Anthem STR "Convert Analog" sounds much worse

Yes,  DSP is digital signal processing so it's done in the digital realm of the Anthem. All you needed was a basic streamer. In order to get the best of what DSP can do is run the subs through it with the main speakers. You will be able to keep the bass of the mains the subs will augment them. As Mike pointed out it will probably sound different until you get used to what bass should be like without peaks and nulls and the God awful boom. 

In an act of humility and embarrassment, I have a confession.  I had the input levels for XLR -5db which is activated when "Audio Convert" is turned on....  

Now, when I switch between the two, there's no audible difference that I can tell at this point.. Mayyybbeee on some parts of some tracks there might be a difference but rarely is a change/tweak noticable or even "better" over the whole spectrum.

Apologies for being an idiot.  Sometimes settings get buried deep down in the menu and you don't know what you've changed...

Thanks for telling us! We’ve all made mistakes, but not everyone admits them. So you have my respect for that.

I haven’t used the A-to-D conversion of the STR, but I was surprised it seemed a problem.

That -5 dB is probably a safety factor to keep from overloading the ADC, which could sound really bad.

P.S. Maybe your dealer would swap the T2 for a U1 mini + partial refund?

Thanks mike_in_nc   I bought it used.  I'm not convinced the T2 dac sounds that much better if any than my Anthems to be honest.  It'll take a lot more convincing that's for sure.  On the tracks I've tried, I cannot tell a difference at all.  Most all differences are my biases from what I've read about how great the T2 dac is.  

I've tried long term listening and short term a/b comparison.  I find myself convincing myself one is better... Then going back on that - thinking maybe it's just the track, resolution, mood, or maybe a plane flew over (landing path of DFW) ha.  

Ultimately, I think 97% of "this dac sounds soooo much better" reviews has to do with personal and situational bias.  

I'll say this much, I challenge anyone to say the T2 dac sounds consistently better an Anthem's STR, on any setup..  I just ask you to be aware of those silent personal/situation bias's going on in the back of your head.  

I want to hear a difference to justify the cost of the Lumin trust me!  I love being able to put value on money spent.... But right now, I'm unable to do that.

Also, this is a problem anytime settings are buried deep inside electronic menus. You can’t quickly scan the knobs to see if everything’s just right. When I read reviews of things now, I think of their monetary bias, and what combination of 1,546,541 possible settings they might have used.

Reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, like political ads.

Wish list: big manufacturers you should take note:
 - an on screen display that clearly and quickly shows the current settings of all the important "stuff"

Amazing how archaic so many on-screen (tv) menus/displays are.