Sound Demo Comparison EMOTIVA VS ANTHEM! AVM70 vs XMC-2 IN-DEPTH Comparison!
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2021
- This EPIC battle between the Anthem AVM70 to the Emotiva XMC-2, ended up not as EPIC as I thought. But judge for yourself on the sound demos!
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🎵 AMAZON Music Unlimited - amzn.to/3Amymn1
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🛒 $1395 Tonewinner 16 Channel ATMOS Processor: tinyurl.com/7yrajnmm
Camera used in this video:
🛒 Sony A7C Mirrorless Camera - amzn.to/3G0zSOl
Microphones used in videos:
🛒 Audio Technica AT-8024 Stereo Shotgun Mic - amzn.to/3f7Jz1r
🛒 Shure MV7 Microphone - amzn.to/3zyQw56
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PROCESSORS MENTIONED AND USED:
🛒 Marantz AV7706 - amzn.to/2XmFyAN
🛒 Emotiva XMC-2 - tinyurl.com/fpu8tyy5
🛒 Anthem AVM70 - tinyurl.com/65vs53mp
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SPEAKERS USED, LEGACY AUDIO:
🛒 Legacy Audio Focus SE - www.summithifi.com/collection...
🛒 Legacy Audio Marquis XD - www.summithifi.com/collection...
🛒 Legacy Audio Collection - www.summithifi.com/collection...
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AMPLIFIERS USED NUPRIME AUDIO:
🛒 Nuprime AMG STA - summithifiusa.com/collections...
🛒 Nuprime MCX4 - summithifiusa.com/collections...
🛒 Nuprime MCX3 - summithifiusa.com/collections...
🛒 Nuprime MCX1 - summithifiusa.com/collections...
🛒 Nuprime AC4 power conditioner ***the price recently went up after the video recording - summithifiusa.com/collections...
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HOME THEATER SEATING USED:
🛒 Valencia Tuscany - us.valenciatheaterseating.com...
🛒 Valencia Tuscany XL - us.valenciatheaterseating.com...
🛒 Valencia Tuscany multimedia sectional - us.valenciatheaterseating.com...
🛒 Valencia Oslo Console edition - us.valenciatheaterseating.com...
🛒 Valencia Oslo - us.valenciatheaterseating.com...
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OTHER VIDEOS MENTIONED:
🎬 ARC Genesis Guide - • ARC Genesis Guide: How...
🎬 Anthem AVM70 vs Marantz AV7706 - • Who Did It Better ANTH...
🎬 ARC Issues Pro Tips - • ARC ISSUES, PRO TIPS &...
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I hope that many of you find this video helpful! Please consider supporting the channel by using these links, there are more links in the description.
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Great job on the comparison. It's unfortunate that Emotiva struggles so much with their processors. I experienced many of the same issues you did with the XMC-2 that I did when I reviewed the RMC-1. Like you, I felt it sounds incredible....when it's working properly. Thanks for the shoutout. Exciting to see you about to cross 10K!
Thank brother. It really is too bad, because if they could get these units operating smoother, and without bugs, they would be a force to be reckoned with. We definitely need to get into a round or 2 of Zombies when I get home 😁. I appreciate you watching...cheers.
@@SpecOfTech I agree. Maybe they should just stick with amplifiers. Definitely let me know when you’re back home. I need a zombies break after doing 26 videos in 13 days LOL
@@Youthman lol no doubt, a little downtime will do ya some good. I got about 9 days left up here, then heading home, will hit you up when I'm back.
@@Youthman Better yet, they should get proper programmers and release the product when it working as intended. I can see them wanting to get the the product out to start seeing a ROI, but I would think, with all the negative reviews, it has to hurt sales more n the long term.
I actually preferred the sound of the emotive in all the demos, but then I tend to like a more live and slightly bright presentation than the more laid back sound
Very good video! I was looking at the XMC-2 while waiting an awfully long time for my AVM70, although my AVM70 finally arrived and wow...unbelievable. I really haven't come across any bugs at the moment, but what ARC Genesis has done with my room/equipment is phenomenal. I genuinely have an ear to ear grin every time I watch a movie now.
-Dialogue is crystal clear and punchy when needed.
-Bass has an insane tactile feel to it.
-Soundstage is huge.
I love everything about the AVM70 and hoping it remains on my AV rack for many years to come!
Just received my Anthem 70 after waiting 4 and a half months. I replaced my Yamaha 3030 which served me well but OMG what a difference. I had my Yamaha connected to a Monoprice 7x200 watts per channel using RCA outputs. Now my Anthem is connected to the Monoprice with XLR cables. Massive improvement in sound and with movies. The rest of my gear is Tekton Encores as my mains, 2 SVS 16 Ultra subs, 4 SVS Ultra surrounds and 1 B&W center speaker. DVD player Panasonic DP UB 9000. So far have had no issues with the Anthem. Easily updated to the current firmware with my network using a Ethernet cable. No bugs and easy setup. Room correction setup uneventful. Super happy with my choice.
Excellent work, sir.
Thank you for your and @youthman reviews. It has help me save making a big mistake getting the Emotiva, and have decided to go with the Anthem.
First off...These comparisons take soooooo long and require much attention to detail so many thanks and props for you taking the time to do this! : )
So while the emotiva is more fun especially with the bass boost, the anthem is the technologically superior unit. Let me explain, One thing you can always do to know is listen to the sub bass (80hz and below) and the low mids (around 200hz). This is a crucial area. The reason is that many instruments converge here (like kick, snare, bass, lower keys, guitar and vocals). The further down in quality components you go the more smeared and woofy this frequency range will sound. Even though the emotiva is doing a nice job, the anthem is showing you this area cleaner with more separation between the instruments. Also the reason the emotiva seems louder is because it has a bump in the EQ around 1khz and possibly a bit higher. human hearing is sensitive in this frequency area thus perceiving it louder. This is a known mastering secret to get music tracks to seem louder 🤫. It’s called the fletcher munsen curve. Anyway just wanted to throw these things out there for anyone who cares. I’m glad you went with the anthem. I would too. And against much much thanks for the content. Looking forward to your next one.
Very Very Good Review! Subscribed based on this Fact. Keep up the good Work!
Nice video! In case you were not aware, there's actually a reason why the Emotiva sounds like it has more bass, or at least would certainly explain the difference. Over on the Emotiva Lounge forums, there is a thread in regards to a known bug with the Emotiva. It's causing the bass levels to be elevated. Emotiva is aware of the issue and are supposed to be working on a fix. It seems this bug was introduced in firmware 2.2 and has persisted through 2.3. I noticed the bug first hand when I upgraded my XMC-2 to firmware v 2.2. Hopefully they will have this sorted out in firmware 2.4. The Emotiva does sound great otherwise, and even better with Dirac, so it's a shame that wasn't working for you. But I completely agree about all of it's shortcomings, I'm certainly a little disappointed by all the little issues it has as an otherwise great unit.
Awesome comparison! These were the top 2 on my list. I went with the xmc-2 because I could never find a avm-70. I went into it fully expecting bugs and the setup to be a pain. But I've always enjoyed calibrating and tweaking any processor I've had. So I was honestly excited for the challenge of getting the best sound possible. Surprisingly I've hardly had any bugs with my unit. Occasionally the input switching will act up but that's pretty rare. The sound is absolutely incredible and Dirac is a complete game changer.
Glad to hear you are experiencing less issues than I did. I do have to admit, the sound from the Emotiva is impressive. If the unit I had ran smoother, and didn't have so many bugs, I would have STRONGLY considered switching to Emotiva.
What setting needs to be on or off the xmc-2 has no sound with hdmi ark to tv. The osd and am/FM tuner works fine. I am already sick of it day 2 of trying to get sound. 😔
Liked and subscribed. Great job on your video , I like that there’s no background music and just good commentary . I almost purchased the mrx540 as it’s just for my home gym, but was considered with fan noise.
Then I was considering the avm70 as there are no internal fans (that I’m aware of) , but then I needed an amp etc,so I decided to go with a Denon x1800h . I’m sure I’m going to regret it , as I love the looks of the new Anthem receivers , pre pros etc .
I do have an avm60 and the 525 amplifier upstairs ,but it’s a home theatre setting ,not four stereo speakers in a gym .
It’s obviously hard to critique sound on an iPad Pro, but I thought the music sounded superior on the Anthem . Anyways best of luck with your channel and keep up the good work.
Update , my bad I thought the blue was the Anthem . Not referring to the base but the sound was better overall for me with blue
I have noticed the louder right channel on my XMC-2 as well. Even after running DIRAC. Maybe I ought to unplug it. But I will also affirm, it sounds amazing in a 9.1.6 format. Very happy with it.
Completely agree with your analysis of the XMC-2. I own one (since release) and have been through exactly the same issues! I couldn't agree more, out of the box plus firmware updates you shouldn't have all of these issues, especially for the price point! I've spent HOURS on the phone trying to resolve the DIRAC issues, still never got it to work right. I brought up both the how its missing wireless and the clunky remote to them and they seemed to not care they are living in the past. The unit has made my life harder for sure.
With that being said, I think the sound and video quality is out of this world! I manually set it up and it sounds just so perfect, especially with ATMOS. I have yet to hear better sound! At least the sound quality goes above and beyond to make up for their major down falls.
Currently running Klipsch Ref Premiere 7 speakers plus dual PB-1000s.
Emotiva XPA 3 3 ch differential
Emotiva XPA 4 4 0 custom 4 channel
I plan on upgrading all speakers and subs to JTR in the next two years.
Not sure if I'm sticking with Emotiva though...
Thinking about upgrading amps to mono block Parasound and a new processor.
I have the xmc-2 and it sounds incredible but does have some bugs. Like when I turn it on Netflix isn’t always on 4k UHD, I have to disconnect the hdmi input and connect again to have it work properly.
Great comprehensive comparison Barrett! I thought the Emotiva sounded better over UA-cam for both the movie and music clips, but I think you're spot on in that it disappoints in functionality and that it's unacceptable for a product that's been out this long to still have issues like this. As you said, I also really want to like the XMC-2 as I do own some Emotiva speakers and love the price/value they provide. Ultimately, I have my eye on the HTP-1 which should hopefully best both of these ;)
I listened to the video through an UA Apollo Twin DAC and good head phones and I also thought the Emotiva sounded better on music. Better resolution and dynamics.
And I thought I had some issues with my NAD M-17 V2I., none compare to the Emotiva. For sure, I wouldn't not Xchange my processor for any of the 2 you tested. Really informative video. Keep up the good work.
I’m running an Arcam avr30. Still a little buggy but support has been amazing. It’s pretty clear that most high end units are quite buggy now days! Firmware upgrades generally work things out. I’m coming from a NAD T778 and it also had major issues. The Arcam is in a different league. Dirac is pretty touchy with its bugs as well. Once you get it tuned in properly there is no going back!!! We all need to remember it’s our passion. Great video and thanks for honest.
Hey hi ... I recently bought XMC2, you were one of the influencer! Thank you
With firmware 3.1, I think they are much stable, till now I didnt see any issues until now.
I replaced Cinema50 AVR which I was using in full preamp mode with Emotiva amps, so made sense to get proper processor :)
And the difference with prepro was just amazing, XMC2 really class apart in sonic quality!
Awesome! I am glad to hear that the units are functioning more smoothly now. Maybe it's time for an updated review.
@@SpecOfTech I’ve had my xmc2 for 1 year now and I still get excited to watch movies with it. It sounds like my local cinema. I have all Arendal 1723s Monitors, 1723s Surrounds, 2 Pb3000s and 4 1961 Atmos in ceiling speakers. AMAZING!!
great content bro. unbelievable how many issues you had. sounds like a nightmare. I would not have had the patients to sort it out. after an hour I prob would have just returned it thinking it was defective. the whole raspberry pie and network switch setup seems ridiculous too. a dedicated avr should have room correction built in for sure
Yeah, and it really is a shame, because their processor does sound fantastic.
thanks for that review. Definitely going with AVM70
quick question. What music streaming service do you recommend with the avm70?
Great video! You always go out of your way to be fair and transparent. I really want to like the XMC2 as I have an Emotiva amp and have had no issues. I also like their 5 year warranty and the fact that they are based in Franklin Tennessee which is less than 5 hours from me. Unfortunately, it seems Emotiva is just behind the curve a bit with their processors. I honestly think they would be better off trimming their product line and concentrating on their excellent line of power amps.
That wouldn’t be a bad idea for them. They are on the right track regarding the sound quality of their processors, but the software and UI are noticeably lacking.
I have an Emotiva XMC-2 and it sounds phenomenal!! I had some hiccups with input switching after I first got it, but that all seems to have been addressed by firmware updates. I watched Mad Max Fury Road for the first time last night and was absolutely blown away!!
Great video! Really enjoyed it. Why is it such a pain to use a expensive piece of gear? what happened to plug and play....something that just works? no secret workarounds, updates that cause Armageddon? Saying that, once all the mucking around is over the true value and experience is well worth it! DIRAC on my NAD M17 works great, no issues. I wonder if the Emotiva with its unconventional interface is the problem? Who knows.... Not everyone is into deep diving, hours of research, and seemingly endless troubleshooting to get a product to work properly that should work out of the box. Unfortunately everyone is in the same boat, thank goodness that there are great resources out there, Spec of Tech #1, that can really help out a lot through product knowledge, hands on real world trials, absolutely honest opinions and free of outside influence. You have really helped me out a lot, Thanks Barrett!
Hey buddy, as always I truly appreciate the support!! I am glad to try and help, I know how frustrating it can be to purchase something and have it work less than perfect. I can't wait to come down and check out those Legacy speakers, we have to make it work the next time I am home...cheers!
That’s like the most Canadian review ever 😀 good job! Anthem for me.
😂🤣😂 👍
Very honest, it seemed unbiased too. It sure is difficult to use sound clips that are a recording of something that we really should hear in person. It was nice that you included them. I guess i could watch again, but I don't think I heard you say you tried a few subtle tonal tweaks, one might find that things were got even closer sounding, and you could've told us if there were any negatives after the tweak. For instance, you might have found that nothing gave the high end detail that one had over the other, tonal adjustments just made it bright, you know, something like that. You also might have found that after the tonal tweaks you were freaked out by how similar they were. I'd be very interested to know what you found out, anyway, well done, nice review.
Thanks for watching! I did not conduct any tonal tweaks. I wanted this to be about their stock sound. I would introduce too many chances for error if I start playing around with their sound. Also, if I did that I would have plenty of people come on here and tell me it's not fair. I had to keep it with their baseline sound. With that said the Emotiva did have an edge in channel separation and clarity. The Anthem is the better all around unit though.
Two processors that sound amazing but require patience and understanding as an owner. Barrett thanks for the comparison since many people might be choosing between these two processors.
My takeaway from this video - glad I went with AudioControl lol.
@@snootz lot less bug spray needed with Audiocontrol for sure 😂🤣
Great informative video for anybody in the market for these two processors. Every video I've seen of the Emotiva mention the same bugs that you did. That put me off a bit. I do own various of the Emotiva amps. I own the DR3, XPA3-GEN3, Basx a500 and the Basx a300. Fantastic amps. For processor I went with the Marantz 8805. No issues whatsoever with it. I believe if you spend this much money on anything, it should come bug free and working 100%. Spending 3-6k on a processor only for it to come with bugs, unfinished software and needing to unplug from the wall because it freezes up, shouldnt happen. So far I am very happy with my Marantz 8805. But nonetheless, a great and awesome comparison video. Thank you
Thanks brother! I would love to hear the 8805 one day as well. From what I have heard and read, it is an awesome contender in its price range! AND it should work flawlessly for the most part. That is one thing I really liked about the AV7706, it just plain worked!
@@SpecOfTech Exactly. It should just work. Hopefully one day you get to hear the 8805
Interesting I thought that the AVM70 sounded bassier than the XMC-2 but that's probably due to the master volume differences you noted. It's a shame you weren't able to compare Dirac to Athem ARC as that's where I'd expect the biggest difference to be in SQ. Honestly I'd be curious your thoughts on Dirac Live Bass Control on something like a HTP-1 as it seems that's not riddled with bugs. My plan is to get a new onkyo avr with Dirac i think, need new speakers worthy of a new avr first though.
The consistent thing I read and see in reviews is the Emotiva sounds incredible assuming you have the patience to get setup and deal with all the bugs. I am not that patient. I will stick with my Marantz. It just works.
I can agree with that statement 100%. If they could get the bugs sorted out and get it operating smooth and quick, it would be a true beast to contend with!
Bravo! Me too!!
I had the Marantz 7706 and that unit was incredible. A step up from the Denon x4700 in pre amp mode but the XMC-2 blows both of them out of the water. Incredible crystal clear sound and channel separation. I now understand what that means.
Your front sound stage is aspirational!
Thank you!
My first priority when im planning to upgrade my AVR is Anthem AVM70, but after listening test of JBL Synthesis SDP-55 I make decisions for JBL. Its had bug but with new firmware the unit more stable and i love the processing sound, which make huge difference comparing with Marantz AVR SR7010. Hopefully you had chance to make comparison between Anthem and JBL. Thnks for all ur vids, i got a lot info from them..
What were some of the differences you heard? Have always been interested in the JBL Synthesis.
Hope you can get your hands on Integra DRC R1.3 for additional comparison with these two units. That would be very interesting.
Hey man! love your videos. I am about to order to AVM 70, but I was wondering if you had any issues implementing your Crowson bass shakers to the system? are you just using a y-splitter? or are you approaching it a different way?
hey brother, thanks for watching. I haven't had any issues, and yes I am just using a Y splitter. The down side is if they aren't timed properly you only have a 0 or 180 phase switch. So if they don't feel right you may need it get a minidsp. I do have a minidsp, and I do plan on using it, but I haven't integrated it yet.
@@SpecOfTech thanks man, i appreciate it! last question - between this one and the monolith htp-1, which one would you go for?
@@jeffreylostaunau I have not personally used the HTP-1, but I have heard it can be quite buggy. That, and from what I have seen with DIRAC thus far, I would recommend the Anthem. It is for the most part bug free now, and the sound quality is quite good.
@@SpecOfTech Thanks, bro! I now just gotta wait a couple of months until the AVM70 comes back in stock :) . Appreciate your help
Great honest review, and those bugs on the Emotiva look annoyingly painful. Would be awesome if you did an Anthem AVM-70 vs Monoprice HTP-1 review. Cheers!
If I ever get my hands on the HTP-1 I will definitely do that. Thanks for watching...cheers!
I’ve owned both. The HTP-1 is the more stable and better sounding unit. Dirac is a big step up over ARC.
@@SpecOfTech hi! How would you compare the Tonewinner to XMC-2. I know they are in way different price points but wanted to get your opinion. I currently have the XMC-2 and AV7706 that I’m testing out and the emotiva is way way clearer and channel separation is more prominent. J
Thanks for the great review. Yes, the Emotiva is a little bit tricky to set-up. But once you're done, it sounds amazing. I own the RMC-2, which has a lot of similarities (same code base) with the XMC-2, but I did not experience that many issues. I own the unit since FW 1.9 and went through all the updates to its current version 2.3. Changes in the setup don't happen so often in my environment, so the more complex setup procedure does not bother me. All I care is the end result and here the Emotiva really delivers... There is no better sounding AV-processor on the market in that price band. OK, there is Trinnov and Storm Audio, but they both play in a different price league.
NAD and Monoprice is also alternatives in that price range. Its still allot of money for an electronic device - it should not have bugs like this.
I have the xmc 2 and all those bugs he spoke of I didn't experience other than arc working 100 percent but now it is after fw 2.3
Hi, thanks for the review, are you sure you liked anthem more in music? I have all the songs of anthem I have noticed the middle zone off compared to the xcm2 ... I don't know if the mic will influence but I preferred the xcm2 in both plots.
I must admit it sounded different in the demos then it did in my room. But yes, I really did prefer the Anthem for music and the Emotiva for movies. The Emotiva could be a real beast if they got it to run smoothly though. If it had run smoother, without bugs, made rhe setup with Dirac to work properly...I might have just switched to Emotiva 🤷♂️.
@@SpecOfTech Emotiva has a long history of problems ... I saw that in the video it shows the volume of the emotive and several channels are in positive and many others in negative, but there is a big difference between them and I was wondering if you measured this with a sonometer at 75db ,Cheers
Hi Barrett. Great review. I presently own a marantz 7010 receiver but am looking to upgrading. I am interested in moving into separates soon but in the meantime I am looking for a new receiver. Anthem I interests me but with all the bugs it gives me trepidation’s. I’m happy with the sound from the 7010 and am looking at the marantz 8015 or the denon 8500HA. Sound quality wise strictly for home theater what would you choose?
Thanks for watching my friend. It would be very difficult for me to say what would be best for you, as I have not heard the options you listed. I will say that the Denon 8500 was praised in the Audio Science review and measured well. So personally, if I was faced with the choices you listed there, I would opt for the Denon. At those prices though, I would recommend that you consider going with separates and a processor.
@@SpecOfTech thank you so much Barret for your reply. By the way I’m a fellow Canadian living near London Ontario. Unfortunately I will have to purchase one more AVR to give myself time to save and purchase the multiple amps I will need for my system. I do enjoy the warm smooth sound the marantz puts out and I have heard that the denon can sound a little bright. But I definitely need to go with 6 heights and in that respect the 8500 would perfectly fit the bill. But at 6 grand it’s a lot of money. The marantz 8015 with 11 channels will require a two channel amp to give me the 13 channels. But if I’m moving towards separates maybe going with the marantz makes sense. Thank you so much for your thoughts.
I purchased the Monoprice HTP-1 a few months back and experienced a lot of issues that are similar to what you're describing with the Emotiva. The worst issue was that it would occasionally enter the "Boot Loop of Death" during which it would fail to boot. The ONLY solution was to create a specially-formatted bootable MiniSD card with the factory OS. It would then take about 30-45 minutes to re-flash the HTP-1 to the functional point. But then, of course, you had to upgrade it to the latest flash version. Oh...and re-load all your settings for the HTP-1 and Dirac. When you sat down to watch a movie with your girl and find that your $4000.00 AV pre/pro wouldn't be usable for another 90 minutes or so it got a little frustrating. It had other issues, as well. The Bluetooth NEVER worked. The out-of-the-box voltage settings were so quiet that you had to turn the unit past 90% before it was loud enough. That was with the Monoprice 11-channel amp!!
Bottom line: The HTP-1, while good on paper, was simply not ready for prime time.
I returned the HTP-1 (I will say this about Monoprice, they took the unit back with no questions asked even though I was outside the official return range) and bought an Anthem AVM70 on the advice from a friend and proprietor of my local hi-fi shop (University Audio in Madison, WI)
That was a decision I do not regret in the least. The Anthem is a much more mature product and it has the backing of a veteran hi-fi company.
Sorry to hear about all your troubles with the HTP-1, that would have been incredibly frustrating. But Monoprice taking it back like that is a testament to their customer service.
I like the way that you made your analysis, and gave you a like because you really deserve it. However, I think there is a flaw in your comparison. I believe the AVM 70 should have been tested with the ARC on. I also have an AVM 70 and the difference in sound is night and day for me when I switch the ARC on or off. I use it both for movies and music and I swear by it.
It would have been nice to be able to compare both with their room calibration software enabled, but I wasn't able to get a good result with DIRAC. It wouldn't be fair to compare the AVM70 with ARC enabled against the Emotiva without it's room calibration software enabled.
I'm in the market for a new pre/pro, the Anthem AVM70 is high on my list. I unfortunately went through three Emotiva RMC-1L's before finally giving up and going back to my old Marantz AV8802a. I wasn't comfortable having to hope and pray every time I wanted to watch a movie or listen to music if I was going to have to do a hard reset or not. And for $$$ that's unacceptable. BUT...like you found, the Emo just sounds so good, I wonder if they've got all the bugs taken care of.
Thank you for a great comparison. I am indecisive between Marantz AV7706 and Anthem AVM90. What would be your recommendation? Anthem AV70 is not available in my dealership at this time.
I have the AVM90 on order. The AVM70 was a noticeable improvement over the 7706, the AVM90 should be significantly more of an improvement. Go with the 90.
Hi, always thank you for all the information. I went for Anthem AVM90. I have question that not directly related with this video. Is it important to have power conditioner? I am planning to get powermax m5400 but indecisive.
Loved the sound of Emotiva. That bar scene John Wick with the sound of the pistol discharging. Whoo. Emotiva for me.
In that scene it sounded really clean and bright, the anthem seemed off!
@@antonioantequeracid6005 I agree.
I think you did a great job the anthem sounded a little softer than the emotiva it sounded just a little brighter in movies and some of the music . You have to compare the amplifiers next thanks I'll be waiting for your next segment
Thanks for the support my friend, I really appreciate it.
Emotiva seemed brighter and more forward than Anthem that sounded a bit muddy in bass. Was using Vanatoo speakers to listen. I like the Emotiva better but bugs in both would keep me away.
Now that Emotiva has had a while longer to sort out the bugs since your original review.... is the setup a bit smoother?
I'm not sure, I dont have the unit anymore to compare, sorry.
Did not like your experience with the xmc-2 (not in a bad way or its your fault...just dont like bugs). But when you read online its like 50/50 if you are going to get bugs or not...oh well nice video :)
Would love to hear your take on the Anthem vs Jbl synthesis sdp55 also!
Keep it up
For the XMC-2, there's a loudness feature; once turned off, the volume will be normal. This feature (when enabled) is meant to be used with low volume; it increases the sound effects dbs so you can watch movies with low volume at late nights while still maintaining a good sound effects.
This feature should be turned off for casual use where the volume is high.
For the best experience with the XMC-2, I set the levels ONLY; no calibration!
Actually, I tried the same with my Denon AVR-X4500H (setting the levels only; no calibration) and I got better result compared to the result when calibration is done!
This is my own experience ONLY in my own place; not implying that calibration is not good; I know that others got better results when calibration is done.
I have the XMC-2 and what l like about it is Emotiva upgrade program as l had the XMC-1 for eight years and the upgraded to the XMC-2 was just over $600
Just to add I'm more of a two channel audiophile listener as l and also own a tube amp and tube pre amp Sometimes l listen to my XMC-2 in two channel as the fronts and center are fully balanced and l am very impressed with it's sound quality for a A V preamplifier
i purchased the anthem mrx 1140 and it sounds great however the arc genesis software has been buggy for me. the software has stopped allowing me to do any new calibration sweeps but still allows me to adjust and send old calibration files to the unit without issue however not being able to do any new calibrations is frustrating. i have been through all the forum posts about this unit and have narrowed the issue down to software issue. i have been in contact with anthem tech support but havent given me a fix for the issue yet. im hoping a firmware update will correct the issue whenever that comes out as i really like this unit and dont want to send it in for repair or return it and but another. other than that it sounds incredible!
I understand is not a new video, so I don't know if you have changed it, but I believe you should have a better microphone setup for your audio comparisons. It is a plus almost no one has.
Great video
You are/were absolutely right haha. I did change that microphone to a stereo Audio Technica microphone. I am hoping my more recent videos have much better demo quality.
@@SpecOfTech Great! I will check them out
1.-Have you measured the frequency response at your listening point without Arc Genesis and Dirac Live?
It would be good if you were sure to have the same frequency response with both processors prior to their corresponding calibrations and above all to equalize the spl in frequency by a maximum of 1 dB between both processors.
2.-My recommendation is that you do the demos with ARC Génesis and Dirac, since the influence of the room is too noticeable.
If with a video it sounds like this, I can't even imagine being in the room.
Is the sound recorded with a mobile phone or a tape recorder?
3.-Does your room have acoustic treatment?
Do you have a video with measurements with the Room EQ Wizard to see the acoustics of your room?
Written with translator
Greetings and thanks for the video
Thank you for all the suggestions...cheers!
Great comparison, Barrett. I think you missed one HUGE connectivity feature of the Anthem, however: virtual sources. This is really a unique feature and something that blows the Emotiva away.
In the Connectivity portion of the video, I was more focusing on the physical and wireless inputs and outputs, and less on the features. The virtual inputs is more of a feature associated to the I/O. But with that said, it isn't something I find myself using, or have found much benefit in using yet. Since it is a relatively new feature, and not something I am too familiar with personally, maybe you could shed some light on what makes this feature so important and in what ways it is useful?
@@SpecOfTech understandable. While there are physical inputs, Anthem allows you to create up to 30 named virtual inputs that can take any combination of video and audio inputs from any physical inputs: HDMI video from HDMI1 & audio from RCA3, video from HDMI3 & audio from Chromeast, video from HDMI2, Audio from HDMI1, etc. This allows many different combinations to exist for many scenarios. These names sources can then also be used with home automation systems like Savant, RTI, or my case--Control4.
@Grayson Peddie Your assessment is pretty much spot on. The only thing I don't know about since I haven't tested it myself is if the video will cut out if the changing inputs with same video but different audio...may have to use an HDMI audio extractor so the video input is always kept the same too. I'll try it out here one of these days for you.
@Grayson Peddie different virtual inputs with same video inputs and different audio inputs configured: video doesn't flicker, pause, do anything. Audio just changes.
I had the XMC-1, had to be returned under warranty. Upgraded to XMC-2, had to be returned under warranty. I've never had their products work properly. My XMC-1 would never recognize my Apple TV device as just one example. At one point, an Emotiva customer service rep told me that I couldn't expect their products to work like a more commercial brand like Denon or Sony. I work in the entertainment business and on more than one occasion had people show up to watch a film and found glitches and difficulties that prevented my use. Does it make any sense, as per this video, that users would have to "plug and unplug" a unit to get it to work.
just wanted to say I have an xmc-2. When you start calibration your mic gain should start around -30db. 2nd I test the db for each speaker by clicking on each one. 3rd I take the lowest level speaker and adjust the gain until I get about -15 to -16db. If the lowest speaker does not reach -15 then I boost up the master output or lower it until the lower speaker will be heard by the mic. 4th I then adjust the rest of the speakers to play at about -15 to -16 and off to the races. However I do not set subwoofer level from the dirac setting. I adjust volume level from the subwoofer it's self until it reaches -15db on the screen. From my experience you get more low end and heft from your subs that way. I hope this helps. P.S.....Remember, you don't need the level to go from blue to green you need the ballpark number -15 to -16db.
Also just to mention I have also owned an xmc-1 from Emotiva years ago. After they picked the bugs out of the xmc-1 it was great. I can't wait for the same with the xmc-2!!
Thanks for the input Hammer. What you explained above is essentially how I ran Dirac both times. I was aiming for a -15db result, or at least as close to it as I could. When I actually ran Dirac, I did set the gain on the mic to be around -30db with ambient noise. In the short clip I showed in the video, I am not sure if I bothered doing that, because I was just using it as a visual example.
I am with you though, I hope they do get the bugs figured out, because the unit does sound really good. If it were to operate smoothly on top of the great sound, they would have a real winner.
That's just what I am eager to know. Than you very much. By the way, based on your demos, when it came to music and songs, I heard emotiva sounded more vivid.
I'm glad you found it helpful...cheers.
XMC-2 have a AKM DAC, or did Emotiva switch vendors due to AKM supply issues? Specs state it should have AKM, but does it?
I'm thinking of getting the new Vincent SV-737 hybrid...designed in Germany...it has a optical and coaxial...how much would it benefit me to use one of your favorite DAC's with it?...Why is it that only the cheaper built Korea and china Dac's have an hdmi ? I'd love to use one with eArc...I don't need all those extra channels with only 2.2 or 3.2...thank you!
Thanks for the comparison. Frustrating that these companies don't seem to understand software.
Any way you can get your hands on an arcam av40 to compare against the anthem?
I don't know of anyone that owns that unit, but if I ever make a connection for Arcam, I will do my best to get an AV40.
Does the anthem come with rack mount brackets?
I get all the appeal of these more "audiophile" focused brands, but my Denons have never been quirky or odd behavior, they have just worked for years.
Wow. Great review. Helpful to me. It’s gotta wreck emotiva sales.
Thanks brother. I honestly hope Emotiva gets all their little bugs sorted out, because their processor sounds fantastic.
For the amount of money we pay for these things, all them problems should not exist ! Period. Or should be addressed immediately with a firmware update ! I have all emotiva amps ,& was considering getting separates with that emotiva pre pro but idk now
I agree, we should be getting products that are fully baked without issues.
I have the Emotiva and the remote seems a little cheap in the button department, the UI is a little slow and when setting levels there is no midway green section any longer but once you understand it’s changed that’s not a negative. Other than that I’ve had no issues with sound or performance. Probably the best processor I’ve ever heard.
@@SpecOfTech absolutely 100%
Have you compared separates vs an AVR? Been told it’s tough to tell the difference between an 1140 and an AVM70.
I did have a Denon AVRX4400 AVR and switched to the Marantz AV7706 processor, there was a huge difference in that change. I have not compared the Anthem AVM70 to an of their AVR's though. I would like to, in the future.
Anthem, no balanced inputs, seems to be a huge oversight since there is often more to be gained from using this connection for a sources than connecting to amps. Also, most of the issues covered concerning the Emotiva can be solved by using the web OS app (or a Harmony after setting up special soft keys) as switching modes and inputs is almost immediate. Lastly, and this is a pain, it is far better to sum the subs using a y-adaptor and the center sub output which will solve your levels issues. I think I am lucky and received a “good” RMC-1L from Emotiva. I’d like to try out the AVM in my system as I am super curious of its sound quality and usability. Maybe one of these days…. Lastly, I do agree that the Emotiva sounds fantastic and the analog path and reference stereo mode are great for purist.
I never noticed that it didn’t have balanced inputs, not that I’ve taken a really good look at it. Strange indeed
This OP provides very unbiased reviews and is not afraid to say a rival product is better than his personal equipment that he owns.
Both great, i buy them bought.
I currently have the av7706 and almost picked up the xmc 2. After seeing your review I'm glad I didn't. I'm very interested in giving the Anthem a try. Having only ever owned Marantz, do you think the Anthem would be an enjoyable step up for me? Great video by the way. Keep them coming
Thanks for watching and the kind words. I did do a direct comparison between the AVM70 and AV7706, here is the video link: ua-cam.com/video/i2XFXVqsrfU/v-deo.html
@@SpecOfTech I saw that video when you first released it and again another great video. I do enjoy the dynamic eq function to get better sound at lower volumes. Does the Anthem have any settings semi comparable to that? Listening at -10 db isn't always an option with company over
These are in the same price range as the Marantz SR8015. Just curious, how would it compare?
Also, very interested to see the Onkyo TX-RZ50 versus these types of AVRs.
IMO the Emotiva and the Anthem sound better than the Marantz AV7706 processor, that should remain true for their AVR's as well. Onkyo makes some great budget AVR's but they would hold up in sound quality to these units IMO.
@@SpecOfTech How is the Anthem so light? It has a toroidal transformer but I can't see its power consumption which is very important. I don't think I've seen an AV receiver that costs over a grand and weighs less than 20 lbs - based on price, I'd expect the AVM70 to wait at least 30 and the AVM90 at least 40🙂
If you ever get your hands on an Onkyo, I'd be curious to hear a comparison. I've heard good things about it and surprisingly its power supply (on paper at list) has more power than my Marantz which puts out 120WPC continuous for 5 channels and 180WPC for 2 channels without any distortion - the good old days where they actually underrated wattage. It's EI vs toroidal but toroidal nowadays adds $2,500 to an AV receiver.
Thank you for the great video; 3rd time watching it in the last 6 months. Takes me forever to make a decision. 😥 ...team blue it is. Thank you.
Enjoy the Emotiva brother, they do sound amazing.
Aaah yeah, new HiFi gear and initial settings! "I got quite the scare!", Oh yes, I know that feeling: (at the time) Just got my Meridian surround processor back from factory upgrades. Before I had even gotten thru the speaker setup process the tweeters for main L and R speakers where thoroughly fried. The super intense, super loud white noise startled me so much I dropped the remote to shield my ears from the ear piercing racket. With my ears covered I ran to the poweramp and kicked the OFF button 😂 but on my way to poweramp I heard the noise of a dieing tweeter, the hiss and the crackle made it clear; "Too slow boy!". I hooked up the oscilloscope to preamp out and saw something like 48kHz PCM data stream 😂 at about 4V level, my Rotel poweramp was happy to play that at 22dB amplification with its 100kHz bandwidth. Tweeters where 'lit' aswell. No smell bueno.
Aaaanyway, Meridian did ofcoz fix my surround processor and speakers, just a tiny bug in the FW version delivered to me.
was the Anthem ARC corrected in your review of sound?
No it was not, I compared their stock sound because Dirac never gave me a workable result.
@@SpecOfTech but you said you set the levels manually on the emotiva... Did you hand tune the anthem?
I think to much base in general . also I think that avm70 has wide disturbing base , like is not exact and have to cover something .
One question : what power amp you use ? :D
I am using the Nuprime AMG STA's in bridged mode for the front stage, and the Nuprime MCX4 for the surrounds and heights. Here are some links if you want more details.
Nuprime AMG STA - summithifiusa.com/collections/nuprime/products/nuprime-amg-sta?ref=specoftech
Nuprime MCX4 - summithifiusa.com/collections/nuprime-x/products/nuprime-x-mcx-4?ref=specoftech
Let me ask you??? I have a Yamaha r-n803, 2 klipsch rp 8000 and a klipsch spl 120. What subwoofer should I get that will match better with that set-up?
And also should I upgrade the amp as well?
It would really depend on what type of bass experience you would want and what your budget is. The size of your room also play an important role.
Okay I see Emotiva has good quality for less money, as for you saying that the Emotiva sounded louder! I have the answer, the Emotiva's signal chain has less clutter. Meaning that it's processing it faster and with less circuitry making the signal stronger thus it will make it louder, I notice this with bluetoothing audio or video the signal is weaker, I know it's not the same thing but I haope your getting my point, the Emotiva just has a little less circuitry than the Anthem. great video by the way. Looking like I will buy Emotiva's new processor
I considered going with the Anthem AVM 70 over my current Yamaha CXA 5100 but after reading about the bugs I think I'll stay with the Yamaha. Thoughts?
I haven't heard the Yamaha, so it is hard for me to say. I can say the Anthem operates pretty smooth now and ARC seems to work flawlessly, at least for me.
Please compare the Monolith HTP-1 to the AVM 70
What amp or avr would you recommend for B&W 702 s2, htm71 s2, 706 s and subowoofer? I have a Marantz sr7010 and I don't like it, it sound too bright to me.
Oh really? Normally the Marantz units are a little more warm sounding. But you could get the Audyssey app and change your response curve a little to smooth out the top end. You could also just turn the treble down until you get a sound you prefer. Have you run Audyssey to calibrate your room?
@@SpecOfTechI don't Audyseey app for my sr7010 I guess it the app comes with newer models. I did try to adjust the treble, but still I don't like it. Planning to order an Emotiva xpa 5 gen 3 for my Marantz , but if that doesn't work I will order one of these: anthem mrx 540 or nad t778 or cram avr10. Any other suggestion?
Emotiva sounds like separates, which is a major plus for folks who can't afford them. The Anthem sounds like a receiver, although it being a good one. All recievers are now temporary out at Emotiva, guess there doing the right thing and working out the bugs. Will buy right after hoping they been taken care of.
If you had to choose from 3 which would you live with just demo and throw away out of psa tv42 ipal, lfe 24 ultra and jtr Captivator 4000ULF?
Sorry, I am not sure I fully understand what you are asking. Are you asking me if I would prefer the TV42 Ipal, LFE24 Ultra or CAP4000? I am not sure what you mean by "live with just demo and throw away out..."?
@@SpecOfTech it's similar to the (f**k marry kill game) but subwoofer style lol
Great comparison my choice Antem avm 70 he played i max enhanced
For me sound quality matters
If anything, you are probably being a little too easy on the XMC-2. I've owned it for a half year now and it's really a product still in beta. The ARC feature drops out constantly, so you are forced to use an optical connection if you want your TV apps to feed into your XMC-2 ... so no ATMOS from Disney+ unless you use a 3rd party streaming device. There's also random snap-crackle-pops when switching inputs or modes. There's more annoyances than I care to type.
Great comparison Barrett. I could see it being very frustrating when planning a comparison where you think you can start after a 1-2 hour set up and end up wasting most of the day before you can start.
I was really interested in the sound comparison between these units so I got out my good headphones and headphone amp to try to see what differences I could hear.
John Wick - Emotiva you definitely hear more bass and the glass was a bit higher and cleaner where it separated from the bass better.
I didn't notice a difference in the second demo
Ready Player One - this was tougher to hear the difference because the action movies around so much and changed directions that you could not compare similar effects. You noticed a touch bass but no o couldn't notice any other differences.
Moving to music, I could definitely hear a difference where I felt the Anthem was richer and the vocals seemed much more natural. The Emotiva sounded like you were in a concert hall and the Anthem sounded like the band was right in your room and the fireplace was burning in the corner.
I am more of a movie guy than a music guy and the Emotiva had the edge there, but at the same time, these are out of the box demos and after you fine tune it to your personal tastes, I don't think one would perform better than the other so you cant go wrong with either. To me, it would come down to looks and I think Anthem has one of the better looking units on the market, also since I am Canadian, I would have to stick with the Canadian company in Anthem, but I would be pleased to have either one in my rack.
Thanks again for the hard work and honest reviews brother
Thanks for the input my man. I honestly appreciate it, t is always great to find out what others think as well. I think you nailed it 100% based on the sound demos in the video. I would have loved to see how Dirac worked, maybe that could have been the difference that edged out some more sound quality out this unit. I hope Emotiva puts the effort in to get this unit working better, they could have a real winner if they get it operating like a top tier unit, because the sound quality is already there. Cheers buddy!
@@SpecOfTech Agreed, the XMC-2 has been out long enough where it should run like clockwork and setup should be a piece of cake. I could not imagine people that don't have your experience trying to set it up. I would say that 6-9 months after a new unit is released, any issues should be fixed with updated. To me, it seems like Emotiva out everything into performance and operation was ignored and I don't like that way of thinking. A Ferrari can perform with the best of them but if you can't figure out how to turn the radio or a/c on then it kills the experience.
Keep up the awesome work!!
When it comes to software capability and quality control, I think some of the comments here about sticking with Marantz may be spot on. I have an AVM 60 that has issues that were never resolved - it doesn't connect to the wired network reliably for example. A bigger issue is Anthem introduced a problem in the last several software releases which make it impossible to set the system level. They have never fixed it.
Watching the review, I would rate the two products at best equal, neither acceptable with regards to software. Either component is a huge risk with regards to long term software reliability.
That may be a problem with the AVM60, but that AVM70 does not suffer from the problem. I do agree, companies need to get these issues sorted out much faster. A product on the market for several months or even several years, should not be experiencing anything more than a brief hiccup.
Is that a test bench or an or your actual HT room?
It is my home theater, why do you ask?
@@SpecOfTech just curious / THANKS!
How about Marantz av8805 in comparsion? Any thoughts how it performs in relation?
I have not personally heard the AV8805, so it would be tough for me to say. I have heard great things about that processor, I imagine it would be a great comparison as well.
I love my AV8805! ❤️
This matches my experience with the XMC-2, except I did find it a tad bright with some music. I never had a chance to try out Dirac on it though. My Dirac kit arrived the day I boxed it up to send it back. I was nervous switching to the HTP-1 thinking it wouldnt sound as good, but found I liked it even better. No to mention that it functions so much better than the Emotiva. I really believe there's no reason to buy one of the Emotiva processors today. I could go on in detail with my reasoning but I believe they deserve to be left behind.
So which one has HDMI2.1 8K60FPS? Sounds like if you don't want bugs and just want everything to work out of the box again buy the Marantz 7706 or the Yamaha Aventage CXA-5200
Neither of these 2 units have HDMI 2.1. I will say that my Anthem AVM70 sounded better than the Marantz AV7706 I had before it.
That’s why I would like a review of the Marantz 8805A, which had 2.1 and
eARC. Would it hold up to the Anthem and the Emotiva, that’s what I would like to know.
Anthem sounded muffled to me during the music demos, while the Emotiva sounded sharper/brighter. BUT that Anthem is so damn SEXY!!
You should invite Youthman for a tour😁
Not thinking Youthman would want to fly from Florida to Calgary for a room tour, but Calgary and Edmonton would have some great theaters to check out!
haha maybe one day. Him and I actually chat pretty regularly, and have even gamed together...he is good people!
@@SpecOfTech you should and subject him to those 24 inch subs 😁
Im having an emotiva xmc- 2 problem that requires sending back the unit.. it is stuck on rebooting. hopefully they will replace the unit and I don’t have more problems, besides this current problem that has eliminated watching movies at all- when it was working I had random annoying glitches and that was not fun.if I’m buying another processor I’m the future it will be Anthem 90, much more expensive but hopefully another step up in sound quality and subwoofer(s)control
sorry you had to much trouble. It's too bad that Emotiva doesn't take their software and UI more seriously, because their gear sounds amazing.
Can a emotiva Xmc-2 be configured without Dirac live. It looks like it’s complicated and not accurate.
Yes you can set it up without DIRAC. The only downside is that there will be no eq'ing to help flatten the response for your specific room. There are 2 separate parametric EQ's you can manually control, if that is something you are familiar with.
Wybrał bym Emotiva która według mnie była bardziej wyraźna (ostrzejsza) ale i też bardziej naturalna. Anthem był wręcz zamulony. Posiadam kino domowe Onkyo TX RZ 840 w układzie 7.2.4 ale na końcówkach mocy Emotiva. W stosunku Jakość - Cena, jestem bardzo zadowolony
I wish the anthem made more use of their color display! 😎
You upgraded speakers? What are those? Yea I rather stick with the AVM70 based on reliability.
I did upgrade, my previous video was about the upgrade, I have posted a link below. These speakers are Legacy Audio Focus SE towers and the Marquis XD center channel.
ua-cam.com/video/Lab9PNtTAqU/v-deo.html
I’d stick with my old denon ci using it as a prepro kenwood thx amp
Great video 👍 keep em comin. So Lucas gave you a working processor and your sending him back a broken one 😉 uh oh 😂. I thought I might be one step closer to deciding what my processor upgrade would be. But since I’m still 6 months out I’ll assume emotive will get these bugs worked out. But that slow GUI and refresh would get very annoying very quickly. Boy if you can get your hands on a JBL SDP 55 and compare it to the avm70 would be HUGE for me. Great demos. I’m gonna look for that dolby Atmos spherical 😊 No wonder I couldn't find it....it's called Audioshere....ua-cam.com/video/2zo3v-jv5pw/v-deo.html
Lol, it broke itself...I swear! I would love to get my hands on the JBL SDP-55, maybe they will send me one someday. I will have to double check, but I have the demo on a hard drive connected to my Nvidia Shield. I was not the one that loaded the demo on the HDD, but I was quite sure it was called Spherical. I am out of town, I will have to take a look when I get back.
Please DO Review on ARENDAL SOUND
The Xmc-2 does have its few set up difficulties and a little laggy in the UI but once it’s set up and you don’t have to mess with the settings really ever again unless you change speakers or houses the Xmc-2 wins in sound quality hands down and as much as the lagging and extra steps - raspberry to set up is annoying I would rather have the hands down sound quality greatness of the Xmc-2. Ya ya sentence run on but truth don’t have time for grammar today…lol
Just curious if you have compared both side by side? I can't definitely see one sounding slightly better than the other, much based on personal preference, but I can't one unit ever being head and shoulders better than the other when comparing any models in the same class.
How is the Onkyo with dirac? These processors seem too problematic.
I'm not sure how the Onkyo is yet, the model I would like to get in to review is not released yet. I am curious as well, they sure do offer a lot for their price.
You could just save us the trouble and posted a comment saying the Emotiva XMC-2 sucks... It sounds they released an unfinished beta product. I'm very happy with my Denon X6500H. I don't see any reason to upgrade to a processor.