Anthem D2/D2v/AVM50/AVM50v/ARC1 tweaking guide - Page 506

ARC V1.2.5 is Now "Official"!

Find it here for the D2:

http://statement.anthemav.com/HTML/P...e/Upgrade.html

And find it here for the AVM-50:

http://www.anthemav.com/NewSitev2.0/...Downloads.html

For those (like me) who are still on ARC V1.2.2, here are the combined release notes for V1.2.5 and the intervening V1.2.4 release:


There is no guidance given on whether it is necessary to re-Measure when switching to ARC V1.2.5. Pending clarification from Anthem, my advice would be that you SHOULD re-Measure rather than just doing a re-Calculation and re-Upload on older Measurements you might have.

Please note that this install kit folder *ALSO* contains the most up to date version of the V1.3x Operating Manual for the D2, and the new "combo" V1.3x Operating Manual for the AVM-40 and AVM-50. In the case of the AVM units, the manual found in the ARC kit folder is NEWER than the manual shown for either of them on their download page.

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Since I was planning to do a re-Measurement anyway now that I've broken-in my replacement subwoofer amp, I'll likely be switching to ARC V1.2.5 in the next few days.

ETA: I've still not found any marketing materials on the Anthem web site for ARC for the AVM processors.
--Bob

I hope D2's firmware upgrade 1.34 won't be long.
I am really tired of rebooting my HTPC every time I need to project a movie.

Me too. The "test" version with the new HDMI driver (still not ready for prime time) hasn't changed since June 26.
--Bob

Anybody out there having problems with getting audio through HDMI with the Scientific Atlanta 8300 HDC with Time-Warner Navigator operating system?

The video through the HDMI works fine, but I can't seem to get the audio to work. If I switch to the digital coaxial input in my D1-HD I get the sound just fine, but when I go to HDMI I get no sound. Yes - I have the 8300 box to output audio through HDMI and instead it outputs through the coaxial digital connection. I have not tried disconnecting the coaxial digital cable from the 8300 and the D1-HD and seeing if the sound will then come through the HDMI. I have known cable boxes to act weird that way before.

Thank you,

Mike

CycloneMike,

I am having the same problem with a Comcast SA (non-DVR) HD box. I am not home, but I think it is a 4250 model. I replaced an older Motorola 6200 with the SA because I liked the guide in the SA and it now matches the two other SA boxes that my wife is more familiar with. The Motorola was DVI only, so I was using a coax digital input for sound and a HDMI to DVI cable for video. When I installed the SA box and replaced the HDMI - DVI cable with HDMI - HDMI, I could not get any audio, so had to go back to digital coax. I have not worried about it too much since I don't expect high quality sound from the cable box.

I am wondering if the Anthem D2 has "locked" in the fact that the previous device on this port had no audio, so it does not pass it through?

I must miss something…
I have an AVM 50 – FW 1.33, A Sony Ruby Front Projector (HDMI OUT from the AVM) and a PS3 (Input HDMI #1)
I have now a brand new TV, a Sony 40W4000 (1080P) and I was expecting to connect my TV through Component (Component Output #1)
I did not know exactly the maximum resolution I could get through Component but If I read the technical specification of my TV, Component Input support 1080P&i, 720P, 576P&i, 480P&i.
I was expecting the AVM to output the process signal on both HDMI (the only one) and Component #1 and it seems to be true since I get the Menu on both my TV & the PROJECTOR.
See:


Unfortunately, If I came back to see the PS3 on the Component & HDMI… I only have an Output on HDMI
See:




I run the test in many resolutions and I found no solution.
As soon I select Hi Resolution such as 1080P 50Hz and 60Hz or 1080i 60Hz I did not have any menu output on TV (It’s OK on the projector)


As soon I select 1080i 50Hz I get a buggy screen on my TV (It’s OK on the projector)
As soon I select 720P or lower resolution… Both the TV and the Projector display the AVM menu.
Exit from the menu… I still not see the PS3 screen on my TV.

I try both Prefered HDMI or COMPONENT (Both let me see the PS3 on PROJECTOR but nothing on TV

In my entire test I set the output resolution of the PS3 to 720P even if I normally use 1080P to get the best for the Projector.
I have quite good cables... Component is from QED...

What’s the Hell
Where is my mistake...

Regards,
FRED

FRED,
Most all interesting HDMI sources are "copy protected", that means that the D2 can not convert them to Component (analog) video output at high resolution. This is an industry restriction.

If your selected video source is copy protected HDMI, then the "processed" Component outputs are muted.

Despite this copy protection stuff, some HDMI source devices have both their HDMI and Component outputs live at the same time. Typically this would be the case with HDTV set top boxes and Blu-Ray players. [It will *NOT* be the case for standard DVD players or for Blu-Ray players when playing standard DVDs.] For those devices, you can hook up both HDMI and Component to the D2, set the Zone 2 Component output on the D2 to be the UN-processed Component video from the selected input (either from the Main path input device or one you separately select for Zone 2) and then when you select that source for Main the processed video will come out the HDMI -- you have your choice of whether you want the HDMI or Component input from that device sent to the scaler -- usually you will use the HDMI input.

Meanwhile the UN-processed Component video from that source is available on the Zone 2 output.

See Section 2.1 of the manual for the restriction that protected HDMI input can only be output on HDMI.

If you want "processed" Component video output then you must use Component video input, S-video input, or "unprotected" HDMI video input which would generally be limited to HDMI content you create yourself.
--Bob

Question for Bob, or anyone with a similar situation.

I just received my ARC upgrade and am going to try it tonight when I get home. I am a little worried about my current room configuration and how it will effect the overall final response I get with ARC.

My room is a little on the small side, 11'x19'. I have 2 rows of seating for 3 with the back of the second row seats about 32" from the back wall on a 6 foot deep, 12" riser. (there is a door to an outside patio in the left center of the rear wall that opens in and to which I still need access) I am OK with this as I prefer not having the rear seats right up against the back wall. But, this forces my front row of seating to be fairly close to the front of the room (heads about 9' to the screen) and due to placing my front L/R speakers (Paradigm S8s) out into the room (to improve base response), they end up awfully close to the front left and right seating positions (probably 4 - 5 feet from the head position in these seats).

While not ideal, it pretty much puts my "primary" best seat in the middle of the second row. I was thinking of using the center of each seat as mic positions during measurement.

My worries are that the close proximity to the front L/R speakers (and for my center sig. C5 - although this speaker is probably a foot or two further back and on a 6" stage) for 3 of my measurements might compromise the results that I would hear in my primary seating location in the back row. I could move the front L/R closer to the front wall but I know this puts them into a base null area with a loss of lower frequency output.

My other thought is that since I want the second row to have the best sound possible, I could fiddle with the mic positions using the second row head positions for 3 measurements, then take 2 measurements with the mic located on the arms of the front row center seat at front head position and ear level. This would place the mic a bit farther away from the front L/R speakers roughly 1/3 of the room width away from each side wall giving me 5 mic positions.

This may be tough for you to answer and I may end up trying both, or some other mic configuration but was looking for suggestions or thoughts from those that have been through this.

PS - I also have two Velodyne SC-12 subs in the front corners powered by the Velodyne sub amp which has its own internal room correction which, from what I have read here, I may have to try in both correction on and off modes.

Thanks in advance,

Same here.

Thanks BOB !
So this is this Damm protection stuff... Tsssssssssss

I'm not sure the PS3 is able to output on both HDMI & Component at once...
So your nice trick should not work.

I'll certainly look forward an external HDMI splitter but I need a transparent one since I don’t want to hurt my main HDMI signal. My projector signal should remain as clean as possible… I’ll get some information to see if such product exists.

One last thing… Do you know why I was not able to see the AVM menu on 1080P through Component ? Do component support such high resolution ? (My TV seems to accept such a signal)

Regards
FRED

John,
Experimentation is your best answer right now.

ARC will complain during the Measurement process if the variation it is hearing from the speakers is too extreme (i.e., if you put the mic to close to a speaker). Keep in mind that ARC is using the various listening positions to detect room modes -- standing waves and such at different frequencies -- which are large scale characteristics of the room. As such, I don't think it is all that sensitive to the horizontal positioning of the mic.

Make sure your #1 position is dead center. Make sure you keep all positions separated from each other by at least 24 inches. Make sure you alternate either side of center for successive positions. And keep the mic pointing straight up and at seated ear height for each position. Do not place the mic up against a wall or seat back.

Personally, I found that bypassing the internal EQ in my Velodyne subwoofer worked best.

The Anthem supports up to 1080p/30 for "processed" Component in or out and up to 1080p/60 for "unprocessed" Component in or out.

I didn't follow what you were trying to do closely enough, but my guess would be you were looking at unprocessed Component on the Zone 2 output -- which means no On Screen Display available (since that's a type of processing).
--Bob

Bob,

Yes, thank you. I will try to be careful to meet the requirements. One other thing, did I read that I should leave my accurate speaker distances to my primary seating locations in the configuration setup of the Amthem, but zero out my speaker level adjustments, set them all to 0db?

Same configuration here. Did measurements at ear height on ALL measuring points

If I may, the distances should be measured manually. If you did already without the ARC, then leave them at that. I believe you don't have to adjust the levels to zero as ARC measurements will ignore the previous levels. It will however, adjust your levels according to the measurements at the first mic position.

Same here. Never got the HDMI audio to work with both the SA4250 and SA8300. HDMI video works when you unplug and plug back in the AC, but is gone when you switch inputs.

Here's hoping that I get the same results when I get my AVM30-HD back. It looks like my issue original issue is confirmed to be a software issue so it's coming back home ... and while it's at Anthem ... why not get the ARC upgrade

I should be getting my unit back next week, and I'll get my impressions up. I think I have a decent room with decent equipment, but I'm sure there is room for improvement.

Nick said they are working on it so usually that means coming soon.
John

I was told with mine when I switched, to make sure coax is unplugged before hdmi is used. Worked for me. Getting sound with hdmi now, didn't even have to tell the box that I had connected it just started working. May have a diff firmware given mine is distributed by Rogers in my area near Toronto.
John

You must set the speaker distances manually. You can do this either before or after you set up ARC. The same is true for the subwoofer Polarity and Phase settings. Your ARC results will just sound better once you enter the correct values for these.

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ARC will ignore and replace the speaker volume levels you have previously set. There is no need to zero them out before-hand.

However, ARC will use the Setup / Speaker Calibration / Noise Level setting to set the volume of its test sweep tones. In addition, for speakers with their own built-in volume controls (most commonly subwoofers) it is wise to set those ahead of time to make sure they are close enough to "right" that the Anthem will have trim range to bring them into balance with the other speakers.

So before running your ARC Measurement, go to Setup / Speaker Calibration and set the Noise Level. Use your trusty Radio Shack SPL meter (set to Slow response and "C" weighting) at the position you will use for ARC mic position #1, and pointed straight up. Select Manual in the first line of the Setup / Speaker Calibration and drop down to Noise Level. Sound will come out of the LF speaker. Adjust Noise Level until the meter shows roughly 75dB SPL.

[ETA: CAUTION -- due to an apparent bug, the volume produced on the Noise Level line is altered by whatever value is currently set in the Left Front speaker line. Thus you should set the LF line to 0dB *BEFORE* adjusting the Noise Level line.]

To confirm, drop down to the LF speaker line and set its volume trim value to 0dB. Since you already adjusted the volume for that speaker with the Noise Level line, 0dB trim value should also yield a roughly 75dB SPL reading.

Now go down to the subwoofer line and set it, too, to 0dB. Now, using ONLY the internal volume control on your subwoofer, adjust that until you get a roughly 75dB SPL reading.

You do not have to be precise in these settings. A ballpark correct value is fine.

If any of your other speakers have internal amps and internal volume controls you can treat them the same way as you set the subwoofer.

When ARC does its Measurements, the Noise Level setting you just made will result in sweep tones around 75dB -- a good level for doing the Measurements. And your subwoofer's internal volume control has now been set so that it, too, is roughly in the same ballpark for volume output, which means ARC will have no trouble setting its correct trim value as well.
--Bob

Massimo,
Let me know how the hissing issue is after getting your unit back. As for ARC,
all the posts I have read re ARC are dead on. Now that I have listened to it for two days, I am very impressed with the change in LFE response. Smoother, and tighter and for me, without a drop in level. Sound stage is much wider and clarity in the midrange, ie, voices are so much clearer. Thought my room was pretty good but what a change ARC made.
John

I think on the 8300 you have to go into settings and choose either HDMI audio or digital audio. You can't have both active at the same time.

When I first hooked hdmi up to my 8300 I forgot to change from coax to hdmi for sound but it did it automatically. Go figure.
John

Bob,
When you say not to place mic against a seat back how far from the seat back do you mean. If my ear is around 4 in. from the seat back, it's a Lazy Boy chair with a higher back than a sofa, isn't this where the measurement should be taken from?
John

I don't think its wise to take the measurement where a reflective surface is so close to the mic. Either raise the mic so the tip is above the top of the chair back or move your measurement position closer to the screen -- say by about a foot.
--Bob

What I do is to place the mic in position 1 at ear height and lower the back of the chair as far as it goes and it works great.

I have a few questions for all the ARC experts out there. I have a D1 and have been tweaking my sound primarily for 2 channel for a year now with a Velodyne SMS-1 and the REW software from Home Theater Shack (everyone should get this-- it free and very useful). I have high end speakers and amps in a large family room that is good, but not great, acoustically. Currently, my bass sounds really good and the highs are clear and instrumental music sounds very good. My complaint is vocals, particulaly female vocals, on county and pop music which at times sounds harsh and shrill and not very musical, although the same songs seem to sound better on FM radio in my car.

I have attached a graph of my latest smoothed frequency response measurements which is an average of 3 listening positions for 2 channel. I have a calibrated microphone.

Also, I have tried to flatten out my curve using RANE parametric EQs, but the harshness still remained so I removed them.

I have ARC on order.

My questions are this:

1) What will ARC do for me that the SMS-1 or RANE full-range EQs do not already do?
2) Is ARC more than just a parametric EQ? Exactly what does it do?
3) Has anyone experienced harshness in vocals where the ARC cured it?

Attachment 116048

Anthem isn't talking about what ARC really does under the hood, but it is known that it is *NOT* just another parametric filter EQ.

I believe we have had several posters here comment on ARC getting them much more natural vocals, but I'll let them speak to that.

I have a Velodyne DD series subwoofer, which includes the EQ functions of the SMS-1 built in. In my case I get substantially better results leaving the Velodyne's internal EQ turned off and letting ARC do all the work. Some of this is undoubtedly do to the fact that ARC handles a wider frequency range, but even the true bass is improved.
--Bob

I'll probably wait for my new stand and give it a try using several positions.
thanks,
John

Bob,

Thank you for reposting the detail above. That was the proceedure to follow prior to starting measurements that I remembered reading. Unfortunately, I did not get to do my system last night but will shoot for getting it done this weekend.

Seismo,

Good tip on laying the seats back. I will give it a try.