AVS Forum banner

Anthem D2/D2v/AVM50/AVM50v/ARC1 tweaking guide

4M views 45K replies 1K participants last post by  BritishColumbian 
#1 ·
UPDATE!!! Anthem D2v NOW SHIPPING. News By Bob Pariseau:


''The Anthem Statement D2v is shipping now (confirmed). The Anthem AVM 50v is supposed to ship this coming week. [NOTE: Anthem originally referred to these two units as the "D2 v.2" and "AVM 50 v.2".]


The original Statement D2, AVM 50, and quite possibly the AVM 40, may be discontinued soon if that hasn't already happened. Upgrades to the D2v or AVM 50v for owners of the original units should be available soon (my guess would be February for the D2 -> D2v upgrade). Upgrade pricing is not confirmed yet. Either upgrade will require shipping the unit to the Anthem factory in Canada.


HDMI is V1.3c -- some folks may care about the particular V1.3 level

Speaker Xover is "Pair"

Surround Mode is BOTH PLIIx and THX (the additional THX stuff is user selectable -- you don't seem to have an option for that)


Pricing is a little confusing right now as Anthem seems to be offering a reduced "introductory" price at the moment. It appears the US MSRP for the D2v is $7499 at the moment. The AVM 50v pricing is not confirmed yet but will likely remain $2K less than the D2v pricing. The price includes Anthem ARC-1 (room correction) bundled with either the D2v or the AVM 50v.


LPCM audio: for both of these units it is up to 7.1 channels at up to 192KHz/24bit. [NOTE however that ANALOG multi-channel audio input remains 5.1 on both units.]


In addition, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD bitstream decoding are in both units now via HDMI 1.3c. Anthem has announced that "Dolby Volume" will be added as a free software upgrade for both units (user installable) -- no ETA announced.


Video is up to HDMI 1080p/60 (with 1080p/24 support) including HDMI V1.3 "Deep Color" and full video processing. Video processing is 12 bits per component (36 bits per pixel) end to end using the latest VXP chip from Sigma Designs. The two HDMI video outputs run in "parallel" -- i.e., they are both live at the same time, but they can not be set to carry different video signals. It is not clear yet whether that restriction may be relaxed in future firmware.''



Anthem support. Fast and really efficient:
tech@anthemav.com


Anthem D2v2 announcement:

http://www.castercomm.com/prView.cfm?cid=111&id=208


And the new Sigma scaler (Sigma bought Gennum...):

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...008+BW20080414

8 HDMI 1.3c IN and 2 OUT!!!!! No need for an external HDMI switcher anymore!






Here's a compilation of links to find specific informations faster in this mega-thread on the D2!


--------------------------------------------------------

PANIC ROOM!


* Should I panic since the D2/AVM50 are NOT HDMI 1.3? :


Not anymore!!!


The D2/AVM50 will both be upgradable (hardware upgrade) to do the D2v, so they will be HDMI 1.3c, 7.1, and will support decoding of DD TrueHD, DTS HD and DTS-HD Master


--------------------------------------------------------

FIRMWARE and INSTALLING NEW FIRMWARE


* Belt & suspenders approach to doing the update from Bob Pariseau
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post10645127


* Disconnect HDMI sources and display PRIOR to installing an upgrade!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9277613


* Some extra steps to make sure your settings remain good
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9543881


--------------------------------------------------------

SETUP -- SOME BASIC, SOME ADVANCED


How to adjust Phase and Polarity for your subwoofer(s)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post13997761
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post15831964



* How to get the best from your video setup (video calibration for non-ISF techs)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9277613
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9564825


* Lossless HDMI audio for folks without HDMI displays
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9805765
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9808465


* Max resolution/frame rate for processed HDMI or Component video
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9683898


* My video is "shocking pink"!
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9610862


* Using AUTO DIG to get more than one device on the same input
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9564730


* What if my 1080p display only accepts up to 1080i input?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9286645


--------------------------------------------------------

ANTHEM ROOM CORRECTION (ARC-1) : AUDIO BLISS IN A FEW, EASY STEPS

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14142274
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14160614
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14165296
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14181449
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14192486
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14207104
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14207158
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14207663
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14214469
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14216213
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14220432
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14232090
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14236866
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14256232
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14262027
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14267952
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14268617
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14286844
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14287488
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14296873
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14306824
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14320989
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14322061
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14327449
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14335277
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14347781
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14351330
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14353551
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14363180
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14365808
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14366806
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14370256
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14372958
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14377508
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14379882
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14380719
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14383015
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14384710
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14391953
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14393593
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14393664
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14394305
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14395567
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14396801
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14407572
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14413014
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14415277
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14420677
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14422227
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14424204
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14424251
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14424733
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14429013
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14430627
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14436325
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14439704
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14439977
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14440383
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14448571
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14451192
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14458172
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14459485
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14461019
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14462796
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14469019
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14477302
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=#post14484075


--------------------------------------------------------

THINGS YOU CAN DO WHILE WATCHING/LISTENING


* Why can't I get to the audio processing mode I want?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9627851


*Making SDTV Programs Fill a 16:9 Screen Without Distortion
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post10864623


* Fun with Custom Cropping and Scaling
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9587424
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9652415
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9660854
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9672930
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...ostcount=10203


* What's with this Frame Lock stuff?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9556938


--------------------------------------------------------

TERMINOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY


* Color Space
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9731538
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9738172


* Data Format (YCbCr 4:4:4, etc.)
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...ostcount=14288
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9442585
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9443139
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9445345
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9306459


* Frame Rates and Custom Resolutions
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9211974
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9276351


--------------------------------------------------------

SOURCE DEVICE SPECIFIC SETTINGS


* Scientific Atlanta DVR
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9557247


* Oppo 970 for SACD or DVD-Audio over HDMI
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9388249


--------------------------------------------------------

DISPLAY SPECIFIC SETTINGS


* Custom Resolution for a 1366x768 Panasonic display
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9081443


* How to output 1080p48 to Sony Ruby with Live Video Settings Editor
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9221154


* Custom /24Hz Resolution for a Sony Pearl
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9256440


* What if your display won't accept it's "native" resolution as input?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post9795082


--------------------------------------------------------

SOUND SPECIFIC SETTINGS


* How to set the D2 with the Velodyne DD15 subwoofer
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&post8872147


* How well does the Room Resonance Filter work? What does it do, and what affect does it have?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...post10516640


==================================



Latest review by Kris Deering (august 2006) of the Anthem D2:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...006-page1.html


And my review:

http://statement.anthemav.com/HTML/P...D2_Reviews.pdf


For those searching for Kris Deering's benchmark of the video section of the D2 at Secrets, you can access it directly here:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-b.../V%20Processor


Anthem's page for the Statement D2:

http://statement.anthemav.com/HTML/Products/D2/D2.html
 
See less See more
3
#15,221 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Pariseau /forum/post/14380771


After some more listening to ARC V1.2.5 I believe it sounds *EVEN BETTER* in the bass than my prior, ARC V1.2.2 setup.


I don't know if this is due to the particulars of how I did this new Measurement or if the bug fix in ARC V1.2.5 actually improves ARC processing even in cases where the bug is not so bad as to be heard as a "bass earthquake".


I think it would be good to hear from others upgrading from ARC V1.2.2 to ARC V1.2.5 to see if there is something significant going on here that might make it even more important for V1.2.2 users to upgrade and re-Measure.

--Bob

Hey Bob!


I posted earlier but thought I would just add to your comments that I do feel there is definite improvement in 1.2.5, especially in the bass response.

I initially reloaded my 1.2.2 measurements with 1.2.5 and thought is was good but after a re-measurement with 1.2.5 I feel it is better.

Of course it could be just "delusional with happiness" on my part but so be it!


That coupled with the new MOFI "Dead Can Dance" SACD remasters that have been playing non-stop all weekend!


/\\/\\
 
#15,222 ·
That's good to hear. One of the reasons I did this re-Measurement was to capture any variation now that my new subwoofer amp has had a chance to break in. So that too may be part of it.


The V1.2.5 charts don't show any differences in the bass that would explain what I'm hearing, but of course the frequency response curves won't show everything.


I'm still not sure it is V1.2.5 itself that has made for the improvement, but I'm quite certain now that what I'm hearing with this latest V1.2.5 setup is better in the bass and low mid-range than what I had with my prior V1.2.2 setup. I haven't detected any change in higher frequencies yet.

--Bob
 
#15,223 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by xtrips /forum/post/14381825


I have never tried tweaking the crossover points but I do agree with Bob. ARC does for me an astonishing work.

Yesterday I saw Batman Begins, and in one scene there is this rumble of very low bass sound wave coming from far on the screen towards me. I just ducked. It was so overwhelming, so believable. G** they did a good job!

I watched Ratatouille after I'd gotten ARC set up, and near the beginning, there is lightning and thunder. Both my wife and I JUMPED when the thunder happened! Unbelievable fidelity.


I see a possible side-thread: "Most dramatic moments when listening to ARC'd system."
 
#15,224 ·
Bangs are fun, but in my case it was when there was a knock at the door to my listening room (behind and to the left) and I got up to open it before realizing it was actually sound from the movie I was listening to.


After realizing that, it also dawned on me that the knock sound effect was precisely positioned in the surround sound field, just where it should have been for that scene of the movie, and had perfect "room ambience" for the size of the room in that scene.


Cool!


On the whole I've been equally impressed with LFE integration (bangs and such) and improvements in the surround "sound field". But the additional clarity and transparency of music ARC has brought to the setup is the thing that really knocks my socks off. I REALLY like what it has done for percussion instruments.

--Bob
 
#15,225 ·
Thanx all for the input about the crossovers...



Just one question.. If the arc makes the crossover for the sub high (over 80hz), does anyone find that the sub is more directional??



Without the ARC, and just doing the crossover the old fashion way, the sub was more directonal when crossover was over 80hz..



Thanx again..
 
#15,226 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by muad'dib /forum/post/14384665


Thanx all for the input about the crossovers...



Just one question.. If the arc makes the crossover for the sub high (over 80hz), does anyone find that the sub is more directional??



Without the ARC, and just doing the crossover the old fashion way, the sub was more directonal when crossover was over 80hz..



Thanx again..

That's an excellent question. In my case ARC sets the sub crossover at 120Hz. I worried about directionality because I had previously rejected a crossover above 110Hz when doing my manual setup using the Velodyne sub's built-in bass EQ system -- because it sounded too directional.


But whatever ARC is doing under the hood is working brilliantly in my setup. There is no directionality from the subwoofer -- even when it is pushing enough air that I can see the cloth moving. When you have combined sounds, higher frequencies that should be directional from a main speaker and lower frequencies happening at the same time (which are steered to the subwoofer), the only directionality is what should be there -- i.e., to that main speaker.

--Bob
 
#15,227 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by gdc /forum/post/14384465


I watched Ratatouille after I'd gotten ARC set up, and near the beginning, there is lightning and thunder. Both my wife and I JUMPED when the thunder happened! Unbelievable fidelity.


I see a possible side-thread: "Most dramatic moments when listening to ARC'd system."

What about the sewer scene as he goes under the water. I checked for leaks in the theatre after that one
 
#15,228 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by muad'dib /forum/post/14384665


Thanx all for the input about the crossovers...



Just one question.. If the arc makes the crossover for the sub high (over 80hz), does anyone find that the sub is more directional??



Without the ARC, and just doing the crossover the old fashion way, the sub was more directonal when crossover was over 80hz..



Thanx again..

Mine is at 120Hz and it is a Servo 15, 1500 W. It sounds more integrated than before and less noticeable not more
For music it is now much better and I am using it where before I never used the sub.

John
 
#15,229 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Pariseau /forum/post/14384710


That's an excellent question. In my case ARC sets the sub crossover at 120Hz. I worried about directionality because I had previously rejected a crossover above 110Hz when doing my manual setup using the Velodyne sub's built-in bass EQ system -- because it sounded too directional.


But whatever ARC is doing under the hood is working brilliantly in my setup.

--Bob

Correct me if I am wrong but, usually, the LP setting for the sub relates to the LFE source only as the bandwidth for the signals from the other channels is determined by the crossover settings for those channels.
 
#15,230 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by jayray /forum/post/14384747


Mine is at 120Hz and it is a Servo 15, 1500 W. It sounds more integrated than before and less noticeable not more
For music it is now much better and I am using it where before I never used the sub.

John


Thanx.. I have the Servo aswell, and was worried about this..


Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Pariseau /forum/post/14384710


That's an excellent question. In my case ARC sets the sub crossover at 120Hz. I worried about directionality because I had previously rejected a crossover above 110Hz when doing my manual setup using the Velodyne sub's built-in bass EQ system -- because it sounded too directional.


But whatever ARC is doing under the hood is working brilliantly in my setup. There is no directionality from the subwoofer -- even when it is pushing enough air that I can see the cloth moving. When you have combined sounds, higher frequencies that should be directional from a main speaker and lower frequencies happening at the same time (which are steered to the subwoofer), the only directionality is what should be there -- i.e., to that main speaker.

--Bob

Do you find that if the crossover for any of the main 5/7 speakers are set lower than 80hz, they will working too hard on bass? Again, with ARC not on, and any speaker set to below 80hz, the woofers in those speakers seem to be working harder...



Maybe the ARC is not allowing this extra stress?



Thanx again..
 
#15,231 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by muad'dib /forum/post/14384665


Thanx all for the input about the crossovers...



Just one question.. If the arc makes the crossover for the sub high (over 80hz), does anyone find that the sub is more directional??



Without the ARC, and just doing the crossover the old fashion way, the sub was more directonal when crossover was over 80hz..



Thanx again..

My sub is placed behind and to one side of the central listening position. ARC has set its xover at 120Hz. And, YES, I do find it is more directional than I like - i.e. I can tell that the low sound effects are coming from it and not simply from every corner of the room as it should be.

-Ben
 
#15,232 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by benleeys /forum/post/14384957


My sub is placed behind and to one side of the central listening position. ARC has set its xover at 120Hz. And, YES, I do find it is more directional than I like - i.e. I can tell that the low sound effects are coming from it and not simply from every corner of the room as it should be.

-Ben

Which version of ARC and which version of D2 firmware are you using?

--Bob
 
#15,233 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by muad'dib /forum/post/14384795


Do you find that if the crossover for any of the main 5/7 speakers are set lower than 80hz, they will working too hard on bass? Again, with ARC not on, and any speaker set to below 80hz, the woofers in those speakers seem to be working harder...

I can't answer this one, in my case ARC has my LF/RF crossover at 80Hz and my Center and Surrounds at 90Hz.

--Bob
 
#15,234 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson /forum/post/14384786


Correct me if I am wrong but, usually, the LP setting for the sub relates to the LFE source only as the bandwidth for the signals from the other channels is determined by the crossover settings for those channels.

Yes, that's true, but in real sound tracks, stuff in the LFE usually happens at the same time as stuff is happening in the main channels. You want any directionality to be limited to the main channels. ARC manages to do that quite well in my setup even with the 120Hz sub crossover. Don't ask me how....



--Bob
 
#15,235 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Pariseau /forum/post/14385128


Yes, that's true, but in real sound tracks, stuff in the LFE usually happens at the same time as stuff is happening in the main channels. You want any directionality to be limited to the main channels. ARC manages to do that quite well in my setup even with the 120Hz sub crossover. Don't ask me how....

Yeah. I know. ARC sets my Servo-15 to 100Hz and, although it is in the rear left of the room (not in the corner), it is remarkably unlocalizable.
 
#15,237 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by benleeys /forum/post/14385251


D2 v1.33 and ARC 1.2.5. I should also mention that Fronts were set to 40Hz, Center 85Hz and Surrounds 45Hz.

Would you mind posting your ARC V1.2.5 charts from the Measurement where the 120Hz subwoofer crossover (chosen by ARC) made the sub too localizeable? Or if you've already posted them, just a link to that post? I'd like to see if there's anything odd in the charts that might explain why your case is different.


Also, double check that the Setup / Speaker Calibration levels uploaded by ARC all make sense, and haven't been altered since that upload. And while you are in there, double check that Room EQ is ON for the source you are using that produces too much localizeable output from the sub, i.e., that ARC's processing is actually turned on.

--Bob
 
#15,238 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by muad'dib /forum/post/14384665



Just one question.. If the arc makes the crossover for the sub high (over 80hz), does anyone find that the sub is more directional??


Thanx again..

ARC is setting my sub crossover at 120 hz, and my subs do NOT sound more directional to me. However, I have dual subs set up in the front of my room, and located them carefully in my initial setup. When I had one sub, no matter what my crossover setting, it was localizable to me.
 
#15,239 ·
I have 4 DIY subs accross the frontstage with a Biamp 34 band PEQ. When I do 5 mic measurements, my crossover is at 75 , when 7 positions are measured 120 is my sub frequency. I know that my 4 subs can push air much more efficiently than my 7 speakers therefore I adjusted the crossover points of all my speakers to 80. FR and LR are at 40 making them almost fullrange, even the center is at 45 and the surrounds at 65. I figured that having a high pass of 80 is better for my speakers as it will cut low frequency resonance from the woofers that would greatly help my midrange as well as speaker dynamics. Setting the crossovers are still determined by ARC at what freq. slopes to use (shallow or steep). The calculated response is after these settings anyway, therefore I would assume that the target or desired response would still be the same.
 
#15,240 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Pariseau /forum/post/14382935


How did the experiment turn out? Could you hear a difference? Which was better?

--Bob

I think I like my adjusted settings better for my configuration. From the LF and RF graphs, I have a dip at 63 that are not fully remedied by the ARC. My front crossovers are at 40. Increasing the value to 80 made the calculated curve on track with the target curve for all of the speakers in the system.


I think the advance mode is great for further fine tuning ARC.
 
Top