MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — Anthem
will expand its component-audio
selection to include A/V receivers
(AVRs) with the launch of four models,
all with HDMI 1.4 connections upgradable
to 1.4a.
All four feature proprietary Anthem
Room Correction (ARC), and three of
the four models will add Internet radio
and USB connections to music-laden
hard drives and memory sticks. Two
models will feature HD Radio.
The company, which markets component-
audio separates and a Blu-ray
player, also plans its first iPod dock,
which connects to the four receivers.
The four receivers are the $999-
suggested MRX 300, $1,499 MRX 500,
$1,999 MRX 700, and $3,999 MRX 900,
all with built-in decoding of all Bluray
surround formats, Anthem Room
Correction, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz
post-processing technology.
On all four models, the HDMI 1.4 inputs
and output pass through 3D video
from Blu-ray players and games,
but in November, the company plans
a firmware update to upgrade them to
1.4a to add support for the side-by-side
(half) and top-and-bottom formats that
broadcasters are adopting. The AVRs’
HDMI outputs do not support HDMI
1.4’s audio return channel functions.
All but the MRX 300 add Internet radio
access using the vTuner portal through
wired Ethernet connection to a broadband
modem, and front and rear USB
inputs to play music from a connected
hard drive or from USB memory sticks.
The top two models, the 700 and
900, also add embedded HD Radio.
