@m-db - I should add that I have a number of GIK acoustics bass traps as well which really help control the worst of the room issues, so that gives me a little help in using sub-optimal locations. At the end my sub is against the left wall about 1/3rd of the way forward from the speaker wall.
Anthem ARC and Subwoofers - A quick review
For a while now I’ve been saying that a good room correction system was the best choice for most music lovers looking to integrate a subwoofer. Getting a subwoofer to sound glorious is hard work and ARC systems like the Anthem Genesis system promises to fix.
I’ve recently gotten to use an Anthem MRX 540 and evaluated it’s performance. To make a long story short it does a lot of things right, and stops juuuuuust short of doing great.
Like many ARC systems before it, Genesis leaves your system sounding too bright and lean. Not enough bass and too much treble. Here’s the good news: These issues are relatively easy to overcome and what it does right is the hard part:
- Setting the crossover slopes and points
- Minimizing bass nodes
- Integrating multiple measurement points
The overall process to getting great sound with Genesis is the following:
- Measure the room
- Let Genesis do it's math magic and accept all of the settings but then ...
- Change the slope of the subwoofer and main speakers
- Raise the bass about 4 dB
I’ve written about the technical steps in detail here:
- ...
- 25 posts total
I’ve just begun tweaks using ARC Genesis on my STR pre/amp. Before doing any real analysis to create a correction curve, I used the tool (the name escapes me) to monitor the system as it plays. It allows you to take screenshots of the curve indefinitely until you turn it off. I’ve found it useful in adjusting room settings like speaker and sub location, spacing, distance from walls, etc (which I thought I had set pretty well). As the saying goes, numbers don’t lie. I’m still playing with these parameters while the software listens. Once I achieve the flattest curve I can get, I’ll run the real test for correction curve. This noob has a lot to learn. |
@erik_squires Hello. I enjoy your efforts on this site. My experience with the Johnson Bros, Anthem / Paradigm (no experience with Anthem Room Correction) eco system has been a disappointment. I'm guessing their take on, or house sound goals are quit different than my presentation tastes. Does ARC require or strongly suggest the subwoofer to be positioned within a rooms predetermined (measured or subwoofer crawl) standing wave bass mode prior to any adjustments? Does ARC provide a novice an easy to use auto/manual parameter adjustment process for a discreet low frequency audio system without digitizing the analog nature of the main system? Reading @letshearit above I'm frustrated by the lengths people must go to simply integrate a low frequency system. m |
Hi @m-db While I think ARC does a decent job in the bass area, the Anthem MRX does not properly allow for decoding of Dolby Surround encoded signals when they come from a Dolby Digital 2.0 source. 100% of Netflix seems to be Dolby Digital, but many are 2.0, and the Anthem refuses to use the center or surrounds in these cases. The ARC does not require the subwoofer to be positioned in any particular location, but if you are wondering arout room modes I strongly encourage you to check the AM Acoustics room mode simulator. ARC digitizes everything. Having said all that, I’m about to switch to Marantz. I’m not sure how good their room correction is, but the Audyssey system apparently allows me full control over parametric EQ settings which is kind of my jam.
Best,
Erik |
- 25 posts total