Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Upgrade a 7.1 base level Axiom Set to 11.2

As an owner of two denon's x series amps, although not the one you have your eye on. No hum, and I use dynamic volume on medium. Their interfaces and network capabilities are hard to beat. I've never used Anthem, they seem over priced imho. But, the lesson I've learned, get the cheapest receiver with pre outs on it that has the features you need and no more. Then get power amps. In two years time, you'll want 8k or whatever else is new, just replace the cheap receiver. If you have any speakers that require 4ohm capability or large wattage this becomes even more important.

Actually that $2500 seems quite high?
Well actually it is close I got a quote $2400cdn at Peak Audio Halifax?
Are you in the US or Canada ? USA would be less

I wish I could see it working out that it was cost effective to get a pre-amp 11.2 processor that I change out frequently, and then get an 11 channel amp.

Problem is there seems to be absolutely no price break between receivers and pre-amp processors, or if there is it's so small I can't see much difference.

Glad to hear your Denon unit worked out okay, the complaints I'm reading seem to be only with this particular model.

I'm in the US. Cheapest I've found so far is $2499 from Crutchfield. Would you know of a place that ships to the US that would be less expensive?

Found it for $2099 on E-bay, but yikes 3 weeks shipping and no returns.

I'm in Canada .... so no not sure. But I see you asked Randy about his Anthem . He's in Iowa he would be the man to ask. Nickbuol is another however, he got real lucky and got his from Canada before they caught on that company was cross border shipping. I asked Peak Audio here and they said no cannot ship. They could sell to me and I would have to ship it. But, then if it ever required warranty then it needs to buy shipped back here then there and back etc

I was also just looking into the pre-amp and separates route to replace my aging all in one Pioneer. I came to the same conclusion that you've got to pay to play in that camp. Would love to invest in the Axiom ADA's but just can't afford/justify it when an all in one HT receiver is basically the same price as the processor/pre-amp. Supply and demand I guess?

If the people are getting hum, it generally is caused by the ground loop feedback. I will admit that some houses are far more susceptible to the issue than others. I have had some equipment that just won't work in my house. I could not get Marantz to work here. I had an issue with an Anthem MCA5 amp and my Axiom DSP. Both top end equipment but just they didn't want to play nice with each other in my house.



The new Anthem amp is pretty stripped down when it comes to all the bells and crap with streaming. They don't have Apple Airplay or a media server control built in. Anthem does do DTS Play-Fi, but I just turned that off. They don't have very good remote software for Ipad of Android. But what they do have is great sound.

The advice of get a Receiver that has pre-outs was what I followed for quite a few years. I never really got the sound that I was looking for, and wasted more money and time trying different pieces only to say that didn't improve anything and I know this should sound better. I wasted time trying to plug in different amps into a receiver and just didn't get any better sound. Then I got the Anthem and it was like turing on a light in a dark room. Suddenly it was all possible.

I have not tried all the possible makes models out there. Take a look at who owns Denon, and then every other brand they own. They are all basically the same box and you pay for the name on the front. I like Anthem as they are themselves. (Funded by Paradigm)

Have you tried the Anthem web site to find a local dealer?

OK, I'm confused.
I was just looking on the Anthem website. Can someone explain why the AVM 60 (pre-amp/processor only) lists at $3299 while the MRX-720 (pre-amp/processor + 7 channels of amplification) lists at $2599 when they seem to have the exact same processing features?
The only appreciable difference I see is the pre-amp balanced XLR outputs on the AVM 60 vs RCA only pre-amp outputs on the MRX. Why would I pay more for less? Are XLR outputs worth so much more than amplification?
I must be missing something.

AVM 60

MRX-720

Don't forget the Toroidal Transformer. Not sure If that and XLR are worth that much extra.

Thats why I was going with the MRX720. Use my MCA5 for Atmos and find a MCA30 or get a new MCA325 for the Front three. The MCA30 and MCA325 have Two Toroidal Transfomers. One for L/R and One for the Centre.

Your paying for enhanced design, higher quality components. I went from a Denon reciever to a pre/pro and it was worth every penny. I am sorry i wasted my hard earned on a receiver at all though it works well enough for the bedroom. When i went seperates it was like a veil was lifted, i know that sounds cliche but it is what it is. Like has already been said, ya gotta pay to play. My next purchase is a PJ and it wont be a 1500 unit , got spend 5g to get there.