Old Av32 owner, new to forum, need advice!

[jab024]

Hi i am new to the AV forum's and i am the proud happy owner of my AV32Rsl since 2003 circa.

I have it in the following setup:

Arcam DV-27 FMJ
Rotel 1075mb 5.1 amp
SKY HD
B&W CDM7SE speaker's

I have decided to after all this time upgrade/enable the HDCD option as i have enough of these discs and some japanese 20K cd's also to use through it if these would also work?.

So my first question is, can i get the unlock code anywhere else (anyone from this forum?), or will i have to get it through IAG and pay around £50?

Secondly i cannot remember which version i have, wether it is the 192 or 96khz version as when i talked briefly to the sales help desk the other day he said if you have the 5.1 bypass then you have 192, but i am not so sure as i thought the front casing had a 192 stamped by the model info (bottom left hand corner) if this was the case? (mine does not)

My version also came with pro-logic II as standard if this helps.

Also if i do not have 192 is it worth upgrading to it?

And to further that is it worth upgrading to the AV32R DP version despite me only having a 5.1 surround system?

Just wandering if the TReq function works with 5.1 system at all? and if it really does make that much difference or benefit from having it in the setup. my room is currently 20 ft long and 15ft wide.

Plus if having 8x better sampling with the DP version will benifit the two channel for when listening to cd's?
Bearing in mind i am a big 2 channel music enthausiast.

Also is it worth upgrading the firmware from my current version 2.75 to the current 3.8? (as i do not know the improvement's and could not find the thread on here for change implimentation's)

Sorry for a long winded bunch of question's for my first post, but am basically wandering if it is worth upgrading to my AV32R to the next level (depending i can work out which version i have 96 or 192) or going up to the top DP version?

And is IAG the only/best place to get any upgrade's done or is there any reputable third parties that can do this?

Thank's.... very confused and unknowledgable techno geek!

[alexs2]

Hi there...welcome.

First thing to say is that no-one will be able to give you codes from here.....the forums have a strict policy of not supporting copyright circumvention in any way at all.

To answer your other questions....

96kHz to 192kHz upgrade...definitely worthwhile,but not as much as SP to DP conversion,although this is expensive and I am not sure if IAG are still offering this.

An alternative is looking for a used DP.

The DP does work with TMREQ and 5.1.....exactly as in my own system.

You could try contacting Kevin Green http://www.theaudiocellar.co.uk/

But I am not sure he will offer any upgrades.

My own advice would be to go the whole hog if you are upgrading and move to a DP,either as an expensive upgrade or used.

An alternative may come in the form of the Anthem D1 or D2 processors which also have RoomEQ,and finally look like being brought to the UK.

[jab024]

Hi Alexs2,

Thanks for the info, i have been able to confirm i do have the 192 version! thought it sounded to good to be a 96khz verison.

Even if i could get the upgrade, by time i fork out for that i might as well by a second hand DP like you said i suppose?

That does make sense now why the code's are not readily available! will just have to pay IAG to unlock it then.

How much approx could a upgrade to the DP version be if it was possible to upgrade my AV32R?

And as for the Anthem's, are they as good with music as the Tag as i do not know what level in comparison the D1 & D2 would be against my version or a DP Tag model?

If possible it would be nice to keep the Tag or get a DP version. I have been scarred before with a imported hifi manufacturer in Micromega when i had their DVD player and was all fine until they stopped distributing in the U.K.
Had lot's of hassle, time delay in getting any upgrades/repairs done and seeing Anthem are american would not want that possibility to happen again no matter how good the product.

[Mr_Orange]

There's a DP model, with DAB modeule fitted, for sale on a well known auction site at the moment. It could be fate

[AMCross]

How much approx could a upgrade to the DP version be if it was possible to upgrade my AV32R?

£1650 for upgrade
£200 for service charge
£---- postage there and back

[jab024]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

There's a DP model, with DAB modeule fitted, for sale on a well known auction site at the moment. It could be fate

Thank's for heads up, got it on fav search with notification's now so i don't miss any!
You never know with fate [watching this space]

[jab024]

Originally Posted by AMCross

£1650 for upgrade
£200 for service charge
£---- postage there and back

Thank's, wow, the upgrade is a little more than i could remember to DP, thought it was only around 6-800 notes, but hey ho. maybe it would work out cheaper to pick up a second hand unit after all if i contemplated having DP?

While i am looking at a possible £1800 then to upgrade i am still curious if anyone know's what the DP is like compared to my 192 version on the sound quality side with 2 channel music?

Makes me wonder for that money while i am thinking of it, should i replace my Rotel £1000 5 channel amp (Rmb 1075) with the matching Tag 5 channel amp instead of the DP as i could not afford to stretch to the Tag amp at time of purchase of on top of the AV32R & my DVD player.

And not knowing when and if i would be able to afford the next purchase which one should i go for first? the DP upgrade or the Tag amp?

That's a dilema!

[simon40]

My advice would be to go for the DP upgrade first, rather than the amp. Nothing wrong with upgrading to the amp, very good idea, but much more benefits with the processor upgrade to DP level. As others have said it gives you the pinnacle in Tag processor with TMREQ and Dual Processor power.

However, there is no possibility to have an HDMI input with Tag.

Only way to get the HD formats into the Tag is via the 5.1 analogue by-pass (which was an option). Using the 5.1 by-pass, however, you then lose the benifits of all Tags processing, including TMREQ.

People with much more knowledge than me have said, though, that a very well set up Tag 5.1 system will give a full HD sound system a very good run for its money.

Simon

[clk320audio]

I have an AV32R 192 and have just bought a second hand AV192R, I think there is a massive difference.

You can pick up second hand DP for under £1000 (on on fleabay now). I still believe Tag take some beating.

Hope this helps.

Dave

[Mr_Orange]

Your Rotel amp is a very good one. Change it by all means, if that's what you want, but don't rush out to do it yet. Invest in the processor first.

[jab024]

Originally Posted by simon40

My advice would be to go for the DP upgrade first, rather than the amp. Nothing wrong with upgrading to the amp, very good idea, but much more benefits with the processor upgrade to DP level. As others have said it gives you the pinnacle in Tag processor with TMREQ and Dual Processor power.

However, there is no possibility to have an HDMI input with Tag.

Only way to get the HD formats into the Tag is via the 5.1 analogue by-pass (which was an option). Using the 5.1 by-pass, however, you then lose the benifits of all Tags processing, including TMREQ.

People with much more knowledge than me have said, though, that a very well set up Tag 5.1 system will give a full HD sound system a very good run for its money.

Simon

Thank' s Simon for that advice, not really considered the future with HD sound side of thing's really, as i am happy on the cinematic side sonicley whilst watching films.

If i do upgrade to the DP i would be trying to look at squeezing more performance out of the tag for music even the this TMREQ by what i am reading seem's to be an invaluable tool to get the best from it's room acoustic's.

Originally Posted by clk320audio

I have an AV32R 192 and have just bought a second hand AV192R, I think there is a massive difference.

You can pick up second hand DP for under £1000 (on on fleabay now). I still believe Tag take some beating.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Yes, it does help me thank's. WOW, the AV192R was the big fat beast that cost around 10K when it was new if i remember rightly! If so then yes that should be a lot better.

I don't know the market value would be now for a AV192R, but i bet it still a few bob for one of them?

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

Your Rotel amp is a very good one. Change it by all means, if that's what you want, but don't rush out to do it yet. Invest in the processor first.

Cheer's Mr_Orange, Don't get me wrong, i am happy with the Rotel amp and for a 1K 5channel amp i think it perform's quite admiralaby, and only got the Rotel because i origianlly could not afford the extra 3K to get the matching Tag amp for the AV32R!

And when i saw how much it would cost potentialy to upgrade my AV32R to DP by AM Cross message it just got me thinking if it was going to cost that muxh would i be better of upgrading the amp side of thing's first as i did'nt think the DP would cost above 1K to upgrade.

But i think i will concentrate on a DP upgrade or look at a second hand unit after hearing you can pick them up for under a grand.

Just still curious how much better music (2 channel)would sound with the DP upgrade as i am happy with the cinema sound it produce's already (even though having that even better would not be sniffed at!)

Thank's all again for advice so far

[jab024]

Hi again guys,

How can i tell for sure that i really do have a bp 192 version of my AV32R?

Initially i could not remember and in general conversation with my hi-fi dealer (Audio-T) that i originally purchased it from he confirmed i did have the 192 version and on my sales invioce it is described as"Tag F3 AV32bp192" processor, but on my Tag box & outer protective box it came in they both have "AV32B sl".

On the front my tag has AvantGarde Theatre AV32R sl.

When i first recieved the machinei was under the perception it would of had the 192bp stamped in that bottom left hand corner like i had seen in other pictures that had the bp192 version.

So how can i tell for sure i do have a bp192 version as i am getting a bit paraniod now! and skeptical if i have been given the wrong version in the first place!

Is there any way of being able to tell on the machine to determine it once and for all so i can rest or charge down to Audi-T seven year's later demanding my other 96khz of processing!+=

If it help's i paid £2549 if that also help's what version i would of got for that money in December 2002.

[AMCross]

the only way to be sure is to take the lid off and look at the model number on the dacs


Ignore the front panel they are not always correct


yours was more than likely a 96 unit updated to 192 dacs by the dealer before the sale to you


there are two dp's on the bay right now with the wrong front panel that do not say Dual Proccessor

[jab024]

Originally Posted by AMCross

the only way to be sure is to take the lid off and look at the model number on the dacs


Ignore the front panel they are not always correct


yours was more than likely a 96 unit updated to 192 dacs by the dealer before the sale to you

Thank's, Never done that before though! (taking the lid off)
Don't by any chance know where the dacs are located or will it be obvious once i have the lid off?

And if that is the case, i did recieve a upated 96 model by the dealer before sale to me, is that technically and morally right?
Call me anal, but when we all paid the top asking price for one of these machine's from new it would of been nice to have the right & correct info on front casing

[AMCross]

if i remember rightly the chip for the 192 dac will say akm ak4395 and the 96 dac will say akm ak4393

they should have of course sold you a 192 dac front panel if you unit is of course brand new and sold to you as such


if you have a receipt and it says 192 dac model brand new then you need to wip the lid of and check asap


does your tag box defo have the same serial number as your unit

but to be honest i cannot see the dealer doing any thing after all this time other than a token discount voucher