JBL Synthesis and ARCAM Now ‘Certified for Envy’ By madVR Labs

The madVR Labs Envy Extreme MK2 video processor ($16K) is the best in the business, with a cult-like following among hardcore home theater enthusiasts who demand the absolute best picture quality. The company’s video processors are purpose-built devices designed to handle nearly all aspects of video signal processing and take those functions away from the display in order to achieve superior performance. 

The Envy offers HDR dynamic tone mapping, upscaling to 8K, instant aspect ratio and black bar management, next-generation non-linear stretch, subtitle management, and AI-based motion interpolation that operates at the pixel level to provide fine control over the amount of soap opera effect created by the process. In 2022, madVR Labs launched the “Certified for Envy” program to help customers choose other products — such as AV receivers and processors — that meet the highest quality standards. In order to qualify, products must undergo extensive testing to ensure that they meet the stringent quality standards set by madVR Labs. The tests prove that these products deliver lossless, artifact-free video quality and glitch-free compatibility with the madVR Envy Extreme and Envy Pro video processors. 

The program launched with AV industry frontrunners StormAudio (Platinum Certified), and Trinnov Audio (Platinum Certified), along with Acurus (Gold Certified). Now madVR Labs and Harman Luxury Audio have announced that several AVRs and processors from the JBL Synthesis and Arcam product lines have been awarded certification in the program.

The flagship JBL Synthesis SDP-75 AV processor ($26,500 - $35,500 depending on channel count) has been awarded Platinum Certification, while the JBL Synthesis SDP-58, JBL Synthesis SDR-38, Arcam AV41, Arcam AVR31, Arcam AVR21, and Arcam AVR11 have all achieved Gold Certification. All of the above were rigorously tested to confirm “stable HDMI handling, compatibility with madVR Envy video processors, and the ability to flawlessly pass-through all standard source device pixel formats, bit depths, resolutions, and frame rates,” according to madVR Labs. Each certified product in the AVR/AVP category must undergo over 1,100 meticulous tests to secure certification. The folks at madVR Labs established a proprietary, in-house testing platform and a suite of specialized tests to confirm compliance with its standards. Gold Certification includes all performance parameters. In order to earn Platinum Certification, products must also offer specialist features, such as EDID auto-lipsync and IP control for mute and volume level.  

Welcoming globally recognized brands JBL Synthesis and Arcam to our Certified for Envy program marks a significant advancement in our pursuit of video perfection. The certification of these two product lines underscores our commitment to upholding the highest standards of video excellence. We remain steadfast in our mission to purify the audiovisual experience, ensuring that our esteemed customers receive unparalleled video quality for their luxury home theaters and media rooms.

— Richard Litofsky, Co-founder and CEO of madVR Labs

Attaining the Gold Certified rating from madVR Labs’ prestigious Certified for Envy program is a significant acknowledgment for our focus on delivering exceptional quality products. We are thrilled to be part of a program that shares our dedication to delivering the highest quality audio and video experiences. We are confident that this collaboration will enhance the user experience by ensuring unmatched quality and performance.

— Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning, Harman Luxury Audio

To demonstrate the quality of these certified products when used together, madVR and Harman teamed up to build the Harman Luxury demo theater at the ISE 2024 exhibition in Barcelona, which ran from January 30 to February 2, 2024. The showcase used the JBL Synthesis SDP-58 and SDR-38 along with the madVR Envy Extreme.

More information: madVR Labs