Anthem AVM90 AV Processor Review

[Descartes]

Had anyone tried 4 subs and how does it sound?

 

[peng]

When was the 1.9.5 released?

What gentleman?

I didn't see this post. The firmware update I mentioned was not the ARC G software 1.9.5, but the firmware for the unit itself.

You can see that publicly they did not mention the bass response issue, but they probably go it covered other the last item, i.e. "other......improvements"

The bass fix I referred to was originally directly from Anthem's customer support. I typically don't want to copy/paste such responses on forums but if you are interested in seeing it, PM me.

It is hard to believe FW update for the unit would affect ARC G performance, never seen that happened in my experience with Denon and Marantz, but we are talking about Anthem.

Regardless, if you have not updated to FW 80, please do, you may be (or may be not) nicely surprised. For me, it does improve the results based on my REW measurements, but I am sure the improvements/effects would depend on the individual set up, i.e. speakers/subwoofers and their placements. I still have to do a fair bit of post calibration tweaking because I want pretty graphs, but with FW 80, the untweaked results are much closer to my minimum requirements.

From Anthem website:

Network Module Version: 2.3.213
Host firmware 80
- Improved Dolby Vision compatibility with some devices
- Fixed issue that could lead to audible distortion
- Other minor bug fixes and improvements

 

[Descartes]

Well I tried to do a calibration with ARC Genesis and the Anthem AVM90 completely crashed! The processor won’t start anymore, the power button went black and the unit is unresponsive, looks like it’s toast!!!

Probably will need to have it fixed, and send it back to Canada;(

At least glad it is still under warranty, I have had this unit for one year!

Very frustrating and disappointing!

 

[ban25]

Well I tried to do a calibration with ARC Genesis and the Anthem AVM90 completely crashed! The processor won’t start anymore, the power button went black and the unit is unresponsive, looks like it’s toast!!!

Probably will need to have it fixed, and send it back to Canada;(

At least glad it is still under warranty, I have had this unit for one year!

Very frustrating and disappointing!

Did you try unplugging it?

 

[Moonbase]

Yes that’s step 1.completely unplug everything tv/triggers/speakers/sources

 

[Descartes]

Yes that’s step 1.completely unplug everything tv/triggers/speakers/sources

Did that! Nothing

 

[peng]

Did that! Nothing

Before you send it all the way to Canada, I would suggest you contact Anthem first just to see if there are things you can try to get going, unlikely, but you never know. Good thing you do have another AVR to use while waiting for the issue to get resolved. I was always concerned about Anthem's tendency to seem more prone to bugs, but I am within driving distance to them so I gained enough confidence to make the jump.

 

[bloodshoteyed]

Before you send it all the way to Canada, I would suggest you contact Anthem first just to see if there are things you can try to get going, unlikely, but you never know.

agree
not sure if i just got lucky with a support ticket or if they're always that quick/friendly, but yeah, their support was a really positive experience

 

[Descartes]

Before you send it all the way to Canada, I would suggest you contact Anthem first just to see if there are things you can try to get going, unlikely, but you never know. Good thing you do have another AVR to use while waiting for the issue to get resolved. I was always concerned about Anthem's tendency to seem more prone to bugs, but I am within driving distance to them so I gained enough confidence to make the jump.

Called them up!

 

[peng]

agree
not sure if i just got lucky with a support ticket or if they're always that quick/friendly, but yeah, their support was a really positive experience

In my experience, their response times typically range from 1 to 3 days on average, but same day once or twice. The reps seem much more knowledgeable than the likes of Denon/Marantz first line support agents (they seem to have improved on their response time a lot, and slightly more helpful since Masimo), but for more technically oriented questions, especially those on ARC Genesis, they really wasn't all that helpful, understandably though, considering..

 

[Descartes]

Here is a feature that Anthem needs to have especially with the AVM90
ARC Genesis needs to be able to calibrate all four subwoofers as one to ensure optimal performance.
To this day they only allow you to calibrate each subs one at a time! This is a major disadvantage compared to Dirac and Audyssey for PC!

 

[Descartes]

Does anyone know how to download previous versions of ARC Genesis?

 

[madrac]

I don't think it's possible to download previous versions from Anthem's site. Do you need PC version or Mac version?

If PC 64 bit, you can download them from my dropbox (link below). If MAC, look on AVSforum in either the 70/90 owners thread or Genesis thread (or reach out directly to @Yonettes) as he has the MAC versions. We've both posted our respective links over there several times.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Descartes]

I don't think it's possible to download previous versions from Anthem's site. Do you need PC version or Mac version?

If PC 64 bit, you can download them from my dropbox (link below). If MAC, look on AVSforum in either the 70/90 owners thread or Genesis thread (or reach out directly to @Yonettes) as he has the MAC versions. We've both posted our respective links over there several times.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

I don’t have windows!

 

[madrac]

I don’t have windows!

see post 10644 on this thread. Yonettes' MAC Genesis files are posted there, as well as my Windows files.

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/dedicated-arc-genesis-thread.3068892/page-533?post_id=63512723#post-63512723

 

[steveoat87]

I was intrigued by reading on the Anthem website about its virtual inputs. Am I correct in understanding that the Anthem allows you to select say HDMI1 for video and HDM2 as the audio input for the HDMI1 video input. Where I would find this useful is on the Eversolo DMPA-6 which outputs multichannel audio through its HDMI output, but has no HDMI video output. If my understanding of the Anthem is correct, I could say use use an application on my mac which is connected to my television and choose to hear the audio from the Eversolo -- that way I can use the Eversolo without losing the image on the TV. Is my understanding correct? Can any other receiver or processor do this?

 

[peng]

I was intrigued by reading on the Anthem website about its virtual inputs. Am I correct in understanding that the Anthem allows you to select say HDMI1 for video and HDM2 as the audio input for the HDMI1 video input. Where I would find this useful is on the Eversolo DMPA-6 which outputs multichannel audio through its HDMI output, but has no HDMI video output. If my understanding of the Anthem is correct, I could say use use an application on my mac which is connected to my television and choose to hear the audio from the Eversolo -- that way I can use the Eversolo without losing the image on the TV. Is my understanding correct? Can any other receiver or processor do this?

I don’t know about all, but I know you can do that with D+M’s too using the input assigned menu.

 

[steveoat87]

I don’t know about all, but I know you can do that with D+M’s too using the input assigned menu.

Peng, I have a Denon X4800. How would I configure it to do this?

 

[peng]

Peng, I have a Denon X4800. How would I configure it to do this?

Try page 200 in the owner’s manual under the input assign section. Sorry I can’t copy/paste at the moment.

As you know already, with Anthem it’s done with virtual inputs

 

[steveoat87]

Peng, I have a Denon X4800. How would I configure it to do this?

Peng, I looked a the input assignment on the Denon. It appears it can't do what I am requesting. If you choose HDMI2 for video, you can't choose a different HDMI input for audio -- only analog or coax.