Processor sound comparison- Anthem avm90 vs NAD M17 V2i

we are a dealer we have had the anthem avm90  in our reference theater as well as a top of the line Marantz and audio controls maestro series 

the NAD  m17 is an excellent processor with its main advantages are completely upgradable board based design and the superb blue  sound streaming system sonically the avm90 and NADm17 are both equally good however 

the Audio Control Mastro x9 was  in a clearly  superior sounding processor over the avm 90

the audio control uses all ESS9038pro DACS one per channel these same DAC chips are used in many 15-20k audiophile stereo DACS. 

so unless you are going to spend 20k on a storm or Trinov the Audio control  is the best processor out there.

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

former anthem dealer.

Nad Audio Control and Trinov dealers

@audiotroy

I sort of sense the same thing these models were comparable and the nad probably scores more highly because it’s easier to use.

Marantz processors are horrifying complicated.

If you have more than seven channels, a maestro or trinov would make sense probably because it can handle all that but with only 5 to 7 channels you don’t need all this special processor capacity, you just need good sound quality and then you have the huge issue of the source and we know the source issues are that it’s all compressed and sounds crappy. Systems like kaleidoscope can be nice for movies but the problem is most of what people are watching are from streaming sources and that’s ultimately the problem here I Believe.

They need to solve the compression source problem and until they do everybody’s limited in the home theater area.

we have a 9.2 setup in our reference theater and the Maestro sounds amazing

@audiotroy 

Do you stream or are you playing Blu-ray? What is your source? thanks

Just a thought.   I have had 4 Anthems - the latest is an AVM-70.  There is no doubt that they sound the best in my opinion, but they fail, and don't really function smoothly.   I purchased an Onkyo for my girlfriend and I was amazed at how seamless it worked.   Had Dirac built in.   Hooks up with ARC no problem.   Bluetooth, no problem.   Wireless, no problem.   Doesn't sound as good as the Anthems - but I would rather have something that works and doesn't stop working.   I only bought the Anthems because my dealer was so fantastic - but they need some new software writers.  I might look at the Integra next time.   Never looked at NAD because they had lots of manufacturing issues in the past (cold solder joints), but maybe that has been resolved.