Anthem AVM90 AV Processor Review

[jarno]

My only complaint about this processor is that the remote is cheap plastic that degrade over short periods of time and the back of the remote becomes sticky! The Marantz remotes are so much better

I'm not overly familiar with the slate of remotes from other high(er) end the Storm, McIntosh, Lyngdorf, Trinnov and the like or even the Anthem's more immediate peers like Denon, Marantz or JBL, but the remote is indeed a dissapointment. Sticky, as you put it, and really rather cumbersome in a a home theater environment without a backlight. I've stuck to the remote app on an iPhone instead because of it. It's not entirely bug free itself, but it works well enough.

Not that you should at this price point, but I'd probably buy a more solid remote if they had one to sell at a reasonable price.

 

[Descartes]

I'm not overly familiar with the slate of remotes from other high(er) end the Storm, McIntosh, Lyngdorf, Trinnov and the like or even the Anthem's more immediate peers like Denon, Marantz or JBL, but the remote is indeed a dissapointment. Sticky, as you put it, and really rather cumbersome in a a home theater environment without a backlight. I've stuck to the remote app on an iPhone instead because of it. It's not entirely bug free itself, but it works well enough.

Not that you should at this price point, but I'd probably buy a more solid remote if they had one to sell at a reasonable price.

I have an NAD M33 and the back of the remote is solid aluminum! I can’t understand why Anthem AVM 90 has such a crapy remote, even
the Marantz Cinema 30 is aluminum on the front and good plastic on the back!

 

[peng]

I have an NAD M33 and the back of the remote is solid aluminum! I can’t understand why Anthem AVM 90 has such a crapy remote, even
the Marantz Cinema 30 is aluminum on the front and good plastic on the back!

It's likely a matter of keeping the costs down without hurting sale based on their projection. So I would assume they chose to rely on the mobile phone app and web interface. Similarly, their owner's manual don't cover much in details, vs the big brands like Yamaha, D+M, Sony and Onkyo's. Seemed like a shame, but once you got used to it, there is no big deal. They are a small manufacturer relatively speaking so they have to watch their costs if they are to remain competitive. I do however, feel that for those who would opt for the very expensive AVM90 (for the little extra it offers vs the 70), they would likely prefer to have a better remote and would not mind paying more for it.

 

[Descartes]

It's likely a matter of keeping the costs down without hurting sale based on their projection. So I would assume they chose to rely on the mobile phone app and web interface. Similarly, their owner's manual don't cover much in details, vs the big brands like Yamaha, D+M, Sony and Onkyo's. Seemed like a shame, but once you got used to it, there is no big deal. They are a small manufacturer relatively speaking so they have to watch their costs if they are to remain competitive. I do however, feel that for those who would opt for the very expensive AVM90 (for the little extra it offers vs the 70), they would likely prefer to have a better remote and would not mind paying more for it.

Had a Classe SSP-800 and the remote was 100% aluminum! Anthem just chose cheaply

 

[Beershaun]

In my setup I rarely use the remote so I am fine with it being plastic. I think the typical modern goal for an AVR is to get out of the way and automatically switch to the correct input modes and setups (which the Anthem is exceptional at) without having to touch it. So that seems like a good trade off for me personally. I use a combination of voice commands with my fire TV cube and the fire TV remote to do 99% of my interactions with my home theater. I love it and it's like living in the future! My family knows how to easily use the whole setup and they don't even need to know anything about the AVR.

 

[vddobrev]

I have the AVM 70, and I appreciate the remote light-weight, but not the rubbery feel. Coming from other brands, the remotes were huge and heavy, but not rubbery. So a tradeoff really, can't have it all. I am getting used to using the iOS app to control inputs, which mostly is automatic anyways, but sometimes I need to select a certain HDMI input for example...
Bottom line - I don't find the remote cheap, but rather good. Time will tell if the rubber will turn into sticky stuff...

 

[Descartes]

I have the AVM 70, and I appreciate the remote light-weight, but not the rubbery feel. Coming from other brands, the remotes were huge and heavy, but not rubbery. So a tradeoff really, can't have it all. I am getting used to using the iOS app to control inputs, which mostly is automatic anyways, but sometimes I need to select a certain HDMI input for example...
Bottom line - I don't find the remote cheap, but rather good. Time will tell if the rubber will turn into sticky stuff...

Don’t worry it will turn to sticky fingers

 

[motogp34]

Is the cost worth going from a 70 to the 90 ??

 

[Descartes]

Is the cost worth going from a 70 to the 90 ??

For me yes as I have four subwoofers! I f I only had two subs I would probably get the 70.
Also I suspect that both of them will probably be upgraded once HDMI 2.2 is fully operational

 

[peng]

Is the cost worth going from a 70 to the 90 ??

Based on feedback from most posters on AVSF who went with the 90 seem to say yes. For me I had no reason at all, even if I thought I needed 4 sub outs I wouldn't pay more than double for it. It is a personal thing I guess, but I would suggest you could try the pros and cons method but be objective on you pros/cons comparison and not be influenced by subjective opinions (tons of those on AVSF).

 

[Sal1950]

Based on feedback from most posters on AVSF who went with the 90 seem to say yes.

When people make decisions without any hard evidence they will always defend it, specially when it was a costly expenditure.
The AVM 90 is a killer processor, even at todays $7500 cost, but the 70 is $4000, nearly half the cost.
That said, the measurements on the AVM 70 shows it pretty close in performance with the 90 so a very hard call unless you need the 4 sub outputs?
But that's the rule of law in audio, if you want braggin rights to the TOTL product, your going to pay for it.

 

[tineared]

I have the AVM 70, and I appreciate the remote light-weight, but not the rubbery feel. Coming from other brands, the remotes were huge and heavy, but not rubbery. So a tradeoff really, can't have it all. I am getting used to using the iOS app to control inputs, which mostly is automatic anyways, but sometimes I need to select a certain HDMI input for example...
Bottom line - I don't find the remote cheap, but rather good. Time will tell if the rubber will turn into sticky stuff...

I also have the AVM70 and I find the remote to be as expected. There is a backlight and so far the plastic shows no sign of degradation (2-1/2 years old)
It's academic for me as I always use the app on my tablet or phone anyway. I find the app very well executed for Android.

 

[Descartes]

Based on feedback from most posters on AVSF who went with the 90 seem to say yes. For me I had no reason at all, even if I thought I needed 4 sub outs I wouldn't pay more than double for it. It is a personal thing I guess, but I would suggest you could try the pros and cons method but be objective on you pros/cons comparison and not be influenced by subjective opinions (tons of those on AVSF).

I got a great deal on a trade so for me it was a no brainer and barely cost me much more than the 70

 

[Descartes]

When people make decisions without any hard evidence they will always defend it, specially when it was a costly expenditure.
The AVM 90 is a killer processor, even at todays $7500 cost, but the 70 is $4000, nearly half the cost.
That said, the measurements on the AVM 70 shows it pretty close in performance with the 90 so a very hard call unless you need the 4 sub outputs?
But that's the rule of law in audio, if you want braggin rights to the TOTL product, your going to pay for it.

Not necessarily!

 

[Sal1950]

Not necessarily!

That'll work !

 

[peng]

Not necessarily!

Such as......., when you could trade a 70 in for a 90 and the deal is so good that "..barely cost much more than the 70..."? If so, sure, I would jump on such deal in a second!

 

[peng]

Not necessarily!

If you could get a similar deal to trade the AVM90 for an AV10 (that is, not having to pay much more..) you might want to consider it. SINAD chasing won't be an issue for either, whether the difference between 99 dB and 105 dB is audible for real world contents or not, but you might actually hear better SQ with the AV10 if you also grab the DLBC/ART licenses.

 

[Oddball]

If you could get a similar deal to trade the AVM90 for an AV10 (that is, not having to pay much more..) you might want to consider it. SINAD chasing won't be an issue for either, whether the difference between 99 dB and 105 dB is audible for real world contents or not, but you might actually hear better SQ with the AV10 if you also grab the DLBC/ART licenses.

Then there is cheaper AV20 with 13 channels and 4 subs - I guess Sal could comment on that one. I ended up with AV10, but never got to installing top middles so AV20 would actually work for me as well, if it was available at that time.

ART might be a sour topic in this thread, so I will only say it is quite good and its underlying algo is a bit different than other RC systems as it reduces decay with canceling signals from supporting speakers and can also fill in the dips with signal from other capable supporting speakers (i.e. not only EQ the response from that speaker).

 

[vddobrev]

I also debated AVM 70 vs 90, and got the 70. Not a single thought of regret like "why didn't I get the 90". But I am set for two channel with Anthem STR.

 

[peng]

ART might be a sour topic in this thread,

It is okay, this is an ASR thread, not that 1527 pages AVSF thread.