Thanks for the feedback. I agree with points in both replies, which is why I'm having a difficult time with the decision.
The Proceed AVP is obviously of excellent quality. My concern with Proceed is the dead-end that became of the PAV/PDSD. Those fine "future-proof" $10,000 products are now selling used in the low $3000's. The only available next upgrade to the AVP is going to be $1500-2000 for hardware and software. This upgrade will be to just bring it up to spec with the other latest products on the market. $5000 for a used processor is more than I want to spend for the latest technology, and given the PAV lesson, I'm not sure I could justify dropping that much money on a processor. What happens if component video becomes more the standard than s-video? Another hardware upgrade for the AVP? Another ka-ching...
The new Anthem AVM20 has everything, including the kitchen sink. A surround processor is merely a computer, so it is easy to bundle all the toys in the latest products. The question I have about the Anthem is in its sound quality and build quality. I haven't really read anything bad about the Anthem AVM2 (the older version). For that matter, the B&K Ref30 in the same class enjoys pretty good reviews too.
So, I can buy an AVP1 for about $3000, upgrade it to the AVP2 for another $2000, total investment is $5000. For half that, I could pick up a new B&K Ref30 or the Anthem AVM20, and have all the latest features, including component video capability. The Anthem AVM20 sports a huge video bus of 100Mhz which will handle hdtv quite easily. I hear the Proceed's video bus runs at like 70Mhz, which is questionable about what it will support.
I have read reviews and opinions about surround processors, it just seems that Anthem has incorporated pretty much everything that has been complained about what other processors are lacking.
Does anyone have practical experience with the Anthem AVM2 or done any direct comparisons against other similar processors?
The Proceed AVP is obviously of excellent quality. My concern with Proceed is the dead-end that became of the PAV/PDSD. Those fine "future-proof" $10,000 products are now selling used in the low $3000's. The only available next upgrade to the AVP is going to be $1500-2000 for hardware and software. This upgrade will be to just bring it up to spec with the other latest products on the market. $5000 for a used processor is more than I want to spend for the latest technology, and given the PAV lesson, I'm not sure I could justify dropping that much money on a processor. What happens if component video becomes more the standard than s-video? Another hardware upgrade for the AVP? Another ka-ching...
The new Anthem AVM20 has everything, including the kitchen sink. A surround processor is merely a computer, so it is easy to bundle all the toys in the latest products. The question I have about the Anthem is in its sound quality and build quality. I haven't really read anything bad about the Anthem AVM2 (the older version). For that matter, the B&K Ref30 in the same class enjoys pretty good reviews too.
So, I can buy an AVP1 for about $3000, upgrade it to the AVP2 for another $2000, total investment is $5000. For half that, I could pick up a new B&K Ref30 or the Anthem AVM20, and have all the latest features, including component video capability. The Anthem AVM20 sports a huge video bus of 100Mhz which will handle hdtv quite easily. I hear the Proceed's video bus runs at like 70Mhz, which is questionable about what it will support.
I have read reviews and opinions about surround processors, it just seems that Anthem has incorporated pretty much everything that has been complained about what other processors are lacking.
Does anyone have practical experience with the Anthem AVM2 or done any direct comparisons against other similar processors?