Anthem D2V Preamp/processor

For those of us with combined audio and video systems, the holy grail has been sound that is as good for stereo listening as it is for movies. Typically the weakest link in the chain has been in the electronics side of things, and most often as not it is the preamplifier that is often at fault. Enter the Anthem D2V, heading a short list of the world's best preamp/processors that actually do an exemplary job of preserving soundstaging, clarity, and fidelity when playing back stereo recordings in all their 2-channel glory. Of course it also possesses a first-rate video processor for getting the best picture up on the screen, and yes it has a remarkable number of inputs (coax, toslinl and AES/EBU on the digital side, single-ended (RCA) and balanced inputs on the analog side, all individually assignable, as are the video inputs) and extraordinary flexibility. As well, it has a superb room correction system (Anthem ARC), but with a telling difference: it allows the user to set the parameters of it's use, which is important. There are plenty of room correction systems out there (Audyssey in it's various forms, MCACC, and so on) which all do a good job in the bass, but seem to get less useful the farther up in frequency they range. Here is where the Anthem ARC really comes into it's own, as after measuring with it's calibrated microphone, you are able to choose where, from 200 Hz up, where to tell ARC to quit. Hence you can let room correction do it's excellent job of sorting out the problematic bass area, but let your speakers do their unprocessed best above. In addition, you can "finesse" the warmth region by the ability to alter the response in the critical mid-bass range (Anthem's setting here in ARC is called the "room gain"region). All in all, a remarkable tool. That Anthem's D2V is such a good performer in the audio domain is perhaps not so peculiar-it's roots are as an audio company, and the Statement series from Anthem has always been about it's competence in not just the A/V domain, but especially it's audio capabilities. From Anthem's website: AS GOOD AS IT GETS WHEN IT COMES TO DIGITAL AUDIO AND DIGITAL VIDEO PROCESSING SOUND FROM HDMI SOURCES PLAYS PERFECTLY, AT LEAST IT DOES IF YOU’RE USING AN D2v … Why? In the D2v, all eight HDMI inputs are connected through high-performance TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) timing regenerators and multiplexers. The receiver contains a programmable equalizer and a Clock Data Recovery (CDR) function for each of the three TMDS pairs in an HDMI or DVI signal. The TMDS data outputs are regenerated and perfectly aligned to the regenerated TMDS clock signal, creating an extremely clean low-jitter DVI/HDMI signal that is easily decoded by the HDMI receiver. This is particularly useful for cleaning up a noisy/jittery source, or when a long or low-quality cable is being used. BROADCAST-QUALITY DIGITAL VIDEO PROCESSING Video Format Conversion—the latest-generation Sigma Designs VXP broadcast-quality digital image processor (supporting deep color and better-than-ever video algorithms!) converts any SD or HD video standard to other video standards. Quadruple video output configuration makes it easy to switch from one configuration to another. Superior image quality using per-pixel processing and motion-adaptive de-interlacing ensures optimal image sharpness and picture resolution. Dynamic directional interpolation eliminates jaggy artifacts found in traditional de-interlacing algorithms. Full film-mode detection for all SD and HD inputs. Video transcoding allows S-Video and Component Video inputs to be digitally processed and enhanced, and then routed through the Component or HDMI outputs. Each source can be adjusted independently for best picture. ENHANCED VIDEO PERFORMANCE Adjustable cropping Aspect ratio control Chroma bug filter Frame lock Gamma correction Adjustable noise reduction Adjustable detail enhancement Custom output resolution and timing via PC utility All on-screen displays are shown through HDMI and Component Video On-screen display shows adjustments being made (can be disabled) All functions are available for HD input STATE-OF-THE-ART DIGITAL AUDIO PROCESSING The 24-Bit/192-kHz precision upsampler operates on all digital audio signals. The D2’s DACs also incorporate 128X oversampling to increase the sample rate to 24.576 MHz, ensuring the best phase and frequency response possible. Measurable results reflect exceptionally flat frequency response and THD+N in the upper frequencies. This is up to twenty times lower than some of the best high-end outboard DACs, resulting in a much higher level of transparency for multichannel music and movies. Sonic performance is astounding. Smoother high-frequency response, superior detail, and better image focus—a far more transparent window on the original performance. Anthem’s Own Design! Two dual-core digital signal processing (DSP) engines, our own DSP design, offer a total of 800 MIPS to allow decoding of the new HD audio standards: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio. More than enough processing power to handle even the most complex program material with matchless precision. Triple 4 Mbit 8ns external memory is large enough to ensure that the DSP engines never run out of resources. An impressive resumé of superior-quality component parts: Audio-grade film capacitors and operational amplifiers Low-ESR electrolytic capacitors Audio-grade signal-coupling capacitors High-value (1,000 μF) ADC reference voltage decoupling capacitors for lowest possible THD+N below 1 kHz Super-efficient switching power supply: Low-noise, low-emissions design Multiple-synchronized dithered-frequency isolation stages ensure exceptionally quiet audio and video operation and excellent electromagnetic compatibility Fourteen independently regulated output stages ensure optimal operating environment 4-layer hand-designed motherboard includes separate power and groundplanes. Independent 6- and 8-layer DSP, A/D and D/A converter boards—A/D and D/A use separate analog and digital planes as well as separate power and groundplanes for remarkably low noise. All critical signal paths are surrounded by groundplanes. Fully buffered audio/video inputs for minimum crosstalk. State-of-the-art video switching circuitry is laid out on isolated, independent 2-layer glass-epoxy circuit boards. Highest-precision thru-hole passive components. Unparalleled analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion eliminates noise in the 20 to 80-kHz frequency band thanks to the high quality of our ADC and DAC designs: Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC): Capable of up to 24-bit x 192-kHz resolution Six stereo analog attenuators—one for each channel of the 6-channel input, promote greater dynamic range and an impressive reduction in distortion Digital-to-Analog Conversion (DAC): Converters operate at their full 24-bit x 192-kHz resolution Switched-capacitor output filters significantly reduce the DAC’s sensitivity to rapid fluctuations in bit rate The built-in state-of-the-art upsampler allows the DACs to run at the highest speed (192 kHz) regardless of the incoming digital bitstream, and with extremely low back ground noise up to almost 100 kHz High-accuracy clock generator (49.152 MHz, ±0.001%) eliminates the potential for errors in timing, thereby contributing to a significant reduction in the distortion common in D/A conversion … AND FOR THE AUDIO PURIST Analog-Direct available on all inputs Tone Bypass disables Bass/Treble adjustment Balanced 2-channel XLR digital input for best digital signal True-Balanced 2-channel analog input for best analog signal True-Balanced analog outputs provide best noise rejection and purest signal transmission AND THEN THERE’S ANTHEM ROOM CORRECTION (ARC) Even when the finest speakers are perfectly positioned, the room itself still has a dramatic impact on a system’s sound, an impact more profound than that of any individual component. Various solutions have fallen in and out of favor over the years, but none has solved the problem of “the room.” Until ARC. Using proprietary processes and the power of your PC the ARC system, years in development and included with your Anthem Statement D2v, analyzes each speaker’s in-room sound and then computes the required correction to yield optimal performance from every speaker. It’s a process that takes less than five minutes! Anthem’s approach is a true audiophile solution to the problems of the room. ARC is garnering rave reviews across the industry. For more information, see the ARC data sheet in the downloads & support section. This unit is in exceptional condition, just returned from a trip to Anthem to have it's front panel display replaced (worked fine, but some pixels were dim) and the whole unit checked to make sure it was performing flawlessly. I am the original owner, it has always been used in a dedicated, non-smoking room, and all original accessories (remote(s), antennas, box and packing, etc) are included. There are no cosmetic flaws. I will accept Paypal (please add 3% for fees), a certified check after it clears, or a bank transfer, and I am a verified paypal member and long-time Audiogon member. Please add shipping, which will be insured, by FedEx (typical) or UPS.