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Anthem STR "Convert Analog" sounds much worse

I've spent all afternoon playing around with different settings with subs etc.  On this preamp, there's a setting to "Convert Analog".. This allows you to use the ARC and subwoofer outputs - hence you get to use the internal crossover, phase etc for the subs.. Really nice feature.  I'm not even using ARC yet...

But, I noticed a significant improvement in quality and dynamics with it OFF, allowing my Lumin T2 to flow straight through the Anthem.  It's louder by probably 3db too (not measured).  

I have not heard of any audiophiles more picky than me mentioning this. 

I've asked this question before about connecting the Lumin T2 this way... Am I negating any T2 dac magic by sending it through the Anthem's dac engine?  I was told NO.  But it sure sounds like it now!

Again, I'm not using ARC yet, maybe that's where I'll hear a significant improvement but as for now, I like running my subs from the preouts (giving me no xover so speakers play full bandwidth).  

Anyone in dallas want to come teach me more about  this?
dtximages

Showing 4 responses by djones51

djones51
4,947 posts
 
Yes,  DSP is digital signal processing so it's done in the digital realm of the Anthem. All you needed was a basic streamer. In order to get the best of what DSP can do is run the subs through it with the main speakers. You will be able to keep the bass of the mains the subs will augment them. As Mike pointed out it will probably sound different until you get used to what bass should be like without peaks and nulls and the God awful boom. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Even using a crossover in the Anthem your speakers still play down to their limit. It's not like you're setting a cliff where everything below the crossover point goes to the subs it gradually reduces dB along a slope at the crossover frequency. In order to figure out if your investment in room correction is worth it is to try it. The AKM DAC in the STR is pretty good in order to see what it can do try connecting the server and integrate the subs through ARC. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
If you're using analog out on the Lumin connecting to analog in on the STR and selecting convert analog you are in essence not using the DAC on the Lumin as the STR is converting the analog signal to digital then converting back to analog. Try connecting a digital out on the Lumin to digital in on the STR and see how it sounds. The best thing to do is run ARC as it will integrate the subs better.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
It might help if you read the manual.

The bass manager divides the audio range into two bands suitable for subwoofer/satellite speaker systems. The result is
that the main speakers don’t need to play bass as loudly or as deeply since it gets picked up by the subwoofer. Note that a
crossover does not suddenly cut frequencies in a cliff-like profile, but rolls them off according to a slope. If set to 80 Hz, for
example, frequencies lower than 80 Hz are still played by the main speaker while transitioning them to the subwoofer.

The range is 25 to 160 Hz in 5 Hz steps, or Off which disables the crossover.
Setting the crossover to the lowest number on your speaker’s specification page is unlikely to provide the best result.
Instead, setting it to twice this frequency or thereabout, which is an octave higher, ensures that the speaker’s woofer will still
play to its low frequency limit but at levels that present less of a struggle for it.
If you will be using the personal computer version of ARC, you do not need to select the crossover frequency since it will be
set while running the program.


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