Anthem D2/D2v/AVM50/AVM50v/ARC1 tweaking guide - Page 612

It may not take a new design, but here's hoping the upgrade does it when I get it done sometime in Feb or March.
John

More than likely the upgrade will indeed fix whatever
is wrong - but the bottom line is something is wrong now.

I presume you are actually asking about the difference between the D2v and the AVM 50v (the two new models). The video solution and the inputs/outputs are identical. The D2v has a more exotic audio solution. Here's a post that may help:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3#post15546653

--Bob

Thanks Bob.

I did go out and do my homework though and read all the pdf downloads from the website (can you tell from that I'm bored today?). I'm up to speed now on the differences.

It had been suggested that a new firmware version, particularly with some HDMI fixes could prevent this but nothing so far.
John

The problem seems to be a unique one that you experience.

I believe the general consensus is no one else has this problem.

If we did it would be filling this thread.

Actually several other members have posted this problem. Even Nick said he could duplicate it on an AVM50 at the factory. Perhaps some people just accept this and don't complain.
John

My two cent opinion is it is unacceptable

But if it makes you BUY the Upgrade then that is good marketing

Just got an email from Nick and he said I could swap out the DACs if I want but it's up to me whether I do it or wait for the upgrade as that may well fix it. He said to let him know when I want to bring it in but I have opted for the upgrade for other reasons of course
John

What is MSRP on the D2v and 50v ?

Also, when is the 50v going to be available for purchase?

The pricing is not quite clear yet as Anthem appears to be doing some sort of short term promotional pricing and some of the dealers who post these details have not posted since just before CES earlier this month.

The best we have right now is that the MSRP on the D2v is $7499 -- perhaps to go up in a few weeks, perhaps not.

The AVM 50v appears to still be $2000 cheaper or $5499, but we've not actually had that confirmed yet. And that price, too, may be going up soon.

And again, these would be Anthem's Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices. We've had quite a few posts here indicating that Anthem dealers are discounting from those prices in these current, parlous, economic times, but of course the AVS Forum frowns on details of such deals being posted (take it to PMs).

The D2v has been shipping for over a week now (confirmed). The AVM 50v is supposed to start shipping tomorrow if it hasn't happened already.

Both units are priced and shipped bundled with ARC.
--Bob

Now I know why they are back ordered - have you guys looked on Audiogon lately??? It's a D2 and D1 fest!

Recession? What recession?!

Some savvy people who realize they don't need the upgrade are likely going to get some good deals on used D2 units.
--Bob

One of the units for sale on Audiogon is a dealers demo unit, and another is a D1 upgraded to a D2.

There is a new unit for sale on e_bay, with this description: "This item is new, in the factory sealed box. Does not come with a factory warranty, but it does come with a super deal. It is the latest version 1.3 with the new ARC, (ambient room correction)."

Cool! Ambient Room Correction! I assume this automatically adjusts the temperature in our home theaters? What will Anthem think of next?!

Just checked Canuckaudiomart, our version of Audiogon, and not one D2 or AVM50 for sale. May be time to upgrade to a D2V
John

lately my the handshake switching between my ps3 and hd dvd player and projector have been getting worse, no blue screens just flashing screens of snow until it finally locks on sometimes taking what seems like forever. I have the D1-HD with ARC, I have only done one firmware upgrade so far and I dont believe its the latest. What is the current proven update (no beta) and will I lose my source or any settings including the settings in ARC by updating the firmware? will this also take care of this handshake issue? One more thing, I have the Marantz 11S2 projector and want to use to try using the Gennum inside the projector what should the video settings inside the Anthem be.
Thanks in advance

I have some of these same issues with my ps3 but not other sources. The snow and flickering until it syncs up is a pain. Perhaps one of the many firmware updates of the ps3 may be the cause. I have tried both with Framelock on and off and the result is the same.
John

You don't say what version of firmware you have installed now.

In any event, the firmware you should be using is V1.33. You can download the install kit from Anthem's public download page.

To do the firmware install you will need to Reload Factory Defaults, so you should Save User Settings first, then Reload Factory Defaults, then install the firmware, then Reload Saved User Settings. Be sure you have no powered HDMI connections during the firmware install (I recommend you remove wall power from your display and sources).

After that I recommend that you open up your ARC results file in Advanced mode and do a new Upload to be sure your ARC data is all installed correctly.

CAUTION: If you are are updating from a firmware version older than V1.29j then you will need to take an additional step using the Live Video Settings Editor utility (part of the V1.33 firmware install kit) to save your Video Source Adjust menu settings to a PC file and to restore them after the firmware install. Read the text file that comes with the V1.33 firmware install kit for details.

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The current ARC version is V2.0.1 -- also downloadable from Anthem's public download page. After doing the firmware install you may want to install the new V2.0.1 ARC application on your Windows PC and do a new ARC setup. The new ARC appears to be a significant improvement over the previous ARC V1.2.5 which itself was a major improvement over all older ARC versions.

If you are upgrading from an ARC version older than V1.2 you will need to do an extra step to make sure your pair of licensing/calibration files gets installed in the correct, new, folder in Window's Program Files directory. Read the text file that comes with the ARC V2.0.1 installer for details.

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Handshake problems are often the result of marginal HDMI cables or loose plugs. HDMI plugs are just a friction fit and even the weight of the cable can shift them the tiny bit necessary to make the signal weak. Try the wiggle test where you grab the HDMI cable about an inch from the socket, push it gently straight into the socket, and give it a gentle wiggle to see if the connection is working better. If so you may need to support the cable in some fashion near the socket. Be sure to check both ends of the cable.

Since you are having this problem with all of your HDMI sources, you should look first to the cable from the Anthem to your display.

Firmware V1.33 is not perfect with HDMI, but I find it works very well with my PS3.

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Typically, saying that you want to use the video processor in the display or projector means you want the Anthem to "pass through" the video signal unchanged from the source.

You can not do that with HDMI on the Anthem. HDMI output is always processed to whatever Video Output configuration you have specified.

You CAN if you wish "pass through" Component video input to Component video output -- but not to HDMI since the conversion from Component to HDMI is a type of processing and brings along all the rest. And of course you can't output HDMI sources as Component due to HDMI copy protection.
--Bob

Hmm, I guess ARC has been redundant for me then, I use Ketel1 Citron & Soda for my Ambient Room Correction.

Bob, I cannot locate my digital camera to post a picture yet, but at about 9:15 PM last evening I installed my new D2v and the display shined with a nice blue 2.02.

And, the D2v comes with a 15' serial cable. I do not know how long Anthem has been doing that, but my original D2 w/ARC did not include a serial cable. This is a nice inclusion.

Stan

Did you leave it behind in the VT Ski Lodge
where you were snapping Babe Pictures

D2v: 7499 USD or 7999 CAD
AVM 50v: 5499 USD or 5899 CAD

I have no clue on how much the upgrade will cost. We will know in a few weeks.

Presumably terminated with an RS-232 plug and no sign of a USB adapter?

I just placed an order for the Keyspan adapter on Amazon about 5 minutes ago........

I was concerned about using the adaptor. (paranoid) so I ended up getting a RS-232 card for my desktop. I disconnected the fans in my case and used a bluetooth wireless mouse to engage ARC. It worked awesome. BTW the RS 232 card was 1.00 at a local computer shop.

ETA: I got the 15' serial cable with my D2 that was shipped early December 08. The included cable isn't something new to the D2v.

I’d appreciate some clarification on PCM/Bitstream.

I will be upgrading to the D2v. 7.1 PCM is a must. Right now my theater is 5.1 but I want to add the additional two channels.

This is where things get cloudy for me. Right now I’m using the PS3 as my BD player. I’ve spent hours here at AVS reading about slow loading players and disc’s that won’t load at all. The PS3 is bulky but it’s fast and I’ve never feed it a bluray it couldn’t play. So for now I’m perfectly happy with it.

How will you set up your D2v? Would you go 7.1 PCM or will you send the signal bitstream? I know the PS3 can’t do that but I think I’ll replace the PS3 with the new Oppo once it’s released. That’s assuming its getting positive reviews once it’s out in the real world. The oppo is a great example because with it you can choose PCM or bitstream. Which would you/should I choose?

(btw, my gut says PCM... am I right???)

In Theory Lossless Audio means just that.

It means the Audio you get should be the same whether
it is PCM or Bitstream.

That is why D2 owners TODAY enjoy lossless audio via
the PS3 doing the internal decode to PCM.

Correct - the PS3 can not bitstream.

I honestly doubt the Oppo will be better than the PS3.
I'm not saying it will not be good. What the PS3 has in
its favor is an EXTREME level of processing Horsepower
which lets it do things standalone players will not be
able to do.

BTW - EDITED comment

That is why I won't be upgrading to the D2v. The
D2 does everything I need today including 7.1.

What a timely topic. My PS3 has been acting this way since I got it, two years. I've got an AVM50 with V1.33, the PS3 was just upgraded to firmware 2.6, and the cables are all Blue Jeans Cable BJC Belden Series-1, from the PS3 to AVM50 to my Plasma, aPioneer Elite PRO-FHD1. I have two outputs setup, one for 60, one for 24, for games and movies respectively. The PS3 model is the original 80-gig version.

The handshake goes the same each time no matter the AMV50 output selected, several seconds of the display switching between blank screen and snow. I have tried reinstalling the firmware a few times, even going back to factory default and setting up manually, no dice.

At least the latest PS3 firmware fixed an issue I had playing Blu-ray Sleeping Beauty. You can image how how happy my 3 yr old is :-)

One other odd handshake I have very infrequently is with my Oppo DV-970HD. (Also at the latest firmware.) I see two issues. The first is that video starts but no sound, the second is the a loud annoying tone starts and the only way out is cycling the power on the DVD and AVM50. Both seems to happen right after handshake. Since these are so infrequent I have not figured out a definitive pattern.

Any other suggestions on the PS3?

Keith

To be honest with you, I sort of have to upgrade to the D2v. When I purchased the D2 in early December I had decided the D2 would be all I'd need. I got the D2 for less than half of what the new D2v would be selling for. It was a deal too good to pass up. Then Anthem threw a wrench into the plan when they included a coupon for 50% off the D2v upgrade. The sale is only good for a year. A D2 for less than half price and 50% off the cost of the upgrade! How can I not take advantage of that?

I understand - they made you an offer you can't refuse

Add me to the list - it has always done this on my PS3. Blank/Snow/Blank/Snow........Sync.

Sometimes it takes longer than others.

Mike