we are a dealer we have had the anthem avm90 in our reference theater as well as a top of the line Marantz and audio controls maestro series
the NAD m17 is an excellent processor with its main advantages are completely upgradable board based design and the superb blue sound streaming system sonically the avm90 and NADm17 are both equally good however
the Audio Control Mastro x9 was in a clearly superior sounding processor over the avm 90
the audio control uses all ESS9038pro DACS one per channel these same DAC chips are used in many 15-20k audiophile stereo DACS.
so unless you are going to spend 20k on a storm or Trinov the Audio control is the best processor out there.
Dave and Troy
Audio intellect NJ
former anthem dealer.
Nad Audio Control and Trinov dealers