Anthem D2/D2v/AVM50/AVM50v/ARC1 tweaking guide - Page 614

New "Test" D2v/AVM 50v Firmware V2.02a on Password Protected Download Page

If things weren't already confusing enough, new V2.02a "test" firmware installers for the D2v and AVM 50v have just appeared on Anthem's password protected download page.

The prior V2.02 firmware installers are also still on there at the moment.

There are no release notes yet for either V2.02 or V2.02a. But at a guess, V2.02a may be an attempt to fix the problem reported re attempting to make Deep Color connections work using a PS3 and a Pioneer plasma.

As always, "test" software should only be used by those instructed to do so by Anthem tech support, or by other folks who have a strong tolerance for potentially unpleasant surprises.
--Bob

Got pricing from my local dealer today, Sounds Deluxe, and the pricing is as follows: D2V is $7500, AVM50V is $5500 US dollars.

Looks like Anthem has got the info out to all its US dealers then.

Any word from your dealer on an expected price increase in the next few weeks?
--Bob

ARC V2.0.1 has been "official" for a while now, so I'm a bit surprised there aren't more early adopter posts here.

However it appears safe to conclude that nobody so far has found it working so poorly for them that they went back to their ARC V1.2.5 setup. Right?

I'd also like to hear from folks who initially used an older ARC V1.2.5 Measurement as the basis for Calculation in ARC V2.0.1, and then also did a new Measurement with V2.0.1. Anyone care to comment on whether re-Measuring made things better compared to just doing a new Calculation with an old Measurement?

[In my case I had been using a "test" ARC V1.2.13 Measurement before I did my new ARC V2.0.1 Measurement, so I don't think that is a good basis for comparison.]
--Bob

My experience with new 2.01 measurement vs. 1.25 is as follows:
1. High frequency is smoother to 20K
2. LFE is tighter to lower freq
My graphs are smoother and the overall affect of this last measurement is the best yet and I've tried just about every version of ARC since v1.0
John

Similar experience to jayray on my D2.
Subtle differences but better still...

Just to be clear, are you comparing V1.2.5 Measurements Calculated also using V1.2.5 against your new, from scratch, V2.0.1 results, or are you comparing the from scratch V2.0.1 results against V1.2.5 Measurements Calculated using V2.0.1?

I'm trying to get a handle on whether folks are finding it worthwhile to do a new Measurement pass for V2.0.1 as opposed to just re-Calculating using prior V1.2.5 Measurements.
--Bob

Yes I am using 1.25 measurements and calculations redone with 2.01 and new measurements with 2.01. Is this what wanted Bob? I would do a new measurement.
John

Tried some things today to improve ps3 hdmi handshake. I started in this order.
1. Turn on projector first
2. PS3 on next
3. Anthem last
Much faster
John

I bit the bullet yesterday and installed 2.0.1. I have a D1-HD running 1.33. I first made sure i had a save in user settings. I made new measurements, and uploaded. I then only got sound from my sub's. Tried changing inputs, checking other settings etc. I then saved to installer settings and restored user setting and got sound. loading back the installed settings and i would get a very quick sound through all speakers but then they would all cut out but the subs. I can restore the user setting and get sound again. I haven't done extensive listening but i think does does sound better mostly in the low end. I don't know exactly what settings I'm listening too with the upload from ARC then a restore of the 1.2.5 "settings". i know that all the ARC stuff is not saved in these settings. I figured I'd try a reupload to see if that fixes things. I had a laptop running XP with a real serial port used for the measurements/ upload and have never had a problem with the many firmware uploads or about 3 or 4 ARC uploads before this. I'm a bit hesitant to do much more experimenting until after the super bowl.

No, that seems to cover it. Thanks!
--Bob

It's been a while since we talked about this, but some displays/projectors take forever before they are ready to respond properly to the incoming HDMI handshake. But doing things in this order you give the projector more time to get ready since it won't see the initiation of the handshake until after the Anthem powers up.
--Bob

Yes, I would suggest a re-Upload. Then go into Setup > Speaker Configuration and make sure the speakers you expect to see turned on are actually turned on in both Movie and Music configurations.

Doing a V2.0.1 Upload and then a Reload of Saved User Settings means you are using the room correction parameters from V2.0.1 but the crossover and speaker volume trim settings from V1.2.5. Odds are they are not far off, but they are also not perfect.
--Bob

Yes all the speakers were on. The surronds were set to dipole rather than direct but wasn't anything as you might expect.

Is anyone using a Popcorn hour with their D2?

I currently use my PS3 to play downloaded TV programs and that works very well indeed.

What the PS3 doesn't do though is play any HD content (e.g., MKV files) and it wont play any ripped DVDs (and I would love to rip all my DVDs onto my server for easy access).

It seems that the popcorn hour will do all of that.

So, this seems to be a neat piece of kit that I can plug into an HDMI input on my D2v and play any and all content streaming from my server.

Sounds perfect......is it?

We use the Popcorn Hour A-110... Have bought it in prep for using it with the AVM50v and the rest of the home theatre gadgets that will be going up in a few weeks. It's currently used with one of our LG tvs and works great!

It plays all HD files, rips, etc...

Looking forward to using it with the Anthem

Any news on whether the AVM 50v has started to ship?

Thanks!

What is Popcorn Hour?

I'm about to run ARC and I forget if the Anthen is supposed to be on or off when I start it. Does the ARC software turn it on, or should I have it on when I start?

Thanks,

Actually, while it's a lot better than VMC, it hardly plays "all" HD files, rips, etc. Last time I checked, it can't natively and/or reliably play (no matter what the spec says):

- AVC-HD files (from the newer hand-held HD camcorders)
- BluRay ISO's with full menu support
- Some Tivo HD files

Since XBMC plays all SD files 100% reliably, the only reason to get something else is for HD files. And HD files (for me) means my HD camcorder, full BluRay rips, and Tivo HD files.

It can be off and ARC will turn it on.

Google Tells All

But PS3 will NOT play ripped DVDs (iso files) and I really want to get those all ripped and onto the server for easy instant access. For $200 this sounds like an amazing piece of kit......

If you only get sound from your subs again after your new upload/reload of ARC2.0.1 and your saved settings, be sure to check your 'triggers' settings. If you are using triggers to turn on your amps and they are not set right, then the D2 will be sending signals to your amp, which may be in standby. Since most subs are powered by onboard amps they will produce the sound that is being sent to them by the D2. I speak from experience on this. It might be worth a check of the 'trigger' settings if the problem continues.
Tom

I suppose it is a matter of opinion on the popcorn hour device and to be fair I have never seen it. But it seems to me if u are already using a pc to store movies why go and get a device to stream them.. I happen to like the vmc for this scenario and use mymovies on a touch screen monitor in my theater and connect that with my d2 and plays all hd content. That is just my 2 cents.

Any confirmation on weather the AVM 50v has started to ship?

Excellent suggestion!
--Bob

We've seen a backorder report dated Jan 26, that said first AVM 50v Black shipments were scheduled for Jan 30, and first AVM 50v Silver shipments were scheduled for Feb 3.

We've had one poster who just ordered an AVM 50v in the past few days and was told by the dealer that Anthem stated it would ship on Feb 3. (Not known if this was a Black or Silver model).

So far we've not had our first post from anyone actually taking delivery of an AVM 50v, and I've not had independent confirmation from Nick, etc., at Anthem that any of them have actually left the factory yet.

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

As I've said, these units descend from the heavens on golden shafts of sunlight, weather permitting. So "weather" they ship or not is indeed the appropriate word.
--Bob

An Italian distributor of Anthem products has an announcement out now on availability of the D2v and AVM 50v:

http://www.digitalvideoht.it/index.p...d=781&Itemid=2

http://www.xfaudio.it/

Among other things, it lists suggested retail pricing in Euros:

D2v: Euro 8990
AVM 50v: Euro 6690

I believe Italy is also a "high voltage" country. If correct, that means "high voltage" D2v and AVM 50v models are now available.

They are also showing factory sale pricing on older Anthem units:

http://www.xfaudio.it/pdf/xfaudio_An...ory_Direct.pdf

They also have an interesting collection of links to Anthem product reviews, albeit without any D2v or AVM 50v reviews at the moment:

http://www.xfaudio.it/prodotti_recensioni.php

ETA: If I've done this correctly, Euro 8990 = US$11,573, and Euro 6690 = US$8,612. I don't know whether that pricing includes all taxes or not (unlike US sales tax, Value Added Tax is often built into pricing).
--Bob

Hi Bob,

Here are my latest ARC measurements for your consideration. Both were re-calculated in 2.0.1, but the first used my measurements from 1.2.5 (ARC125), the second, obviously, were measured with 2.0.1 (ARC201). The weird thing is, you'll notice the difference in target volumes between the two - I didn't touch my noise level setting. In my case, it is actually at 75 DB on my SPL meter at 0, so I left it. My uploaded speaker levels were all bumped up about 4db higher with the new measure, with the exception of my SW, which remained about the same (lowered by 1 db, actually). In both cases I used the suggested room gain and went the full 20khz range.

Overall, the sound isn't VASTLY improved. It went from amazing to this is REALLY amazing. Where I found the most distinct audible differences were in the higher frequencies. The 1.2.5 measurement came out slightly more "tinny" and crisp. With 2.0.1 the highs are much smoother and more natural sounding throughout the range - an improvement. In fact, smoother and more natural is the best description to use across the entire frequency range for the new measure, albeit ever-so-slight. It just came out more in the highs.

Let me know what you think of the graphs.

 

ARC125.doc 262.5k . file

 

ARC201.doc 265.5k . file