Friday, August 19, 2011

Anthem AVM 20

Some of you may have heard of Anthem, a company out of Canada that produces audiophile class preamplifiers, processors, and amplifiers, among other products. Today, I'm reviewing the Anthem AVM 20. I purchased this unit after the HDMI craze and was able to get it at a formidable discount when compared to it's MSRP of $3400.00 USD. I was looking for something that could produce 5.1 channel audio with the same fidelity as 2 channel audio and an option for XLR balance preamplifier outputs. The AVM 20 fit the bill and had all the features I hoped for.

Initially, I thought that everything I had read was simply hype. How could this unit really be as good as everyone is stating it is. Anthem even offered firmware updates via a serial port. It all seemed too good to be true. I was happily mistaken.

There is no way to accurately describe the clarity of the audio from this unit. I am using the same solid core silver interconnects to a separate amplifier as I was before. Where my previous unit had hum and hiss, this one did not. It is silent at low volume with no feedback interference to speak of. The audio resolution difference was like the difference between DVD video playback and 1080p. When I thought I could hear no more detail, I was surprised with more. Every little nuance of the music passes through this unit with perfect detail and clarity. This unit has to have one of the best DACs I have ever heard. It is simply astounding.

After considering how unbelievable the audio was, I began to think about the philosophy behind such a unit. It was clear to me that Anthem had focused on delivering accurate playback of the source material. It seems like they have accomplished that quite well. For me to say that is a huge compliment to Anthem because I am one of those guys that will not adjust the bass or treble to make up for any room/equipment inadequacies. I test and run everything with all the settings set to flat.

The AVM 20 user interface is amazing. With individual crossovers for each speaker and a subwoofer crossover setup like I have never seen, this unit provides masterful control over all channels. Because there is so much control, the UI can be a bit intimidating and even a little confusing, but with a little effort, one can easily overcome that and learn how to adjust whatever they desire. It is a beautiful thing.

Conclusion:
This unit is adequate for 2 channel or surround processing. It's fidelity is exceptional and hard to beat. It is the best preamp I have ever tested and has all the bells and whistles anyone could desire from its era. Sure, HDMI would be nice, but if you really want to keep up with the technology game, Athem will accommodate your need for a price. Anyone would be lucky to own this product from Anthem. If you can find one for a few hundred dollars, or a bit more, jump on it.