Anynet is an audio-visual control system created by the Samsung electronics company. This system, often used by home entertainment enthusiasts with many audio and video devices, allows the user to fully operate and access external devices that are connected to the television with only one remote control. The user controls the Anynet-enabled devices by accessing a central menu on a system-compatible television. A number of other companies have similar products available.
How It Works
Anynet relies on a menu built into most models of Samsung televisions. Using a proprietary universal remote control, the user accesses the menu through the television and chooses the device he wishes to control. From here, he can adjust the audio-visual control functions, like power, volume control and playback, of each device. Types of hardware that can be controlled by this system include audio-video receivers, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) players and Blu-ray™ players, as well as VCRs (Video Cassette Recorders), music players and some types of cameras.
Anynet vs. Anynet+
Newer models of this system, called Anynet+™, are generally of better quality and have more features than older models. In addition, the updated connecting cables transport higher-quality audio and video than the old ones. The original Anynet, made in 2005 and 2006, was designed to work with only a television and two connected devices, and it used audio-visual, optical and communication cables to connect the two peripheral devices. The newer, more advanced system works with up to 12 different devices, and it uses HDMI-CEC (High-Definition Multimedia Interface-Consumer Electronics Control) cables to connect the devices to the TV. Anynet+™ devices do not connect to devices equipped with the original, non-HDMI-based system.
Advantages
The difference between a universal remote and this network system lies in its automatic functions. The advantage to this system is that the user has to press far fewer buttons in order to switch from one device to another. It also ensures that he will not have to keep, maintain battery power, and hunt for multiple remote controls in order to fully operate his home entertainment hardware.
While switching to a DVD player on a non-networked system requires that the user also manually switch the video and volume input, Anynet performs these functions automatically. Once a device is powered on, the menu automatically selects it for use. Turning the power off through this system turns off all devices at once. The system also detects newly connected devices automatically, making installation and setup simple.
Disadvantages
One thing to remember when using this system is that it only works with Anynet-equipped Samsung products. Not all Samsung products come with this technology. Though other electronics manufacturers also offer similar HDMI-CEC-based home entertainment networking functions, they generally do not work interchangeably. Some incompatible HDMI-CEC-based devices can disrupt Anynet+™ devices unless the function is disabled.
Though installing individual devices to this system can be simple, users with certain types of hardware may experience some problems. This device uses only wired connections to communicate with the external devices, so all connected devices need to be within a cable’s reach. Connecting and installing an audio-video receiver to this system is somewhat more involved than just connecting external devices.