Specifications

Stereophile Guide to Home Theater
The major difference between THX Cine-
ma 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 mate-
rial. The Anthem amplifier line already had
a 5-channel amplifier suitable for Dolby
Digital/DTS/THX Cinema; the new pro-
duct, the Anthem PVA 7, is designed to
accommodate the amplification require-
ments of THX Surround EX.
Anthem AVM 20:
Description and Design
One indication of how much the AVM 20
offers in features and control flexibility is
the fact that the number of connectors in
the back is 105—and that’s not counting the
power-cord socket or the space for the IEEE
1394/PHAST interface provision! I have no
interest in multi-room/multi-zone setups,
but those who do will appreciate the AVM 20’s
four independent signal paths, with full
control over three zones, wake and sleep
timers for each zone, and an array of IR
inputs and emitters. There are ample single-
ended 2-channel audio/video inputs, plus
a “purist” 2-channel analog balanced XLR
audio input. The balanced outputs can be
assigned to Zone 2, minimizing noise pick-
up by what are often very long cables. Tone
controls are source-specific; if you decide
to, say, boost the treble for AM radio, you
don’t have to remember to set it back to
normal for other sources.
The analog 6-channel input, intended for
SACD/DVD-Audio sources, can be desig-
nated as either Analog-Direct—which
bypasses Bass Management, Tone Controls,
and Surround Modes—or Analog-DSP. In
the latter mode, it performs A/D conversion
of the signals, enabling all the DSP-imple-
SONIC FRONTIERS ANTHEM AVM 20 & ANTHEM PVA 7
Sources
Rotel RDV-1080 DVD player
Sony DVP-NS900V DVD player
Sony DVP-NS500V DVD player
Sony DVP-S7000 DVD player
Sony SCD-XA777ES SACD/CD player
JVC HR-4700U SVHS VCR
Display
Marantz VP8000 DLP projector
Sharp XV-Z9000U DLP projector
Dream Vision Pantograph 160 screen
Power Amp
Bryston 9B-ST
Speakers
Dunlavy SC-I (5)
Paradigm Reference Studio/20 v.2 (2)
Infinity IL 120s subwoofer
Velodyne HGS-10 subwoofer
Cables
Digital: Kimber Kable D-60
Interconnect: Nordost Blue Heaven
Speaker: AudioQuest Type 6+
Video: Monster M1000v
Misc.
PS Audio Ultimate Outlet AC conditioner
Chang Lightspeed CLS HT1000 AC
conditioner
AudioPrism QuietLine LF-1 Mk.II parallel
AC filters
REVIEW SYSTEM