversion from digital to analog utilizes the highest performance ESS Sabre DACs for all 19 channels (15.4) of processing."

Also note that the AVM90 didn't even start shipping until May 2022, a year and a half after the AKM factory was destroyed (Oct 2020).
 

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
That looks like an old datasheet from August 2020. If you check the current datasheet linked from their website for the AVM90, you will find the following quote on Page 3:

https://www.anthemav.com/downloads/anthem-avm90-spec-sheet-rev6.pdf



Also note that the AVM90 didn't even start shipping until May 2022, a year and a half after the AKM factory was destroyed (Oct 2020).
Interesting it does not say which ESS DACs?

Is it these? ES9039MPRO & ES9039PRO “provide 8 channels of Flagship ultra-low noise digital conversion with a dynamic range (DNR) of +132dB, -122dB THD+N per channel and +140B DNR in mono mode.”

 

MacCali

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 21, 2020
Messages
1,122
Likes
539
So I am still waiting before I purchase this to figure out what the RCA performance is on this guy, I will be going XLR clearly. However all I have is external amps with RCA.

Anyone have thoughts on that Iota 17 channel processor? seems like the only flaw is poor room correction
 

ban25

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Nov 5, 2022
Messages
736
Likes
711
Interesting it does not say which ESS DACs?

Is it these? ES9039MPRO & ES9039PRO “provide 8 channels of Flagship ultra-low noise digital conversion with a dynamic range (DNR) of +132dB, -122dB THD+N per channel and +140B DNR in mono mode.”

This poster earlier in the thread contacted Anthem support and apparently received the following response:

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-avm70-review-av-processor.27316/post-1123743

Hi Matt,

9038Q2M and 9010K2M respectively.

Jamie Z.
Technical Advisor
Paradigm / Anthem AV

Edit: ES9038PRO in the AVM90, 9038Q2M in the AVM70.

Here are the datasheets:

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ES9038Q2M-Datasheet-v1.4.pdf

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ES9038PRO-Datasheet-v3.7.pdf
 
Last edited:

Descartes

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
2,104
Likes
1,077
This poster earlier in the thread contacted Anthem support and apparently received the following response:

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-avm70-review-av-processor.27316/post-1123743



Edit: Not totally clear to me which DAC is in which unit (maybe 9038Q2M in the AVM90?). Here are the datasheets:


https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ES9028Q2M_Datasheet_v0.41.pdf

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ES9010K2M-Datasheet-v3.0.pdf
So not the best ones for the price of the AVM 90 I would have expected the best DACs
 

Music707

Active Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2022
Messages
177
Likes
207
This poster earlier in the thread contacted Anthem support and apparently received the following response:

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-avm70-review-av-processor.27316/post-1123743



Edit: Not totally clear to me which DAC is in which unit (maybe 9038Q2M in the AVM90?). Here are the datasheets:


https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ES9028Q2M_Datasheet_v0.41.pdf

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ES9010K2M-Datasheet-v3.0.pdf

Thank you for caring to provide the links to the datasheets. But it seems that you erroneously picked the "28" instead of the mentioned "38". The correct link should be this one:



And the answer you quoted was about "what DACs were in the AVM70 and MRX 1140". Unfortunately, this does not tell us anything specific about the AVM 90.


FWIW, on facebook I found an answer that seems to come from Anthem:

"The AVM90 will be shipping with 32-bit/768kHz ESS DAC's(ES9038PRO)."

You can look it up under "/anthemav/photos/a.260678276657/10158858349741658/".
 
Top Bottom