Anthem D2/D2v/AVM50/AVM50v/ARC1 tweaking guide - Page 24

Al

Have you ever found a solution to this problem besides powering up the SAT before the D2? I have a very similar problem but it isn't dependent on which device is turned on first, but which device the D2 is set to at ITs power up. If the D2 is set to SAT then switched to DVD no problem till switched back to SAT. if it is set to DVD then switched to SAT I get the green screen. Power cycling the D2 is what cures. Been thru 1.00n, 1.02 & 1.03 with no improvement.

I'm bringing this here because Nick doesn't respond to my emails on this point.

Jerry, Nick never responded to my emails either but, he always answers the phone and always listens to the problem when you get him on the phone.

I feel like a tech guy so let me try and help..if you dont mind.

Please tell me if the components in question are set up via HDMI or component. Also, which HDMI input and/or component input are they plugged into. Example: DVD on HDMI1, SAT on component 2 etc.

I "think" that the issue has less to do with the compnents themselves and more to do with the inputs on the board. It seems that the D2's have a chain of command or oreder of preference whereby certain inputs get "ssen" first. Depending on your order things can change.

I had a similar problem as well but, it was caused by a pulse in the signal and/or a pulse in the powering up/down of certain components. It seems this is a serious issue that has so many combinations it might be difficult to cure.

My SAT receiver is a DISH 811 which is DVI. I'm using a DVI>HDMI cable.Toshiba XA1 HDDVD is on HDMI2 and SAT on HDMI3. HDMI 1 is reserved for an Oppo 970 which should arrive today. When I use HDMI 1 for the Toshiba XA1 (latest firmware installed) I get HDMI handshaking issues that caused the XA1 to stop with it's prior software. This didn't happen on HDMI2. It doesn't seem to matter which HDMI input I put what device on, the SAT receiver still behaves the same. Also tried repeater on or off with no change. One thing to note: I didn't have this issue with the SAT receiver with the original software, (1.00), but I had other issues with the XA1 that have been "cured" by the upgrades. In this case the "cure" seems to be as bad as the disease.

I do really like the D2, however I've been convinced from the beginning that I may have a bad one, but have been unable to convince Nick of this. I've tried to talk to Nick on the phone, but honestly I don't like the way he talks down to me with a condesending attitude.

Could the problem with the SAT box be related to the DVI/HDMI conversion???

It also seems that you have found out on your own that different inputs work differently with different components. In your example, HDMI 1 is no good with the Toshiba but, HDMI 2 is fine. How this isnt an Anthem issue is beyond me at this point. This has nothing to do with HDMI standards or protocol if one input works and another doesnt. It has something to do with the Anthem but, it is beyond my scope of technical knowledge.

I have the Oppo and it worked with the D2 intermittently. Sometimes it would shake and other times it wouldnt but, again my board was shot and my unit had multiple issues so, I cannot really apply my issues to other peoples.

Please report back after getting the Oppo in HDMI 1. It will be interesting to see it it will work seamlessly or if HDMI input 1 is the culprit. Or the Sat box or the Toshiba or...

Funny how you mention the way Nick talks "down" to you, I feel the same way! Its like I am beneath him and he is the almighty one! You know what, do what i do and just eat crow, say "uh huh" even if you know what he is saying isn't what you believe and do what you have to do to get the unit up and running right. Thats too funny that you said that.

Yeah, somehow Nick forgets we are customers that just spent a lot of money and bought his firms flagship product and we are his reason for being.

I've considered the DVI> HDMI point, however, HDMI is a subset of DVI and the receiver AND cable works perfectly with other HDMI devices. It also worked fine until software changes, as I noted above.

Did you try to load in your old software

That would just bring back other problems.

Well, I fixed my problem related to the AVM50 not accepting my computer signal. I went ahead and got the monoprice 5:1 HDMI switcher. I input the computer and AVM50 into the Monoprice, and connect the projector to the Monoprice output. Works like a charm. Too bad the $4700 AVM50 can't do what the $132 switcher can. How difficult can it be to just pass a signal straight through? Oh well, I'm back to being a happy camper.

Can somebody sum up the issues that have been uncovered and have, to date, remained unsolved?

I had a problem with my computer (dvi/hdmi) working with my AVM 50 as well. The latest beta software (1.03) solved my problems.

" ... I fixed my problem related to the AVM50 not accepting my computer signal. I went ahead and got the monoprice 5:1 HDMI switcher. I input the computer and AVM50 into the Monoprice, and connect the projector to the Monoprice output. Works like a charm. Too bad the $4700 AVM50 can't do what the $132 switcher can. How difficult can it be to just pass a signal straight through? Oh well, I'm back to being a happy"

How do you have your computer hooked into the D2. I have just added a dual core Apple Mini to my media cabinet and would really appreciate some ideas on what you are using the computer to do before I begin down this road.
I tried to upgrade the firmware on my D2 andmy computer told me it couldn't see the D2. I was using a DB9 Seriual cable. Perhaps the cable is bad. I will try another cable tomorow.

I use a DLINK HDMI switcher too. Helps offload sources that can go direct from sources that need the video processing.

I think the difference is that the AVM50 has to decrypt the signal and process the audio, overlay an on-screen display onto the video, etc. The switchbox is just passing the encrypted signal through untouched. But it's not clear to me why the AVM50 can't look just like a display to the source component, and look just like a source component to the display. These problems seem to occur when there's some kind of 3-way handshake between the source component, the display, and the device in the middle.

--
Steve

Rick,

I use an Intel Mac Mini and am running MCE, all works perfectly with the AVM 50.
If you have any specific questions, let me know.

My computer has an ATI All In Wonder 9800 Pro video card with DVI. I use an HDMI cable with an HDMI/DVI adaptor.

I used to use my computer as a DVD player with TheaterTek. However, I now use the Gennum processing with a Pioneer Elite 79Avi for that purpose (by the way, the picture is not a whole lot better than I was getting with my computer. It's closer than you would think. Actually, I'm more happy with the audio improvement of the AVM50 over my old receiver. The video improvement hasn't been very noticeable to me, if at all).

Going forward, I'm only going to use my computer for video games, Windows WMV high def movies, and watching home movies I recorded with my Sony HC1 HDV camcorder (I recorded those to my computer using CapDVHS and watch the mpeg movies using TheaterTek).

Regarding your serial cable problems, is the cable a null-modem cable by any chance? This won't work since pins 2 and 3 are switched. Just try a different cable.

There should be an option in the AVM50 menu to allow you to specify an HDMI input as just straight pass through. There is a "Bypass" option in the Gennum menu, but it's obviously not a pass through.

Greetings,

Nope there is no such option.


Regards,

Greetings,

I reached out for Anthem support this morning. I spoke with Kris Deering and he thought that Nick had come up with a fix regarding the Denon 3910 issue with DVD Audio over HDMI.

Sure enough the problem was solved via the latest software which should be released in the near future on the website.

As a bonus it also cleared up an issue I was having with my Sony DVP-CX995V 400 disc mega changer via HDMI. The Sony did not recognize the Anthem via HDMI however after the update the two did the "handshake" no problem.


The update was pretty painless and took about 10 minutes to complete.

Regards,

I agree that there should be a mode for passthrough. There is a pass thru for resolutions though, similar to what you get with a "through" mode for a projector. Also, a source device is the same resolution as the output resolution set for the D2, it just passes through.

Placidman:

Great news! I updated my Denon DVD-3910 with the July 2005 firmware (the similar May 2005 firmware addressed HDMI issues as well). Once I get my D2, I guess one of the first things I should do is upgrade its firmware.

BTW - if you have the Denon DVD-3910's firmware update documentation, there is a table that discusses what is output from its HDMI depending on the source and whether you set its HDMI to MULTI (NORMAL) or MULTI (PCM). Looks like, with MULTI (NORMAL), it outputs Dolby Digital and DTS for DVD Video, and Multi PCM for DVD Audio. If you use MULTI (LPCM), it outputs Multi PCM for DVD Video and DVD Audio.

Yes, passthrough would be a nice feature, particularly for misbehaved sources!

Y,
I couldn't give you much more than what the manual says on the subject. I hardly understand what they are trying to say myself. Which mode do you prefer for music? Does one mode sound any better for a particular genre? I find AnthemLogic great for Jazz and acoustic string pieces but it's a toss up with that mode and the Neo 6.1 for everything else.

What is the MSRP of this unit?

MSRP is U.S. $4700

Greetings,

Randman, I found that documentation as well. That coupled along with Kris' recommendation prompted my call to Anthem. My initial response was that I may have not had the Denon configured properly. You may want to try the 3910/D2 combo first. The lastest software loaded into your incoming unit may already contain the fix.

Keep us posted.

Regards,

Greetings,

Going from 2 channel stereo to AL Music will add digital signal processing which will steer bass information to the subwoofer. This of course is dependent on how you have the unit configured. I prefer AL Music for Jazz and pop both.

I use AL Cinema for 2 channel TV broadcasts and Pro logic IIx gets the nod for 5.1 channel TV sound.

Regards,

Placid,

I'm about the same as well for my listening modes. Anyone else have any preferences for their sound settings?

Tomcat

Good News! Got my AVM 50 back from the dealer today. Talked with the tech in person, who confirmed that my power supply was bad (even showed me the one he took out of my unit). Told me that it would not be "dead silent," but much better than it was. Got it home, plugged it in, and its much, much better! Cannot hear anything unless I place my ear to within several inches of the right side of the unit. Cannot feel any vibrations either. I can live with that. Will be connecting my Denon 2900 to the video portion of the AVM 50 tonight to see how it looks.

Question: I've noticed that the unit's display dims slightly after approximately 5-10 seconds. If I touch any button or turn the volume knob it brightens up. The little red and blue lights on the faceplate also do this. Is this normal? Please, someone tell me it is!

Yes, it's normal.

Normal. You can adjust the brightness (when it dims) via the setup menu.