Anthem MRX Receivers - 300, 500, 700 Owners Thread & Tweaking Guide - Page 360

Originally Posted by jayray

Try a lower gain for your sub. A higher value should not sound different since the trim level shows how much ARC had to lower the value not what you are hearing.
The higher boundary gain has been corrected so if you can't move it, leave it. Your sub chart is excellent. Set in the advanced menu in ARC, the sub high pass filter to FLAT. The sub12 can handle that. It will give more LFE below 20Hz. ie the seat of the pants feel.
John

Originally Posted by jayray

If the pbk was done in a diff. position or the mic position was not where ARC heard your sub, you'll have to redo it and then re run ARC.
John

Originally Posted by ninja12

Q1) I can't answer this because I don't own a MRX.
Q2) ARC setting your sub's trim to +9 is really high. To prevent ARC from setting your sub's trim to +9, you should definitely turn the volume knob on your sub up. Sounds like the 11 o'clock position might be good. You should try to achieve +/-3 for all of your speaker trims.
Q3) What error are you getting?
Q4) Your curves look really good. Yes, your LF has some boundary gain; but, it's really narrow, and ARC had no problems correcting it. So, I wouldn't worry about it. I think you should just increase the volume on your sub to 11 o'clock and rerun ARC.

Just to confirm, this is a 2.1 setup right?

Originally Posted by Jmstpierre

hi all, just picked up my new 500 and connected everything up.all works but the apple tv.no picture and sound just blank screen.tried different hdmi cables and inputs. any ideas??

Originally Posted by kzhtoo


Hi,
Run A (sub gain at 12 o' clock) --> trim -4
Run B (sub gain at between 9/10) --> trim +9
So today, I tried sub gain at 11 and got trim level +3. Hope this is the setting I should keep? One thing with ARC though is it's more complicated than Audyssey in terms of setup, but in the end it's all worth it I guess.

Yes, I set the sub target HPF to flat, recalculate the target before I uploaded. Haven't tried watching movies to see the difference.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by kzhtoo


Hi,
Run A (sub gain at 12 o' clock) --> trim -4
Run B (sub gain at between 9/10) --> trim +9
So today, I tried sub gain at 11 and got trim level +3. Hope this is the setting I should keep? One thing with ARC though is it's more complicated than Audyssey in terms of setup, but in the end it's all worth it I guess.

Yes, I set the sub target HPF to flat, recalculate the target before I uploaded. Haven't tried watching movies to see the difference.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by jayray


Hall of fame sub chart
John

Originally Posted by kzhtoo


Thanks to this thread and people that contributed over the years. It saves me a lot of time. Now I know what Anthem sound really means (albeit entry level) MRX with ARC is worth every penny and then some. I have had Pioneer and Integra before but Anthem purchase is the first time I feel it isn't overpriced.

Originally Posted by kzhtoo

Thanks for the answers. I tried sub gain at 11 and now trim is at +3, which I think I'm gonna keep at least for this weekend.

The error message basically says my sub gain too low for ARC to detect tone. I have a medium/big room, maybe it has something to do with it?

Yes, it's a 2.1 setup (soon to be 2.2) I have attached the curves again.

Originally Posted by jayray

Hall of fame sub chart
John

Originally Posted by Jmstpierre

hi all, just picked up my new 500 and connected everything up.all works but the apple tv.no picture and sound just blank screen.tried different hdmi cables and inputs. any ideas??

Originally Posted by kzhtoo


I also got AppleTV connected using HDMI (not that it matters but the port I use is SAT) and it works fine the first time. Make sure AppleTV is on, the screen goes blank when it goes to sleep.

Originally Posted by kzhtoo

Finally my MRX-500 arrived at local dealer and picked up yesterday evening. I ordered it blind over the phone without a demo after reading this thread for a few days. I just knew my old Integra wasn't bringing out the best from the speakers and the sub. I have a pair of Paradigm Studio 60v5 and a Studio Sub12 in a 25x20 room. But only half the room is listening area.

Right out of the box, the MRX looks better than the picture. Muscular, different and looks more like a hi-end pre/pro than an average AVR.

After the initial hookup, I wasn't impressed at all despite its apparent better clarity than the Integra. Did a quick setup and played around for about 15 minutes and I had to go out for dinner. But when I came back, somehow MRX sounded a lot better even before ARC.

Q1) Do MRXs have break-in period? I've seen some people say they do but some they don't.

Anyway, I did ARC 2-3 times until I got a setting that sounded the best. I tried not to move the speakers and the sub during these initial runs because I'd like to see how MRX sounds compared to old Integra that uses Audyssey. The attached curves are from my last run and level calibrations are as follow:
Left 0
Right 0
Sub +9
My sub setting during last ARC run was phase at 0, bypass at max and gain at between 9 and 10 o' clock. For an earlier run that I set the gain at 12 o' clock, sub trim is at -4 (I didn't think this sounded good, the bass was really suffocating). My understanding is it should be within -2 and +2.

Q2) Based on the above 2 runs, I think maybe if I set the gain at 11 o' clock, I should get the trim within -2 and +2. But I think the bass sounds quite good right now at trim +9. Should I try to bring it down? And how/what does these trims work/do? I set the volume at 11 o' clock when I play music.

Q3) My front speakers are about 13ft away from listening position and sub is 9ft. While sub gain is set at 9 o' clock, it is impossible for ARC to get the tone and I keep getting error from ARC. Speakers are okay though. Does it have anything to do with room size and sub distance?

Q4) From my curves, what should be improved further? I understand my left front boundary gain looks pretty bad right now but will not have a lot of room to move around.

After ARC, MRX delivers a performance that exceeds my expectation. (I'm hoping MRX has a break-in period because if it sounds this good right now, it'll be better after). Highs are very well controlled while maintaining the liveliness. Mid-range is clear/crisp and noticeably better than the Integra/Audyssey (this is not a knock on Integra/Audyssey, I enjoyed them but MRX/ARC is better). But what I'm most happy with is the bass management. With ARC, it sounds as if my Sub12 is cut in half and attached to my fronts. They now work as one. I began to find out the speed and articulation that I didn't know Sub12 was capable of. The bass punches are more well defined, more purposeful and deeper. It punches exactly when it should, holds it back when it is supposed to with amazing speed and power. I tried "Bass I love you" a few times with different volume and the clean/tight bass ARC reproduced was quite an experience. I didn't know Sub12 excursion can move that fast. Integra/Audyssey has slightly louder bass but I never felt the bass was well controlled although it wasn't boomy or bloated. But ARC is a superior well-oiled bass machine. I had some worries to get another Sub12 with Integra/Audyssey, but with MRX/ARC, I'm very confident.

I'm very happy with MRX/ARC!

Originally Posted by suffolk112000

Ok, I have a question about the ARC.
I don’t have a laptop, but I do have a tower PC, so I could technically use the ARC. BUT I really don’t want to take my PC down to my basement where my theater is located every time I want to tweak my set-up.
Is there another way to use the ARC such as a wireless method to my PC?
I’ve now sold my current receiver and will ship it on Tuesday. The Anthem MRX-300 is on my short list. But if I have to relocate my PC every time I want to tweak with the ARC, I might have to pass.

Originally Posted by suffolk112000

But if I have to relocate my PC every time I want to tweak with the ARC, I might have to pass.

Originally Posted by Chris Isble

I found it took two sessions to get everything set up. The first is to get some initial readings and get comfortable with the software. The second is to dial in the settings. As I mentioned, I don't know how you can do this properly without the graphs, and that means a PC.

The only reason I can think of to run ARC again would be if I replaced my amp or speakers, moved my speakers, or redecorated the room. None of these are happening any time soon.

Originally Posted by suffolk112000

Ok, I have a question about the ARC.
I don't have a laptop, but I do have a tower PC, so I could technically use the ARC. BUT I really don't want to take my PC down to my basement where my theater is located every time I want to tweak my set-up.
Is there another way to use the ARC such as a wireless method to my PC?
I've now sold my current receiver and will ship it on Tuesday. The Anthem MRX-300 is on my short list. But if I have to relocate my PC every time I want to tweak with the ARC, I might have to pass.

Originally Posted by scirica

I had an initial setup with ARC done by my installer. He made a couple of passes, then blessed it as done and left me a copy of the ARC file. I'm eager to become familiar with the software and make some incremental improvements. One thing my installer didn't do is try my sub in any position other than where we initially placed it in a corner where it was out of the way. I'm guessing it would be beneficial to at least try a couple of different locations and re-run ARC. I guess the good news is I can always re-upload the installer's ARC file and go back to where he left me, correct?

Let the fun begin!

Originally Posted by rklpoon

Please excuse me if this has been already asked before. My friend used the cec hdmi on feature to bypass siganl when the MRX300 is off/standy but found that there was a considerable amount of heat as a result. Is this is a bug that is fixable(he used Denon before and no such heat in similar setting or some other setting he needs to get aroud it)? Thank you.

Originally Posted by audit13


It may be that your sub is already perfectly positioned.

You should post your charts/graphs/settings for others to examine and provide their observations.

Originally Posted by rklpoon

Please excuse me if this has been already asked before. My friend used the cec hdmi on feature to bypass siganl when the MRX300 is off/standy but found that there was a considerable amount of heat as a result. Is this is a bug that is fixable(he used Denon before and no such heat in similar setting or some other setting he needs to get aroud it)? Thank you.

Originally Posted by Jmstpierre

hi all, just picked up my new 500 and connected everything up.all works but the apple tv.no picture and sound just blank screen.tried different hdmi cables and inputs. any ideas??

Originally Posted by Chris Isble

It took several weeks, but I finally got the time to chase down the 50 Hz hole. I spent the afternoon using Quick Measure and trying different subwoofer positions. I couldn't get that dip to budge. *** Count me as another Anthem fan. I don't know how you can possibly set up a 5.1 speaker system without the graphical feedback. I could never do it by ear, but I can definately appreciate the results.

Originally Posted by jayray

The power needed to have CEC on is equivalent to a 60W bulb hence the heat.

Originally Posted by DS-21


Does the ATV work on a different system? I assume from your post that other HDMI sources work.

FWIW, my first MRX 300 shipped with a dead HDMI board. But all the inputs were affected. But when I got a good one, my old ATV2 (now in the bedroom) was a simple plug-and-play. As was the current ATV3.

QuickMeasure is probably the most significant advance in terms of improving audio fidelity in home systems since room correciton. Once I saw it, my surprise was not that it was done well (though it is done pretty well, considering that it's not a proper OSX-native program) but that it's taken this long for AVR's with onboard measurement suites using calibrated mikes to come up with the idea. In retrospect, at least, it's just that much of a no-brainer. And if it's not widely copied by 2013 and 2014 model AVRs, then the marketers of those machines are just negligent.

Wow, that's interesting. Powerful argument for just using a universal remote with activity buttons. That's a lot of wasted energy.

Originally Posted by Tigger!


1) No break-in period.
2) Your latest run looks awesome, as stated by Jayray and Ninja12
3) If the MRX was setting your level at +9, the level was far to low... possibly ARC simply was having trouble hearing it. I suspect now that you have your set correctly on the sub you are no longer seeing this message?
4) See my answer in #2