Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have the V2.21 software which added some new features from the original.

Simply amazing product with great clarity and processing. Wonderful, effortless listening with tremendous soundstage, especially on chamber music or orchestral material. Great bass management and a terrific music processing (Anthem proprietary) which adds bass management for 2 channel sources. HT modes work extremely well, and the video switching works perfectly.

While it's 2009, and this is "just" a DD 5.1/DTS processor, it's hard to imagine ever needing to upgrade.

Previous processor was Rotel RSP-976 and this just blows the Rotel out of the water.

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
I've had the AVM 20 for several months now and it has performed wonderfully. The versatility, ease of use and setup, and most of all, the sound quality make this an unbelievable bargain.

I've gone through many of my old recordings and it's like listening to them new all over again. I now hear low level details that I hadn't heard before.
I can make out lyrics that I couldn't before.

But beware, it is incredibily revealing. If your audio source was poorly mastered or recorded, you will hear it.

Strengths:
Audio Quality
Versatility
Ease of Use

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Meridian 541 analog preamp
NAD preamps

Price Paid:  $5300.00 from Canadian dollar boug

Summary:
This is not hte AVM 20 but the newer Anthem D1 Statement, newest model 2004. Out of the box, nice looking piece of equipement, stylish and very open sounding stage with dual processor.. very well built. I nice unit. A bit pricier thant the AVM 20, or what will replace it, AVM 30. Just about 1300$ CDN more

Strengths:
Well built, good sound stage, 3 zone independant.

Weaknesses:
need to get direct link for audio SACD, or fire wire connector.

Similar Products Used:
AVM 30 cheaper by 1000$ but only one processor.
Lexicon... Parasound

Price Paid:  $2799.00 from 6th ave

Summary:
Great overall product. The detail on dvd soundtracks is absolutely amazing. Musically it's great on sacd and dvd audio, but not as good on analog. I have a Project 1.2 turntable hooked up to the aux input through a Parasound phono-preamp, and while the sound is better than it was with my old Yamaha receiver, it still isn't as good as with my sacd's. The AVM seems to hold back just a little. TV broadcasts, especially in two channel mode really kick. Everything is audible, even background dialoge. I had an upgrade done just a little over a year ago,and to me this is one of the unit's biggest strengths, that it is not outdated whenever a new audio format hits. Plus it can run two other zones. I have the black unit and I think it looks beautiful. A previous reviewer complained that the rears only worked with 5.1 sound or higher. Not true. Simply switch to all channel stereo and all the speakers except the center channel work. It's nice to hear voices coming from behind you especially at night when other people are sleeping and you have to keep the volume at a lower level. Listening with headphones is also top notch. This unit offers a lot of bang for the buck.

Strengths:
inputs up the whazoo, more than anyone will know what to do with. Great with sacd, dvd audio, dvd's in general, HDTV, and regular TV.

Weaknesses:
Alittle laid back with analog sources such as turntables. Manual is a little sketchy, and asks you to jump around a lot just to set one thing up.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from Canadian HiFi

Summary:
Against many audiophiles' warnings I couldn't resist the rave reviews on the AVM20 and jumped on one thinking it was the first up-to-date pre/pro that didn't compromise music. WRONG. Darn. I hate when that happens. Suckered by hype again!

No question this unit is sweet in theater mode as others have elaborate so well. I only wish to say that my simple Linn Classik CD/preamp and Marantz DV8400 when run through the AVM20 sound like their heads got chopped off. Channeling them directly to the amps returns the magic.

I'm going to limp along with the AVM20 until Linn comes out with their next generation pre/pro at a reported $5-$6k and then another Anthem will hit eBay.

Strengths:
Theater processing

Weaknesses:
Music processing and such poor contrast on the display that you can't read it from any normal viewing position.