T Cobe wrote: The AVM 60 is here and firing on all cylinders. I couldn't be happier! My Integra was definitely the weak link in my system. The benefits are more than I had hoped for. The sound is already significantly better, particularly the center channel, but the improvement to the picture is a huge boost! I guess my Integra's HDMI board was going bad. The video pass through of the AVM 60 has improved my resolution, brightness, and color!

I'm not going to do any critical listening yet and the ARC will have to wait a week or two. The surround channels are more present and the detail all around is much clearer. All smiles here!

Cheers,

T Cobe

Great to hear. Keep us updated. When you said you haven't run ARC yet, have you level balanced all the channels?

Yes indeed. I set the crossover frequencies and balanced the channels with my sound level meter. I normally run my center a few dB high but had to turn it down to 75 dB to match the rest of the channels: sounds great! Way more detail.

Cheers,

T Cobe

And set the approximate distances. Probably need to tune it a bit more but I wanted to program my Harmony remote. Up and running. I don't want to jinx it, but smooth sailing so far. The trolls on AVS had me worried.

Cheers,

T Cobe

Oh boy! Watching Mission Impossible Rogue Nation and it's spectacular!! Detail, dynamics, openness, ambiance, clarity...it's all there. Time for the motorcycle chase scene!

Cheers,

T Cobe

Well, I just hooked up the Sunfire Theater Grand amp I purchased on Audiogon. With the storm in the midwest it was delayed a little. I listened to some music, then I watched Jurassic World, then listened to a little more music.

I'm extremely happy with this purchase. I actually am a little surprised at how big a difference I think I'm hearing. I previously owned an Atlantic Technology 7 channel amp that I added to an AVR and I don't feel like I noticed as big a difference. That could be the quality of the associated gear I had at the time, it could be that my ear is better trained, it could be poor auditory memory, it could be placebo.

I won't gush on about veils being lifted but here's what I am hearing in a few specific examples. For a couple musical tracks I listened too (Diana Krall and Norah Jones... I'm familiar with the tracks, so sue me) I noticed the following, and it seemed to be noticeable enough that I don't think I'm imagining it. When the track starts you have maybe some piano and / or bass. Maybe some percussion, a brush on the snare, etc. When the vocals come in, I feel like those instruments recede LESS than what I'm used to hearing. Its hard to describe. It doesn't feel like they're at the same volume whereas before they were quieter, it's more of a textural thing. I also distinctly felt like instrument placement within the soundstage was better defined.

And then I hear a bit more attack. The bass on Bluesville from 88 Basie Street instead of going bum bum bum its like habum bum habum. Again, hard to describe and not like slap you in the face. The amp clearly isn't adding sound that wasn't there before.

The final thing - and this is easier to describe - is when watching Jurassic World, I felt like the overall sound was just less harsh. I was listening a little louder than normal but it actually FELT quieter. I can only assume that this is due to less harshness as I said or less distortion.

I don't personally think I'm one to imagine big differences where there are none. I've been fine in the past saying I don't hear a difference or a very little one. I good friend once lent me a very expensive pair of interconnects by my standards to try back when I had a stand alone stereo (maybe the Omega Hemptones) and I literally heard no difference and I told him that. Another good friend was nice enough to lend me his Alpha Dogs haedphones and while I can hear a difference vs. the Mad Dogs I own, it is subtle and I had no problem telling him that.

If I'm deluding myself, I just hope it holds up but I'll repeat that from what I've heard so far, this was a good purchase.

Now just time to save up a little for the Anthem AVM 60.

Moderator wrote:

WayneWilmeth wrote: From what I have read, which is not conclusive of course, DIRAC far surpasses ARC.
Wayne

Just goes to show you, don't make final judgments on audio gear based on what you read. DIRAC does not surpass ARC in functionality, adjustability (within reasonable home-user boundaries) or, most importantly, sound quality. Good alternative to Audyssey, agree with you there, but this comment is not supported by the reality of listening/use experience.

T. Cobe and Imahawki, I am so glad for you guys that you are enjoying yoiur purchases. And that they could even get better as they break in and you get then dialed in.

Moderator Dude, you seem to have rather offhandedly condemned my DIRAC but from what and where? Your own personal experience, Have you tried DIRAC? I use the full version, not the LITE version supplied with the XMC-1. I would sure like to know where your statement came from? If you would be so kind.
God Bless,
Wayne