Have you ever tested the acoustics in an empty room by whistling or clapping? It brings to mind how sound is affected by a room’s size, structure, and contents. Even when using optimally positioned speakers of exceptional quality, the room negatively impacts sound quality considerably. Surfaces such as windows and furnishings and the geometry of the walls, floor, and ceiling add unwanted resonance and coloration, making the bass either boomy or less punchy, voices less natural, and the dialogue less intelligible. The effect on frequency response is typically ±6 dB in the midrange and ±10 dB at low frequencies.

To compensate for this and to optimize the in-room response of your speakers, Anthem Room Correction (ARC) measures the output of each speaker relative to the listening area then, through a series of calculations, adjusts its output. Not only does ARC correct peaks and dips in a speaker’s frequency response, but it also preserves the beneficial acoustic attributes of a room—attributes based on proven psychoacoustic science (the study of how humans hear and experience sound).

What is ARC®?

Anthem Room Correction (ARC®) is a proprietary digital signal processing system that allows you to quickly and accurately optimize the performance of your audio equipment to better suit the unique parameters of your room. By listening to your room’s acoustic signature, ARC® can tune your equipment to correct for the performance-robbing effects (reflections, resonances, standing waves, etc.) of the various surfaces and other obstacles in your room. You’ll actually hear the difference ARC® makes.

How does ARC® work?

ARC® digitally compares a room’s acoustic signature to that of the lab standard. It measures the response of each speaker relative to the listening area. Then it uses advanced algorithms to eliminate the negative effects of the obstacles in the room, adjusting response and correcting phase effects. When ARC® removes the obstacles, what’s left is the lab standard performance.

ARC® is easy to use, and just a few simple steps can optimize your speakers for your unique listening space. ARC® is sophisticated, one of the most accurate and detailed digital room correction technologies available today. ARC® will work tomorrow, too; with constant advances and updates available for download on the Anthem website.

How do you use ARC® ?

Now there are several ways to calibrate your system using ARC® or ARC® Mobile—each takes only a few minutes to complete.

EASY
Requirements: iOS device + ARC® Mobile App
Download Anthem’s ARC® Mobile app to your iOS device. This method uses your iOS device’s built-in microphone for measurements.

INTERMEDIATE
Requirements: iOS device + ARC® Mobile App + ARC® Universal Microphone
Download Anthem’s ARC® Mobile app to an iOS device. Run the ARC® app and select “ARC® Universal Microphone,” connect the supplied 3.5 mm cord from your iOS device to the ARC® Universal Microphone for measurements.

PROFESSIONAL
Requirements: Windows PC + ARC® PC Software + ARC® PC or Universal Microphone
Download and install Anthem’s ARC® software to your Windows PC. Connect either the calibrated ARC® PC Microphone or ARC® Universal Microphone to your Windows PC, and connect your ARC®-capable speaker or electronics with either the second USB cord or through a network connection. After running your measurements, you can customize the results, set up multiple configurations, and print correction curve graphs.

BEST WAY

When you purchase an Anthem component from Audio Video Synergy you’ll be able to invite an installation expert to set up and calibrate your system.