Anthem MRX Receivers - 300, 500, 700 Owners Thread & Tweaking Guide - Page 440

Yes, regardless of what you set the video out options to on the Anthem, feeding it a 1080p/24 signal will lock it into that video mode and you cannot change it. I usually keep my MRK-500 on "through", but it goes into a 1080p/24p mode when my Oppo is sending 1080p/24 content.

Yes, that's the issue. I can't seem to change it to Through if the Oppo is sending 1080p/24. What to do?

I'm thinking this may be a question for Anthem support, as I'm curious too. I'd like to know if the MRX is only passing the 1080p/24 signal through or if it is doing any of it's own processing. I'm hoping it is not processing. Due to my fear of the MRX's slight potential for degrading the video signal, I run the Oppo's HDMI 1 output direct to my Panasonic VT50 and the Oppo's HDMI 2 to my MRX (primarily for sound).

You need to change it while it is on another source or change the Oppo to a different resolution temporarily then change the MRX and then back the Oppo back to 1080/24

Would you expect the MRX to show VidOut as 'Through' after making such changes? I tried to do that last night. I switched 1080p24 off on the Oppo, selected 'Through' in the MRX and then enabled 1080p24 again in the Oppo and VidOut reverted to 1080p24. I'll try it again tonight.

That's a good idea. I could do that as well. Hopefully no lip-sync issues result.

The MRX even though set to through will show the incoming resolution so if it is 1080/24 then that's what it will show. If it is just 1080 then you will only see that, etc... Hope this helps.

I would not expect the Anthem to continue to display "Through" and it never has for me on a 1080p24 source. As I stated in another post, I'd like Anthem to comment on whether or not there is any processing happening if I start my Anthem in Through mode and then introduce 1080p24 source material. I'm hoping it is just displaying the source format and then leaving it alone!

True. There is what is displayed on the front of the Anthem which is just telling you the format of the incoming signal. Then there is the Video Out setting in the on-screen Set Up menu. That one will change from Through to 1080p24.

Edit: I may have to correct myself on this. Started with the Anthem in "Through" mode and then put a 1080p24 blu-ray in. Anthem (as expected) displays 1080p24 on the receiver display, but when I brought up the Settings menu it blanked out for a second before displaying. That tells me the Anthem was in through mode and it had to switch to a 1080p mode to display the settings menu on the tv. Make sense??
Edited by scirica - 1/4/13 at 9:22am

I had the same or similar problem with my projector. With my previous receiver my 30 ft HDMI category 2 high speed cable worked fine, but with the MRX I couldn't use the "Through" setting no matter what I tried. I switched to a powered/active HDMI cable and now the through setting works and I get 1080p/24 to my projector.

I switched my cable to a monoprice30 ft Slim Series High Speed HDMI Cable w/ RedMere and now I can select "through" on the MRX. Before switching the cable the Through setting would cause all kind of HDMI handshack issues like green screen, blanking out etc... It just couldn't lock on with the through setting, but with 1080p/60 it was fine.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10255

Will pick up my new sub tomorrow and will now be running dual subs. How does ARC handle dual subs? Anything special I should know to run ARC?

USB serial adapter still in transit...so I haven't being able to set up ARC...yet.... I'll continue to read the manual and walk my way through this receiver...by the time it arrives...I should have everything figured with all the help links provided througout this thread...and have no issues running ARC....I hope...

There is a Reference in the Anthem D2 Thread - HERE - on how ARC handles Dual Subs

Hi, I have tried to upgrade my MRX 500 firmware from 50.23 to 50.25 and it is never finishing. It is getting stuck at DSP-1 writing and I have left it to run for more than 12 hours and the progress bar got to 100% but it never finished. I stopped the process and tried it several times but same result.

The status bar on the upgrade progresses but the text in the window stays at "DSP-1 Writing... 0 KByte".

Since attempting the upgrade sound from the reciever has stopped working.

My serial port setting is 115200 baud rate with 8 data bits, no parity and 2 stop bits. I am using PCI Express serial card. In the past I have upgraded firmware several times successfully with the same computer and setup.

I have also tried changing the baud rate 19200 both in the computer and mrx 500 setting but had the same result.

Have you tried re-downloading the new firmware? You never know.....

Hey guys, I'm ditching the processor I have and was thinking about going with the Anthem MRX 300 to be used with an external amp for more power. I liked the sound of separates and cannot think that this would really be any different if using a different amp. Anyone on here have experience with this setup? Just curious if there is an audible difference in SQ vs the receiver alone?

With the Anthem room correction software does it work with macs? Do I need windows os or will it run on the mas os?

ONLY if the MAC is RUNNING WINDOWS

That's somewhat of a loaded question as it all depends on the external amp (which you have not yet disclosed). Regardless, there are many of us, myself included, that use the Anthem as a pre-pro with a separate amplifier. I'm using the 500 with a Proceed Amp5 and I'm very happy with the results. With a quality amplifier I'd say the difference in "sound quality" would be negligible at best. It's worth testing out though!

I wonder if you could use Parallels (Mac/Windows program like bootcamp but you dont have to restart) with the ARC software?

It's not really a loaded question at all. The amp I have is an Emotiva 5 x 125. I used with my old Marantz receiver and it improved the sound by quite a margin. It appears to be of very good quality. I am selling my Emotiva processor because I just really don't like the way the company delays products for months/ years. There are things I like about them but just not a lot of confidence in the very poorly developed EmoQ calibration software which kept me from ever fully getting the most from the unit. I will say there were times it sounded very good, however. If someone can use other software to dial it in, I would have no problem recommending the UMC, and Im not a fanboy. Eventually I may upgrade the amp too but just not in the budget at the time. I am just curious if anyone has found the sound to be improved with the use of a decent amp. I did with the Marantz SR6400.

I guess to be more direct, is there a difference in the separate preamp/processor vs the receiver other than the amp?

Perhaps "loaded" was just the wrong description. I was just trying to say that based on your original post there wasn't much to go on. In general terms however, there certainly can be improvements by adding a separate amplifier, especially if you are driving power-thirsty low impedance speakers.

My speakers are Paradigm Studio 60's v.5 and CC-490 center + surrounds built in

You have some quality components! Lots of potential for a solid amp added to the mix!

Thanks, is it possible to still use an external DAC with the MRX? I read somewhere that it doesn't allow for it?

You can but the MRX will run the analog signal from your DAC thru its own
DAC anyway.

Yes, MRX300 here with a Marantz MM7055 amp. I wish I would have just gotten the 700 and no external amp and am even thinking of consolidating / upgrading or running the speakers directly off the 300. Speakers are the S6 / C3. They do not need very much power to sound great, hence the amp range on Paradigm's website starting at as little as 15W. The S6 actually sound their best off my 70W integrated; Though not because of the power, but there is no room correction to reduce the bass output, etc. Any amps / separates I desire are just for lust and little to do with function.

I just want to let you guys know about the new sub I just bought. I know this is not a Sub forum but since I have the MRX 700, I want to show you the chart comparison. I am extremely happy with the SVS SB1000 for the almost perfect chart for just $500. What's also amazing is the size, 13 x 13 x 13, the most compact I've ever seen. It's even smaller than my 10 inch sub it replaces.



Now, I can rest finding the best sub for the money...

I am looking at SVS subs too, nice to know.

Here are my charts, would be interested in feedback from the group.

Setup is MRX300, B&W 683s in the front, HTM62 center, SVS SBS01s for the surrounds, and an SVS SB12-NSD.





Thanks in advance.