The Canadian company Anthem presents a junior model of a fifteen-channel AV processor for home theater: AVM 70, based on electronics developed from scratch. Along with software, hardware updates were also provided for the new products – in particular, up to HDMI 2.1 (8K). For more accurate operation of the latest version of room acoustics correction, ARC Genesis Room – Anthem AVM 70 is equipped with an upgraded microphone with improved calibration.
To work with video, the Anthem AVM 70 processor received seven inputs and two HDMI 2.0 outputs. Anthem AVM 70 is ready to work with Ultra HD bitrates up to 18.2 Gbps. The processor is promised support for Dolby Vision, HDR or Hybrid Log Gamma, as well as interaction with the TV via eARC. The AVM 70 processor is equipped with Bluetooth v4.2 and will be able to provide audio streaming via Google Chromecast and AirPlay2. With the upcoming updates of the new product, support for Spotify Connect and Roon is promised.
Anthem AVM 70 has a new generation multi-core DSP, the processor is equipped with functions for remote configuration and receiving over-the-air updates. The Anthem Web user interface is complemented by a high-resolution display on the front panel, which has been extensively redesigned.
The processor received object-oriented audio codecs with support for up to 15.2 channels. Audio outputs are presented in balanced (XLR) version. For independent subwoofer outputs, time delays and phase can be adjusted. Input audio switching, including the MM phono preamplifier, is made on unbalanced RCA connectors. A 32-bit AKM AK4490EQ DAC with support for frequencies up to 768 kHz is installed on board.
The Anthem AVM 70’s automatic sound calibration, Anthem Room Correction (ARC), is well-deservedly respected by professionals and popular among customers. This system is a source of pride for developers, since it is much more advanced and more accurate than most similar systems from competitors. Anthem engineers claim that the automated adjustment of the sound path to the room by the ARC system gives the same results as the use of professional acoustic measuring stations. Anthem Room Correction within a short time “corrects” parasitic effects that arise due to imperfections in the room, such as reflections from the surfaces of walls and ceilings, compensates for the echo effect, equalizes the resulting frequency response, etc.
Compensating for deficiencies in room acoustics allows the combination of processor, amplifiers and speakers to achieve smooth and natural sound even in a poorly prepared room. ARC, in addition to equalizing the sound pressure and frequency response in the listening area, determines how much the room enhances or weakens the bass, whether there are resonances in it, and whether the matching between low, mid and high frequencies occurs correctly. The phasing of the acoustic systems is also checked. The ARC system does all this and much more automatically and very quickly. The user does not require special knowledge or an ear for music; he just needs to download the calibration file from the manufacturer’s website. To set up, you will need a laptop with a Windows operating system and a CD drive.
When you configure a system based on how many speakers you have, where they are located, how sensitive and wide-range they are, etc., you create a specific “Profile.” The processor allows you to individually configure and remember four such profiles. They can be configured manually or imported through multiple ARC runs and then associated with specific inputs.
So, for example, when the processor is running, “profile” 5.1.4 with Dolby Atmos configuration settings can be called up from the “Blu-ray” input from memory, “Cable” input can call up “profile” 7.1 without the second “belt” of ceiling speakers, “ Hi-Res” includes a stereo mode with the full range of frequencies supplied to the front speakers without a subwoofer (many users prefer two-channel sound when listening to music). Audio streaming via the Hi-Res Audio option in Play-Fi is also mostly in stereo mode.
Each “profile” provides individual settings by the ARC system for leveling the frequency response, setting channel levels, delay, etc. For example, one “profile” is formed with the screen down for watching movies, the second with the screen collapsed for listening to music or watching regular TV. This semi-automatic “preset” concept is not exclusive to Anthem.
Characteristics Anthem AVM 70
Number of channels 15.2
Frequency range, Hz-kHz 10 – 48
S/N ratio, dB 110
Harmonic distortion, % 0.1
Output voltage 2 V
Auto-tuning ARC Anthem Room Correction
Audio DAC AKM AK4490EQ 32-bit / 768 kHz
Video DAC 4:4:4 Subsampling at 4K60 (18.2 Gbps), (HDR)
Signals 4K 4K 50/60 Switching
DSP processor Quad-Core 32-bit Digital Signal Processing
Decoders Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, High-Resolution Audio
Supported formats FLAC, WAV, ALAC, MP3, AAC (24-bit/192 kHz)
Streaming protocols Airplay 2, DLNA, UnPnP, Spotify, Songza, Pandora, etc.
Control supported APP iOS, Android
Inputs
Coaxial 2 x S/PDIF (RCA)
Optical 3 x Toslink
HDMI 7 x HDMI (2.0a, HDCP 2.3)
Ethernet 1 x LAN (RJ45)
WiFi Yes, DTS Play-Fi
USB USB Port for Updates
Analog audio Dimensions
