After much waiting and debating, it's almost time to upgrade my surround sound processor. As with all things, there are many options and I think I have narrowed down my choices to 3 alternatives: the Anthem AVM 60, Marantz AV 7702 MKII, or a factory refurbished Marantz AV8802A.

This processor will be supported by my existing amps and used exclusively for surround sound duties. I have a separate two channel system for music reproduction. Part of the reason I invested in the two channel setup was to offset the primary differences between the 7702 and the 8802. I felt a 7702 with a separate two channel setup would be the best of both worlds for less cost; then Anthem announced the AVM 60...

In examining the pros and cons, I came up with the following:

Marantz AV7702 MKII- All the surround processor I need. Rock solid performance and support. Loaded with a ton of options that I will likely never use. Full warranty and local dealer support. When splitting hairs, probably the lowest sound quality of the three which will raise the "what it" questions.

Marantz AV8802A- Improved sound quality, same laundry list of features, Marantz customer support for future firmware upgrades, and long term reliability. The potential pitfalls are running the risk of a horrible experience with purchasing a factory refurbished unit and lack of local dealer support.

Anthem AVM 60- Top of the line audio reproduction, Anthem Room Correction software, local dealer support, and all the audio features and quality I should need for some time. The downsides include lack of video processing, brand new model with no track record, and questionable manufacturer support for idiosyncrasies. I've known people with Anthem units that seemed to be plagued by glitches that were extremely difficult to resolve.

Ultimately, I will be upgrading to Atmos/DTS:X in my theater and I do want these capabilities. I will also upgrade to 4K/UHD when an updated Oppo and reasonably priced projectors become available. I'm done with Integra and Onkyo. Yamaha, though a good brand, doesn't appeal to me as it seems to lack the features of Marantz and is not on par with Anthem in terms of audio reproduction.

I'd appreciate the opinion of forum members before I make the leap. This is no small investment and I want the purchase to last at least 5 years. I've never owned anything from Marantz or Anthem, so any first hand experiences you may be willing to share would be appreciated.

Cheers,

T Cobe

Sorry, I can't help much as most of what is on your list is outside of my budgetary experience, but you made a comment that I keyed on. Anthem glitchyness? I'm going to be buying a new AVR as soon as the CES dust settles and I can see what might be worth waiting for. Anthem was at the top of my list but bizarre or inconsistent behavior will drive me nuts. What have you seen / heard in the past?

Imahawki,

I think the AVRs have a solid reputation and a long track record. I would imagine a few bugs may be possible with Atmos but I think they have the AVRs down. The new pre/pro concerns me a little.

The AVM 60 is replacing the AVM 50. The AVM 50v 3D is $6,500! The new AVM 60 is going to be $3,000. Something is amiss here... That's a drastic price cut. Using the same chassis is one thing but if this unit is essentially a stripped down AVR, then this is a new direction for Anthem and it makes me nervous. I have know a few people locally that have had issues with their expensive Anthem processors. It's not a statistically significant number but it's enough to make me want to reach out and get some more opinions.

Cheers,

T Cobe

Thanks for the response. Anthem just announced their new models so there won't be any news coming out of them at CES, but I'm waiting to hear from some of the other usual suspects Rotel, NAD, Cambridge.

T Cobe wrote: Imahawki,

I think the AVRs have a solid reputation and a long track record. I would imagine a few bugs may be possible with Atmos but I think they have the AVRs down.
T Cobe

I can tell you that many of our dealers sell the Anthem AVR's and we have heard no reports of them having any issues or "glitchiness".

I can tell you that many of our dealers sell the Anthem AVR's and we have heard no reports of them having any issues or "glitchiness".

Moderator Dude,

Any thoughts on the upcoming AVM 60? I'm confident in the AVRs' reliability. Are my concerns about the pre/pro unfounded? Thanks.

Cheers,

T Cobe