Specifications

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Things move pretty fast in the

surround-sound preamp-processor mar-

ket. When I first saw the Sonic Frontiers

Anthem AVM 2 a year or so ago, I thought it

looked like an interesting product, so I gave

Sonic Frontiers International a call and

requested a review sample. They told me

that, as good as the AVM 2 was, they had a

new model in the works that would be

superior in both features and sound quality,

and suggested that I review that one when it

became available. I wasn’t altogether sur-

prised—manufacturers are always waiting

for new digital chips and the chance to

incorporate the latest surround format. In

the AVM 20’s case, the most obvious differ-

ences involve upgrading D/A converters

from 24-bit/96kHz to 24/192, more inputs

and outputs, assignable 6-channel analog

inputs with a choice of pass-through or

DSP-controlled bass management, wider

video bandwidth, the inclusion of THX Sur-

round EX, and THX Ultra certification.

EQUIPMENT REPORT

Sonic Frontiers

Anthem AVM 20 &

Anthem PVA 7

AVM 20 THX surround-sound preamp-proces-

sor/tuner with Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital,

DTS, THX-EX, Cinema Logic, music DSP

Audio inputs: 7 analog 2-channel RCA line-

level, 1 analog 2-channel balanced XLR,

analog 6-channel RCA, 7 digital coaxial,

3 digital TosLink, 1 digital AES/EBU

Video inputs: 7 composite, 7 S-video,

2 component

Digital audio outputs: 2 coaxial

Video outputs: 5 composite, 5 S-video,

1 component

Audio outputs: RCA L/R front, Center 1,

Center 2, L/R surround, L/R rear, Sub 1,

Sub 2; same outputs for balanced XLR; 2 L/R

record/tape, Zone 2 L/R, Zone 3 L/R

Audio frequency response: Analog Direct

inputs: 1Hz–140kHz, +0/–3dB. Analog-DSP

inputs: 2Hz–22kHz, +0/–3dB. Digital inputs:

1Hz–22kHz, +0/–3dB.

THD+noise: 6-channel direct inputs: 0.009%.

Analog-Direct inputs: 0.008%. Analog-DSP

inputs: 0.008%. Digital inputs: 0.005%.

Analog input impedance: 20kΩ

Video section: Bandwidth: composite &

S-video: 6MHz, –0.02dB; 70MHz, –3dB.

Component: green, 110MHz, –3dB; red,

90MHz, –3dB; blue, 80MHz, –3dB.

Dimensions: 17

⁄4˝ x 5

⁄4˝ x 14

⁄4˝

(WxHxD)

Weight: 27 lbs (12.2kg)

PVA 7 7-channel power amplifier

Inputs: 7 single-ended RCA, 1 relay trigger

Outputs: 7 pairs speaker binding posts,

1 relay trigger

Power output: 1 channel driven: 125W

into 8Ω, 200W into 4Ω, 300W into 2Ω.

All channels driven: 105W into 8Ω, 140W

into 4Ω

Power bandwidth: 10Hz–80kHz, 125W

@ 8Ω

Frequency response: 5Hz–100kHz,

–2.5dB

Headroom: 1.25dB @ 8Ω, 2.13dB @ 4Ω

THD+noise: <0.02 @ 1kHz, <0.03% @

20kHz

Input sensitivity: 1.12V RMS for 125W

into 8Ω

Input impedance: 10kΩ

Dimensions: 17

⁄4˝ x 5

⁄4˝ x 15

⁄8˝ (WxHxD)

Weight: 47.5 lbs (21.5kg)

Manufacturer

Sonic Frontiers International

3535 Laird Road, Unit 16

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 5Y7

tel. (905) 828-4575

fax (905) 828-4585

www.anthemAV.com

SPECIFICATIONS

Robert Deutsch

SURROUND-SOUND PREAMPLIFIER-

PROCESSOR/TUNER & 7-CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER

Reprinted with permission from Stereophile Guide to Home Theater

Summary of content (8 pages)

PAGE 1
EQUIPMENT REPORT SURROUND-SOUND PREAMPLIFIERPROCESSOR/TUNER & 7-CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER Sonic Frontiers Anthem AVM 20 & Anthem PVA 7 T hings move pretty fast in the surround-sound preamp-processor market. When I first saw the Sonic Frontiers Anthem AVM 2 a year or so ago, I thought it looked like an interesting product, so I gave Sonic Frontiers International a call and requested a review sample.
PAGE 2
Stereophile Guide to Home Theater
PAGE 3
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 The major difference between THX Cinema and THX Surround EX is that the latter requires two more speakers, placed in the rear, which are designed to enhance the sense of ambient envelopment when used with appropriately encoded program material. The Anthem amplifier line already had a 5-channel amplifier suitable for Dolby Digital/DTS/THX Cinema; the new product, the Anthem PVA 7, is designed to accommodate the amplification requirements of THX Surround EX.
PAGE 4
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 mented controls—including full bass management. The latter is exceptionally flexible, as long as the source is Digital or AnalogDSP. (With Analog-Direct, only volume, individual speaker level, balance, and mute still function.
PAGE 5
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 HDTV become more popular, surroundprocessor manufacturers are finally placing more emphasis on preserving the quality of the video signal. The AVM 20’s video section has a claimed bandwidth extending up to 100MHz, which should be more than wide enough for 1080i/720p HDTV and, in theory, should be sufficient even for 1080p. To preserve the purity of the component-video signal path, the AVM 20 omits OSD from that path.
PAGE 6
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 by entering the distance from the listening area to the various speakers. Surround and rear speakers can be designated as dipoles, in which case no delay is used for them. Bass Peak Level is set by gradually increasing the subwoofer level (using the calibration signal) until the subwoofer distorts audibly, then backing off a bit from that level.
PAGE 7
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 Pro Logic and 2-channel stereo material. Just a couple of weeks before deadline, I found out that there was a software update for the AVM 20 available at www.anthemAV.com. Following the simple instructions, I downloaded and installed the software in the AVM 20 using a serial cable, and it worked like a charm. In addition to fixing some minor bugs, the software update makes available the option of maintaining THX processing but turning off its RE-EQ.
PAGE 8
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7 asynchrony is the opposite of what happens naturally, where what you hear always follows what you see. To see if the AVM 20 could correct this problem, I called up the Audio Group Delay submenu and started increasing the audio delay, waiting for the sound and picture to come together. It took a whopping 75 milliseconds of audio delay, but, finally, Ms. Norman’s mouth movements and voice were synchronized.