Essential Install | AVRs, Amps and Playback
DID YOU KNOW: The 1883 eruption on Krakatoa produced the loudest sound ever recorded. It reverberated around the globe
seven times and could be heard 4,000 miles away
Arcam and
Habitech are
looking to create
home cinema
harmony
rest of the kit installed into the rack. You also get a three-
year warranty as standard, cementing our message that
they’re designed to keep going.”
Chris adds: “We also include some advanced web
setup software with every AVENTAGE mode; this is
something that isn’t detailed in the manual so it’s
designed just for installers. Simply enter the IP address of
your AVR with /Setup/ on the end into a web browser and
you’ll be presented with the advanced web interface for
that amp. From here you can change every parameter of
every setting; in its most basic format just renaming inputs
becomes infinitely easier, in more advanced situations,
you can change speaker impedances, parametric
EQ settings per speaker or even input and trigger
assignments. Where this becomes really handy is when
the AVR is somewhere in a rack and you can’t get to it via
IR: just open up your phone, tablet or laptop and setup
via the web interface. Everything is live so no need to
upload/reset etc, just make changes and away you go.
“Some of the installers we work with are able to setup
their amps before they go to site, so they know what
inputs are going in and how to assign them, possibly
based on defaults. This is all possible using our web setup
software – all you need is access to the amp.”
More updates are also on the way with TIDAL and
Deezer to sit alongside Qobuz and Spotify – all accessible
via Yamaha’s MusicCast platform. There’s also network
radio and DAB built-in.
Yamaha AVRs also feature Dolby Vision, HDR, HLG,
HDCP and anything networked from the range includes
MusicCast, the brand’s multi-room sharing system. As
well as serving the home cinema sector, Yamaha is keen
to underline the AV hub abilities of its machines, acting
as a nexus for all the home’s content needs. Being able
to stream any audio from the AVR to any other MusicCast
device around the house plays a particular role here and
is something the company promises to keep building on.
So if it’s playing a full 7.2.4 Atmos track or delivering some
tunes to listen to a wireless speaker in the kitchen, the AVR
can do it all. New tech inside the AVRs also include trigger
zone playback, extra zones within the AVR having the
ability to be used as MusicCast master rooms and tech like
extra bass and volume EQ. Chris says the brand is already
working on further enhancements for 2018.
Invision offers a family of options here which should
cover most AV applications.
Anthem MRX AVRs are the third generation of this
particular series and include the MRX520, MRX720
and MRX 1120. Features for the models include the
latest UHD video formats, HDMI 2.0a with HDR and
HDCP 2.2, 18.2 Gbps switching, 4:4:4 at 4K60, 10 bits
and BT.2020. For Hi-Res Audio, there are premium-
quality differential-output D/A converters with 32-bit
conversion and sampling rate optimised filters. Anthem
Room Correction (ARC) is included and has improved
functionality with enhanced correction algorithms,
memory for four speaker configurations and an easier to
use target panel for custom settings.
Anthem has also included DTS Play-Fi technology
(MRX720 and MRX1120), freeing up music over Wi-Fi
options over the DTS App. Key to the appeal of DTS
Play-Fi is that it streams music with no compression and
is an open system, allowing listeners to mix and match
DTS Play-Fi enabled products. Using the Android, iOS,
Kindle Fire or PC Apps, listeners can take advantage of
file formats up to 24-bit/192 kHz using services such as
Tidal and Spotify.
The MRX520 includes five channels, of
amplification, 5.1-channel processing and a rear
panel including seven HDMI inputs (including one
with MHL support), three optical, two coaxial and five
stereo analogue inputs. It also has two parallel HDMI
outputs, (including one with Audio Return Channel),
an optical output that passes through optical and
coaxial input, pre-outs for all channels including two
parallel subwoofer outputs, line output and Zone 2
output. Anthem Room Correction (ARC) system is also
included on all of the range.
The MRX720 includes seven channels making it
suitable for driving 7.1, 5.1.2, and 5.1 plus zone two
systems. With external amplification for height speakers,
the main pre-outs can be used for 7.1.4-channel
systems. The input complement is similar to that of the
MRX520, adding a front HDMI input which also supports
MHL. Other features include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (via
a future software update) and D TS Play-Fi.
Stepping up a gear, the MRX1120, includes all of
the benefits of the MRX720 plus more channels. 11.1
channels of processing and 11 channels of amplification
are all delivered through a toroidal power supply.
The internal amplification can be configured for up to
7.1.4 speakers or 5.1.4 plus zone two. This model has
enhanced room correction abilities, support for the
latest immersive audio and UHD video formats, wireless
music streaming and IP control and built-in amplification
for 7.1.4 speakers.
All the new gen models support RS232 offering
compatibility with systems such as RTI and Control4.
HEOS HomeCinema
WIRELESS SOUNDBAR & SUB:
LESS WIRES MORE DRAMA.
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May 2017 | 59