No issue for 540 to configure parallel as it’s the same as Marantz SR6004 which also has 7.1 pre output only. So basically it’s 9.1.4 (I guess).
MRX740 will be an ideal choice but not willing to fork out the extra $$$$. I’m more a stereo guy.
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Finally… MRX540 arrived… MCA225 still no ETA.
Unpacking… getting it to connect to WiFi… encountered authentication failed!.. did a total power down of modem & route… Finally connected. Firmware updated… pretty fast on wifi mode
Doing a raw stereo mode test using tablet+Spotify.
Nice & Anthem is on the warm & brighter side with very solid phantom center despite in stereo mode; effect is pretty solid as well, hearing more details than the Marantz SR7009… Can’t wait for the arrival of MCA 225. Playing around in raw mode for the time being… ARC will be next after cleaning up the rac
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Congrats 
!! Enjoy
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Seems like Anthem & Dynaudio is a pretty good match… It actually beat my last Mcintosh MA352 combi! Very enjoyable in stereo mode… Likely will hang around in RAW mode for some time…
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Having being Wowed by the RAW stereo power of the MRX540, decided to do a quick test on HT mode & also to get that eARC to talk… (didn’t know Anthem default configurations disabled many nice features…)
To enable eARC needs to go Preference, looks for CEC Hdmi to turn eARC on.
Further explored the whole of Preference menu & made some changes… Now the display is much more informative instead of just showing that volume level setting…
Did a quick test on 2movies. Sing2 & Soul.
Sing2- tried the last ending concert with Pure raw Anthem audio signature…
Very distinct & fine/ soft details can be easily picked up from the front L/R/C. Surr created a very nice ambient effect. Panning effect from speaker to speaker was pretty smooth accurate despite vol was at -25db.
Soul-tried the starting Jazz… Very nice; lot of details coming from center speaker… Clear & no fatigue.
Finally this scene, the ambient effect is nice…
Kids commented… Dialogue can easily understood despite volume is soft.
IMO. Anthem is a class if its own in both HiFi & HT. The entry level MRX540 has the capability to perform at this state. Those own MRX740, 1140 & AVM with real Atmos speakers must be in HT nirvana mode… Will see how much level up I can go with ARC on…
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Yes agreed. It’s a different league of its own. It sits right above the conventional ones using Audyssey, above Dirac and dare I say even some of the high end ones like RoomPerfect when it comes to music and movie reproduction.
Trinnov Is a different class altogether but majority of us simply doesn’t have the budget for that. For one, I would rather spend more $$$ on getting good LCR, power amp if getting the Pre amp like AVM series.
It always make me happy to read about the positive reviews that members shared when using Anthem for the first time. Hope to see more members joining the Anthem family. For those on the fence, do pay a visit to some of the members here and have a listen. Who knows, you may like it.
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Finally got my MRX540 calibrated this morning to my liking. Frankly I’m not impressed with the ARC calibration. Maybe that’s me or I did not do it correctly.
Anyway I have set it manually by adjusting the bass management & calibration level + db level for individual speakers using my ears and feel to justify it.
My source of calibration is bluray concert (Hit Man - David Foster & Friends) and (John Mayer - Where The Light Is/ Live in Los Angeles). I believe if I can get the sound right with live concert then movie will be good too but not the other way round.
I enjoyed both live performances very much after my manual calibration (till 3am this morning).
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Agree with you… 
I like that skull!
Sorry to hear that…would you mind share with me the ARC file and let me have a look?
Tks Desray for your offer. I’m not good with IT and technical stuff but I’m pretty satisfied with the manual calibration and what I considered to be pleasing to my ears. So I’ll leave it as that.
I have no regret with MRX540. Once you get the sound correct you will be a happy man.
…to each his own. Important thing is you are happy with the sound 
I too didn’t apply as much eq, on all channels. Especially the subs. I tuned it in such a way that ARC applies only “CUTS” to resonant frequencies. 0 boosting EQ applied in the set up. I know ARC applies boost of max 6db for dips, but I prefer to block that boosting eq from being applied.
I’ll share again how I approach the EQ process
It took me 13 tries to get it right… so settled down with version 13….
No pain…… No gain……
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good morning friends
I heard somewhere that there was a trick so that Anthem’s calibration levels would stay negative and never positive.
I have an anthem avm70 and my calibration levels are quite good because only the 2 front speakers leave them at positive values at +3db and the rest of the speakers leave them at 0db or +0.5.
What is the trick to trick the anthem before passing the Arc Genesis calibration?
Thank you
Those trim levels are good. No need to mess with it. 
A ok thanks
I use a power stage with individual potentiometers
Trying to perform the ARC checkout but ended up troubleshooting for the microphone was not found! Spent few hrs on this as there was not much troubleshooting guide at the Anthem ARC website.
For those using Win11 & microphone was not found in the Anthem ARC Genesis S/W. You just need to go search application. Type “Device Manager” & open the application. Look for the below item, select it & Right click then Disable it. After which, just relaunch the Anthem ARC Genesis S/W. Now the microphone should be there.
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Not sure why some of the user face this microphone unable to detect issue. I have been using the ARC s/w on both my MacBook Air M2 and Surface Book 3 with zero issue right from the beginning…hard to provide any good practice when only a handful experienced this mic issue.
In fact, I have an older laptop with older Win ver & it works fine but the laptop battery is pretty weak & needs to plug in power supply when using.
Anyway, this seems to be the correct fix for Win11 user. I enable it & launch the ARC Genesis S/W, again the mic is missing but I am able to perform the ARC mic test in the sound setting… I suspect must be a S/W bug… Nearly wanna give up calibration…