Anthem DJ Flat Par QA12 Product Review

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WHAT’S WRONG WITH 

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The eight boldfaced bullet points include

“Four HDMI Inputs” and “Leading-Edge

Format Video Conversion.” In fact, every

paragraph on the page has to do with

video. Am I reading a sales sheet for a

plasma TV? No, I am looking over the press

release for the new Anthem Statement D2

surround-sound processor. The entire

document concentrates on video switching

and processing. A surround processor is

supposed to be about sound, right? Focusing

solely on its video capabilities seems like

touting a VCR’s ability to display the time.

Of course, I am taking this extreme position

merely to make a point. (If it works for such

greats as Wilde, Voltaire, and Ann Coulter,

why can’t it work for me?) As any home

theater aficionado knows, video capabil-

ities have become an important part of a

surround processor. After all, several of the

latest processors have circuitry that converts

all incoming video into high-definition

signals that can be output on an HDMI

digital video cable. This way, you need

run only a single HDMI cable between the

processor and your video display, and you

never need change inputs on the display.

But the performance of this circuitry greatly

affects the picture. It can degrade sharpness

and introduce annoying artifacts, such as

jagged edges on curved and diagonal lines,

and moiré effects appearing in striped or

patterned areas. We have tried two surround

processors with video upconversion to

HDMI, but neither aspired to state-of-the-

art video performance. The D2, however, uses

the latest VXP Digital Image Processor

chipset from Gennum, which in theory

should make it competitive with the finest

stand-alone video processors.

It’s almost a shame that Anthem put so

much effort into the video because the D2’s

audio features are also extraordinary. My

favorite is the room resonance filter. Every

B Y   B R E N T   B U T T E R W O R T H

“

… FANTASTIC … EXTRAORDINARY …

sets a new standard of excellence.”

V o l .   5 ,   N o .   5

D2 

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P5 

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P2