[nethomas]

Surely someone on this forum can answer this question for me. I have an AVM20 with Chris Johnson mods. Will there be a significant improvement by going to the D1? Someone told me that the "upsampling" of the D1 was all psycho-babble and wouldn't make any big difference. There must be something that the D1 does that justifies its price over and above the AVM20. Help me out here please!

NETHOMAS

 

[ejobe]

Getting upgrade-itis are we?


There are several members who have already unloaded there AVM20's to upgrade to the D1. Hopefully, at least a couple have had the chance to evaluate the D1 and compare it to the AVM20.


The thing I don't understand is that everything you read about the AVM20 says, "it's all that and a bag of chips." Now, suddenly, everyone is hot to jump ship for the D1. Are you unsatisfied with the AVM20? If you aren't, I highly doubt there is enough of a sonic difference to justify the increase in price. And, from what I have read there are really no new features in the D1. In fact, it uses the same code as the AVM20 for it's multi-channel processing. It would have been nice if they would have at least activated the IEEE 1394 port, and maybe added a couple of DVI/HDMI ports. I couold see these two iteme justifying the $1600 premium of the D1. I'm seriously contemplating picking up a D1, but I'm really questioning the logic of dropping 5 large on a pre/pro that probably won't support the latest connection schemes in the very near future. IEEE 1394 and DVI/HDMI seem like they are going to be here for a while, and they look very much like they will be the two connection protocals of choice for digital media. If I'm going to spend 5 grand on a pre/pro I would like to think it won't be completely outdated in two years time, which may very well happen as DVD-A and SACD start taking hold. The push to use DVI/HDMI for DVD players is going to be another blow.

On the plus side, the D1 is dead sexy!


Eric

 

[Razvanel]

"Now, suddenly, everyone is hot to jump ship for the D1"


It's all psychological.


"I'm really questioning the logic of dropping 5 large on a pre/pro that probably won't support the latest connection schemes in the very near future."


Apparently Anthem will add an external box to the D1 that will take care of HDMI.


R

 

[nethomas]

Eric, I agree with you. I don't really want to upgrade, but I would like to know what the big difference is.

NETHOMAS

 

[ejobe]

Quote:

Originally posted by nethomas Eric, I agree with you. I don't really want to upgrade, but I would like to know what the big difference is. NETHOMAS

Pop on down to your local dealer and take one for a test drive. They'll probably have both the AVM 20 and D1 so you can compare side by side.


Eric

 

[kmmd]

Hi NeThomas,


I agree with Eric. Can you compare the two side-by-side? The other option is to do what I am doing...bringing my modded AVM20 to a dealer and comparing it to the D1. For Bay Area members, I do have a handful of people interested in the comparison. I am most likely having the audition at the Menlo Park store, but I will also check out Paradise. Tentative plans are for next weekend. Please PM me for info if anyone is interested or if you have suggestions.

 

[nethomas]

Thanks Ken. I am in mid-Missouri with only one Anthem dealer within 100miles, and they don't know when they will even get a D1 in for comparison.

NETHOMAS

 

[ejobe]

Quote:

Originally posted by kmmd Hi NeThomas, I agree with Eric. Can you compare the two side-by-side? The other option is to do what I am doing...bringing my modded AVM20 to a dealer and comparing it to the D1. For Bay Area members, I do have a handful of people interested in the comparison. I am most likely having the audition at the Menlo Park store, but I will also check out Paradise. Tentative plans are for next weekend. Please PM me for info if anyone is interested or if you have suggestions.

Since I'll be looking into the Anthem D1 when I return to the bay area, I'm curious to know which of the two stores, Paradise or the Menlo store, offers the better deal? Are either of them willing to budge from MSRP? I've been a Century Stereo customer for years, and they treat me fairly well there. Unfortunately, Century doesn't carry Anthem. Paradise is in the same center so my inclination would be to shop there. But, a 10% discount could get me to travel a ways.


Eric

 

[kmmd]

Nethomas,


I hope they will get one soon so that you can compare.


Eric,


Honestly, I'm not sure which will offer the better deal. I haven't purchased anything from either one, but Sound Perfection is nice enough to allow me to bring in my AVM20 for comparison. I think the manager is curious about the sound.

 

[jon g]

From my dealings w/ Sound Perfection, they don't typically budge from MSRP. The have sales from time to time, but unless you happen to be there during the sale and ready to buy, they are extremely unflexible.


To illustrate, my friend was recently in the market for a Lex. MC12B. We stopped by Sound Perfection and they had one, sealed in the box on sale for $7,000. He didn't have the money then, but raised it about a month or two later. We went back to Sound Perfection and they wouldn't budge on MSRP.

Same thing happened to me a few years ago when I was buying Paradigm speakers. I called them, knowing they were a dealer and asked what their price was for a Studio CC. No dice, full retail. I found the speaker the next day at a different dealer who offered a 20% discount.


Anyways, those are just my two isolated experiences, hopefully someone's had more success than I. When they do have sales, they list items at pretty good prices. To be fair to Sound Perfection, neither my friend nor I were regular customers who had any experience with them. Just two guys who wandered around their store a few times.


Paradise, however, seems more willing to work on price. I don't think 10% discount would be unrealistic.

 

[ejobe]

Thanks for the info Jon.


I'll be dealing in cash, so maybe that will work in my favor. I think 10% is a reasonable discount. It still allows them to make money, but it also make me feel like I'm getting a fair price. If neither is willing to budge from MSRP, I certainly have no incentive to pull the trigger. I can live with my current setup until a sale or closeout deal comes along.


Eric

 

[Michael Mohrmann]

Quote:

Originally posted by ejobe I think 10% is a reasonable discount.

I haven't seen much better in the San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area (without "connections"). Very hard to haggle with a dealer when someone else could walk off the street and drop $10K+ without blinking. Such is life in a high salary, high cost area.


Michael

 

[ejobe]

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael Mohrmann I haven't seen much better in the San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area (without "connections"). Very hard to haggle with a dealer when someone else could walk off the street and drop $10K+ without blinking. Such is life in a high salary, high cost area. Michael

That really is the sad reality! I actually make what would be considered a very decent income for most of the country, and I feel poor. It's a little depressing. I can't figure out where people are geting all of their money. It seems there are plenty of people willing to drop a lot of coin on houses,cars, and the latest electronics. I love the area so much it's hard to leave, but it's hard to make six figures and barely be able to afford a house.



Eric

 

[Michael Mohrmann]

Quote:

Originally posted by ejobe I can't figure out where people are geting all of their money. It seems there are plenty of people willing to drop a lot of coin on houses,cars, and the latest electronics.

Don't let people around here fool you. Many are going into debt with this type of lifestyle. I personally know of some individuals who have taken 2nd (and 3rd!) mortgages out in order to combine their consumer debt.


One way to possibly get a discount in this area would be to get a small group purchase. Find at least one more person, preferrably more, willing to make a similar purchase at the same dealer.


Getting back to the original poster (nethomas), I probably would be inclined to stand pat with the modded AVM-20. If something in your system is not to your liking with the current setup, I would start looking at the room as a source of those issues.


Michael

 

[nethomas]

Actually Michael there is nothing in my system that sounds bad, I am just trying to determine what the D1 does different. Can anyone elaborate on the upsampling? That is really what I am wondering about. By the way, I just bought a full set of Tyler Acoustic speakers about 6 weeks ago and they are great!

NETHOMAS

 

[dweltman]

nethomas:

I'm curious to how extensive mod you had done on your AVM-20. Did you do all the channels? Did you do the inputs? How would you characterize the affect on the AVM-20's sound?


If you do decide to trade up, let me know. I am thinking about purchasing a used AVM-20 and doing the mod.

 

[jon g]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat, considering buying a AVM20 and doing the mod or saving more and getting the D1. Luckily I'll be able to attend kmmd's shootout next week.


I'll post back w/ my impressions, but from having researched kmmd's pcX mods in the last few days, I doubt the D1 will be able to offer any improvement over the modded AVM20. Maybe some slight improvement in D/A, but I'm more concerned w/ just the analog stages as that's where 100% of my critical listening is done. I don't really care about a 5% improvment in movie sound, but I do care about a 5% improvement in 2-channel audio. We'll see!

 

[Michael Mohrmann]

In addition to invalidating the AVM-20's warranty, the one other issue with Chris Johnson's mods has to do with cost. The price difference between the AVM-20 and D1 is $1600 USD, most of which would be absorbed by performing the mods.


Then again, you may be able to find a used AVM-20 for quite a bit less than its $3400 cost (say $2000 or so), add the mods, and still come out way ahead of a D1 purchase.


Michael

 

[nethomas]

I only did the RL&C channels. I think it opened up the sound stage a great deal. It cost $600 for those mods because I usually only listen to HT and just did those 3 channels.

NETHOMAS

 

[dweltman]

well, if you decide to upgrade, and want to sell your AVM, let me know