Q: What about silence, isn’t that the ultimate?

A: Silence is filled with anahat. 

The inner silence is the silence of the ego, when your mind vibrates silently in perfect unisonness with the unlimited self.  When you chant, your nervous system becomes synchronized and the flow of thoughts moves with your higher self.  Then your ego relaxes and the mantra is vibrated by every cell.  You let go and are truly silent.  In that silence you can feel, hear and act on the call of the soul.