Anthem AVM 20 or Integra DTC 9.8

Ckorody,

Can you tell us what the improvements are in the 9.9?

I've download the manual for the 9.8, but have yet to check if it has a pass through like the Proceed PDSD that passes analog from the PAV without processing. If it does, I could use my original PAV as the analog section, and use the analog-dead PAV/PDSD in another system.

db

9.9 adds DynamicVolume, DynamicEQ and individual ISF settings per input.

Also, the analog is OK but not stellar on the 9.8 and, I suspect, is the same on the 9.9. I plead guilty to contributing to this general impression: http://stereophile.com/musicintheround/108mitr/

Kal

Like my buddy, the learned writer Kal said - the 9.9 (and no doubt the next generation of Denon and Marantz) are all about additional Audyssey features and controlling the individual ISF inputs

IMHO the ISF is the more important

here's the deal - the Integra 9.8 video scaler (Reon) is applied globally - meaning that the same corrections (sharpening, color, noise reduction etc) are applied to every source. Clearly this makes little sense if you have (for arguments sake) a DirectTV HDR, a BluRay and a VHS deck because each needs a different set-up.

So on the 9.8 is you either crap everything up to benefit the lowest common denominator or you bypass the whole thing to preserve the integrity of the BD 1080P source

BTW I am sure that this sounds pretty abstract to someone who has not had the chance to play with this gear - but after you do I hope that the observation moves from clear as mud to clear as gin

With control of individual inputs you can spruce up the sources that need it and bypass those that don't need tweaking - this is a very nice improvement

For a not entirely accurate parallel its like being able to preset audio and EQ for each source instead of having to use one setting for everything...

As far as the by-pass and all that stuff. Since you are a educated, scholarly type I will leave it to you to suss out the details you are interested in

My impression which is not supported by research - is that the Audyssey is either in or out across all sources. I suppose you can switch it off when you want to and run analog "direct" - there is a stereo direct mode

Here is the quote from the manual on the subject:

Direct
In this mode, audio from the input source is output
directly with minimal processing, providing high-fidelity reproduction. All of the source’s audio channels are output as they are.

Stereo
Sound is output by the front left and right speakers.