Anthem MRX 1140 fan noise

[jbonn5000]

Get the class D version, their specs seem very nice, better than their big and heavy class AB brothers.

I did look at the hypex options they have. Right now, only available in an 8 channel configuration, which would be totally fine but it's significantly more expensive than the 5 channel class AB version. I also read through this thread noting issues with hum coming from those amps. Monolith has a fix but the thread has not been updated since it was identified https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...th-amp-with-hypex-amplification.27613/page-15

I don't mind the size and weight of the AB version. Just going to set it in my stand and plug it in and hopefully never have to lift it again lol

ETA: I also don't love the idea of having to use two power cords for the 8250. I currently (pun intended) only have one accessible outlet where the A/V equipment is and it's a 15amp. Probably wouldn't be an issue, but it strikes me as odd that a class d amp needs dual power sources (admittedly, I'm a noob when it comes to EE)

 

[oneeightseven]

If you’re considering buying an Anthem MRX, now is the time to dive in. The receivers are currently on sale, which kinda made it easy for me to jump in with both feet. I have to say, even with it’s frustrations, I’m glad I did. I’m likely going to buy a wifi extender for the basement, and then plug Anthem into the extender. It’ll make the ARC process much easier.

I had some playtime with the receiver today - as in testing it out on more content with the house empty of kids. The more I play movies and music through this, the more and more I like it. It feels like a fantastic pairing with the Revel M106 speakers. Feels like this thing has unlocked a hidden layer of detail in movies I hadn’t heard before. Subtle and nuanced bits the x2600H didn’t seem to be revealing. …and the x2600H was a definitive upgrade over my 19 year old Denon 3805 in my living room.

Even with the x2600H, when Carol Danvers was falling to ground before her big yet brief space battle with the Kree, I had no idea she took a breath when she closed her eyes before going binary and hitting the ground.

Harry Potter breathing as he begins walking up Privet Drive, just when he leaves the Dursley’s in Prisoner of Azkaban. I’ve seen this movie a hundred times. I haven’t heard that before — and normally when we watch movies at night, the house is quiet.

I’m sure others have heard these things with their Denon 4600H… or whatever rig they use. But we don’t listen to our movies at exceedingly high volume. We rarely go over -70db. Typically -65db is our high end. Even for music.

Dialogue clarity at lower volume is sharp as a tack.

One word that keeps coming to mind as I listen to this thing, it’s “crisp”. …and that’s not a negative…

If you buy through Crutchfield, you have have a 60 day return policy. …Crutchfield had scratch and dent options for pricing even lower than the sale. Considering the fan noise issue, I decided this wasn’t a good option, as the unit may have been returned because of that very problem.

Buy it. Give it a try. If you don’t like it, send it back.

Ordered from Crutchfield. Usually prefer local, but the 60 day return policy +$12 is much better than 14 days and 15%. Will use the local store for other purchases. Thanks for your early impressions. It helped with my decision.

 

[peng]

Ordered from Crutchfield. Usually prefer local, but the 60 day return policy +$12 is much better than 14 days and 15%. Will use the local store for other purchases. Thanks for your early impressions. It helped with my decision.

Don't you have to pay for shipping, if you return it, or not, like Amazon's?

 

[oneeightseven]

Don't you have to pay for shipping, if you return it, or not, like Amazon's?

I hopped on a chat with them to check before I ordered and asked specifically about the receiver. He said $12. Looks like it falls in with this policy from their returns:

Shipping costs. Return shipping costs are deducted from your merchandise credit or refund.

For most returns, Crutchfield can issue you an UPS Authorized Return Shipping (ARS) label for a flat fee of $12 per package.

 

[jbonn5000]

Welp. I made it official. Ordered the Anthem AVM70 8k and the Monolith 5 channel amp. Here's to hoping I don't have to return either unit.

Edited to add my current speakers:

L/R: Polk R700
SS: Polk OWM3
Height: Polk T15 (on ceiling in front)
Sub: Polk PSW505
Center: none

We have a large remodel in the planning/design phase that will add about 200 square feet of space and will allow me to improve the speaker placement. Hopefully done by end of fall. When it's complete, I'll replace the surrounds with the Polk R200s, add four on ceiling overhead atmos channels (might use the OW3s and add another pair since my ceiling is vaulted), and will consider adding a center. Hope to sell the T15s. Not sure how I'll power the overheads just yet but likely with an affordable four channel amp (I have a stereo Emotiva, so I could just get another one of those but bleh more power cables).

 

[peng]

One would hope, by now, that Anthem has been doing their due diligence on non-shipped receivers, and checking for fan issues, and fixing the problem before they send their new receivers to retailers, and these new shipments are less likely to be problematic. ...I know Crutchfield has replenished their Anthem inventory a time or two on their units since January. ...not sure about the AVMs....

I think you are right, it is such an easy fix, assuming that $10 fan is the issue. They could simply listen to them before using it. I still hope the turning on prematurely, that is, when the unit is not really that warm, will get fixed via FW update. On that though, as I mentioned before, users should email Anthem customer support, so they are aware of the issue. It is great that your fan did not turn on, but it is possible that it had, but you may have one that is normal, i.e. that runs quiet enough that it is not audible from a few feet away. Others may not be that lucky.

If they have the set point even a few degree C higher, then even if one ends up with a louder fan, it wouldn't be an issue at all. As it is now, I found that the fan would turn on when the temperature inside was only slightly above 30 deg C, so may be the hot spot could be as high as 40 deg C, there should be no need to turn the fan at that temperature, at that temperature, I highly doubt longevity would be affected either.

Note: I did raise an enquiry with Amthem and was told the fan noise should not be intrusive and that I should contact the dealer. Then I contacted the dealer and was told that's normal, as the cooler the unit run the better, it is cheaper to replace a fan if it fails than to repair the unit. I didn't ask but I was sure if I insisted, they would send it in to anthem to get the fan replaced, but I didn't need to. I will let Anthem support know that they should at least check the temperature set to trigger the fan on and hope they would forward it to the department responsible.

 

[Bren Derlin]

OK. I know I’m working on a 540 8K, but I’m positive this will be 100% effective on all Anthem AVR and AVM products.

If you don’t have an Ethernet connection to your network, you can plug a laptop directly into the Anthem receiver via a “USB to Ethernet” adapter/dongle. You’ll need a. Ethernet cable to plug one end into the receiver, and the other end into the dongle/adapter.

Switch your laptop (I’m using a MacBook Air from 2013) from wifi enabled to “Ethernet enabled”.

In the Mac laptop,
go to system preferences >
select network >
select USB/LAN Ethernet >
click ok (close preferences) >
launch your browser >
key in the “network status” IP address.

I’m not familiar with Windows, but there’s a similar way to connect using your network preferences.

So yay! This is a “jump through stoopid hoops" win for Anthem Users without an Ethernet connection.

******On a software related note: My wife is a software developer, and when we were futzing with this "dongle" jerryrig work-around, she was futzing with web-app interface, and literally said, "There's a MUCH better way" for a better user experience...

 

[Bren Derlin]

I think you are right, it is such an easy fix, assuming that $10 fan is the issue. They could simply listen to them before using it. I still hope the turning on prematurely, that is, when the unit is not really that warm, will get fixed via FW update. On that though, as I mentioned before, users should email Anthem customer support, so they are aware of the issue. It is great that your fan did not turn on, but it is possible that it had, but you may have one that is normal, i.e. that runs quiet enough that it is not audible from a few feet away. Others may not be that lucky.

If they have the set point even a few degree C higher, then even if one ends up with a louder fan, it wouldn't be an issue at all. As it is now, I found that the fan would turn on when the temperature inside was only slightly above 30 deg C, so may be the hot spot could be as high as 40 deg C, there should be no need to turn the fan at that temperature, at that temperature, I highly doubt longevity would be affected either.

Note: I did raise an enquiry with Amthem and was told the fan noise should not be intrusive and that I should contact the dealer. Then I contacted the dealer and was told that's normal, as the cooler the unit run the better, it is cheaper to replace a fan if it fails than to repair the unit. I didn't ask but I was sure if I insisted, they would send it in to anthem to get the fan replaced, but I didn't need to. I will let Anthem support know that they should at least check the temperature set to trigger the fan on and hope they would forward it to the department responsible.

It's easier to replace the fan at home, that return the unit to the retailer...

 

[peng]

It's easier to replace the fan at home, that return the unit to the retailer...

It is indeed easy to do, a 10 minute job, mainly the time to remove 11 screws. If it is a fan control issue then it will need to be sent out, but replacing a noisy one with a quiet one even with the same model (if it is a QC issue) will help tremendously.

 

[ArturoKiwi]

On AVSForum there is a post of a new firmware. This is the change log:
Network Module Version: 2.2.203
Host firmware 78
- Optimized fan profile
- Fixed volume sensitivity for analog direct on AVM's (was too low)
- Other minor bug fixes and improvements

I hope that the first point is resolutive

 

[peng]

On AVSForum there is a post of a new firmware. This is the change log:
Network Module Version: 2.2.203
Host firmware 78
- Optimized fan profile
- Fixed volume sensitivity for analog direct on AVM's (was too low)
- Other minor bug fixes and improvements

I hope that the first point is resolutive

Thank you very much. It is about time!! They never admitted it was an issue, but I was sure it was not just the fan being noisy but the set point and speed control aren't right. The 78 is beta, that's why I have not tried it as I didn't sign up to be notified of beta, let alone auto download. I still won't try it until it becomes official, because it isn't really an issue that bothers me. I am still wondering why some units don't seem to have the issue, or maybe Anthem has a bad batch of fans that happened to be nosier, so the quieter ones were not noticed by their users.

 

[jbonn5000]

For those of us that are expecting (AVM 70 on backorder), will the unit to ship with these firmware updates applied, or should I expect to spend some time allowing the unit to update when I set it up?

 

[peng]

For those of us that are expecting (AVM 70 on backorder), should I expect the unit to ship with these firmware updates applied, or should I expect to spend some time allowing the unit to update when I set it up?

No, they will ship with the older FW to encourage you to update right away. So, get ready to connect a Cat5e cable so you can be up and running within an hour or less.

That would be release version 61 dated June 30 2021

 

[peng]

So far as least one AVSF member posted that the new FW (beta) has fixed his fan issue:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/official-anthem-avm-70-90-owners-thread.3181385/page-855

Looks like the latest firmware fixed my fan noise. Removed the AC Infinity fan and have not heard the fan all night.

 

[Steve356]

Took delivery of a new MRX740 8K this morning. Tested it for 2 hours using the f/w it arrived with and didn't experience any fan noise. Then did the latest f/w update and after 3 hours or so, still no fan noise. Top of the case is just lukewarm, definitely not what I'd call hot to touch. Haven't run ARC G yet.

The 740 is located in an open rack.

 

[peng]

Took delivery of a new MRX740 this morning. Tested it for 2 hours using the f/w it arrived with and didn't experience any fan noise. Then did the latest f/w update and after 3 hours or so, still no fan noise. Top of the case is just lukewarm, definitely not what I'd call hot to touch. Haven't run ARC G yet.

The 740 is located in an open rack.

If in an open rack, chance for the fan to turn on is very low. Mine only has two inches clearances on each side and 3 inches on top, but the units were still only lukewarm as well, yet one unit would have the fan turned on in about 20 minutes and the other 30 minutes. The second unit's fan is much quieter so I won't use the beta update, and wait for the finalized version in case the beta may cause other issues. Apparently once updated, you can't roll back the FW, but I will ask anthem if this is true. If it can be rolled back easily then it is no big deal to try the beta. Mine's AVM70, don't even have amps inside so I expect them to a little cooler than the AVR cousins, yet...

 

[Steve356]

If in an open rack, chance for the fan to turn on is very low. Mine only has two inches clearances on each side and 3 inches on top, but the units were still only lukewarm as well, yet one unit would have the fan turned on in about 20 minutes and the other 30 minutes. The second unit's fan is much quieter so I won't use the beta update, and wait for the finalized version in case the beta may cause other issues. Apparently once updated, you can't roll back the FW, but I will ask anthem if this is true. If it can be rolled back easily then it is no big deal to try the beta. Mine's AVM70, don't even have amps inside so I expect them to a little cooler than the AVR cousins, yet...

There is about 3 inches clearance on the top, about 1 inch on one side totally open on the other side. Running cooler than the Denon 6700 and Arcam AVR30 that I recently home trailed.

 

[oneeightseven]

One week in and I definitely think the Anthem receiver was a great choice. Love the sound. Sounds great out of the box, but ARC blends the speakers and sub together beautifully. Really like the option for defaulting stereo sound for a given input to Dolby and it does an amazing job. I use a Channels DVR and Spectrum streams everything in stereo for TV Everywhere. Mainly used it for the NCAA tournament this week and I’m really impressed with how it places the sound from a stereo signal. Announcers voices are centered and game and crowd noises are appropriately placed around the room. Music sounds great and playing some of my favorite movie scenes is fantastic. Also impressed with the Dolby Audio post processing. For instance, in The Dark Knight Rises (my UHD streaming copy is only Dolby Digital, I guess they haven’t given this the Atmos treatment) after Commissioner Gordon is pulled from the water John Blake visits Bruce Wayne and the dialogue is really quiet. Was tough to hear with my old receiver. With the Anthem without ARC, I had to crank it about to about -20, after ARC -40. With the dynamic range leveled using Movie mode in the Dolby Audio post processing, it is easily heard at -60. Powering on via CEC is not working well, but I don’t mind picking up the receiver controller to power up and switch inputs if needed. Volume adjustments with any remote over CEC works great. No fan noise, but I’ve got it behind a glass door in the entertainment center and I went ahead and got the aircom T8 to help with cooling.

 

[ryaneagon]

There is about 3 inches clearance on the top, about 1 inch on one side totally open on the other side. Running cooler than the Denon 6700 and Arcam AVR30 that I recently home trailed.

I'm guessing you enjoy the Anthem over the Denon and Arcam? May I ask why you went Anthem, and separates? I'm looking at the Anthem 1140 8K and possibly the soon-to-be-released Integra 8.4. Both seem fairly similar on paper, actually, the Integra looks better, I listen to 50/50 music and movies, and I'm leaning towards the Anthem based on what other reviewers have said about the Anthem, that it is one of the best products for music, but also great for Home Theater. Thoughts?

 

[ban25]

I'm guessing you enjoy the Anthem over the Denon and Arcam? May I ask why you went Anthem, and separates? I'm looking at the Anthem 1140 8K and possibly the soon-to-be-released Integra 8.4. Both seem fairly similar on paper, actually, the Integra looks better, I listen to 50/50 music and movies, and I'm leaning towards the Anthem based on what other reviewers have said about the Anthem, that it is one of the best products for music, but also great for Home Theater. Thoughts?

For music, the Integra is Roon Ready, if you use Roon. Anthem has said Roon support is coming for close to 3 years, but no dice.