NAME OF AMPLIFIER MANUFACTURER:
Anthem.
MODEL:
STR integrated.
MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE:
USD 4500.
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS:
200 watts @ 8ohms, 400 watts @ 4 ohms, 550 watts @ 2 ohms.
EXPERIENCE USING THIS INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER:
THE DARK SIDE:
The most important feature of Anthem STR integrated is Anthem Room Correction. I upgraded the ARC software to Genesis 32 bit. I accomplished this by uploading most recent version of ARC. Anthem STR does not malfunction rather ARC Genesis downloaded in desktop presents problems during operation. At least in my computer this was the case. After each successive running of ARC the corrected sonics are less pleasing to my ears. I used ARC five times. After last ARC try I compared corrected sound in which peaks and valleys in music were minimized to non ARC music. I found non ARC music sounds by far the best. Peaks and valleys are present in live music so why try to remove them.
On the unit volume increases and decreases in half decibel steps. Through the remote this process was not equal. Sometimes when I press the remote button once decibel increase by 2 steps instead of one step or half decibel.
All four line inputs not sound good from the word go. Line input had to be used for the sound to improve gradually. The usb input of the unit required run in too.
On first running the unit the sonics were subdued and the bass weak. However great improvement did take place over considerable period of time.
The overall sound has a slightly digital quality. In other words to a small extent STR sounds like a digital amplifier. This is not favorable.
THE SUNNY SIDE:
This is a slightly warm sounding amplifier. Female vocals and male vocals if well recorded for instance Speak softly by Yao Si Ting and Passione album by Andrea Bocelli sound clear, dynamic and well projected into the room. The vocals are somewhat airy however not quite airy. This is not a delicate sounding amplifier like Accuphase.
How much bass one gets to listen to depends on the recording. Bass can be plentiful and on less dynamic recordings less audible. You Tube music mostly sounds dynamic or very good. I mostly listen to You Tube music.
High frequency’s sound natural, slightly understated keeping in line with the overall slightly warm sound. Detail is there and sonics have average transparency.
How Martin Logan sounds with Anthem integrated also depends upon the cables employed. I use, better than average, Nordost speaker cable and interconnect. The sound improved became warmer more dynamic when I replaced the stock digital cable that came with the integrated with Shunyata Research Venom digital cable. My system appreciated this change of digital cable.
OVERALL SUNSHINE:
Amplifier is overpriced at USD 4500. I paid USD 3000. And this is a fair price if not slightly on the high side for this integrated amplifier. Anthem should have kept things simple like in their second last integrated amplifier and not have made a digital ,transistor hybrid amplifier. To sum up having 8 bipolar transistors per channel and large transformer this amp has very good sonics.
NAME OF LOUDSPEAKER DRIVEN WITH THIS AMPLIFIER:
Martin Logan Classic ESL 9.
IMAGE OF AMPLIFIER:
Anthem.
MODEL:
STR integrated.
MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE:
USD 4500.
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS:
200 watts @ 8ohms, 400 watts @ 4 ohms, 550 watts @ 2 ohms.
EXPERIENCE USING THIS INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER:
THE DARK SIDE:
The most important feature of Anthem STR integrated is Anthem Room Correction. I upgraded the ARC software to Genesis 32 bit. I accomplished this by uploading most recent version of ARC. Anthem STR does not malfunction rather ARC Genesis downloaded in desktop presents problems during operation. At least in my computer this was the case. After each successive running of ARC the corrected sonics are less pleasing to my ears. I used ARC five times. After last ARC try I compared corrected sound in which peaks and valleys in music were minimized to non ARC music. I found non ARC music sounds by far the best. Peaks and valleys are present in live music so why try to remove them.
On the unit volume increases and decreases in half decibel steps. Through the remote this process was not equal. Sometimes when I press the remote button once decibel increase by 2 steps instead of one step or half decibel.
All four line inputs not sound good from the word go. Line input had to be used for the sound to improve gradually. The usb input of the unit required run in too.
On first running the unit the sonics were subdued and the bass weak. However great improvement did take place over considerable period of time.
The overall sound has a slightly digital quality. In other words to a small extent STR sounds like a digital amplifier. This is not favorable.
THE SUNNY SIDE:
This is a slightly warm sounding amplifier. Female vocals and male vocals if well recorded for instance Speak softly by Yao Si Ting and Passione album by Andrea Bocelli sound clear, dynamic and well projected into the room. The vocals are somewhat airy however not quite airy. This is not a delicate sounding amplifier like Accuphase.
How much bass one gets to listen to depends on the recording. Bass can be plentiful and on less dynamic recordings less audible. You Tube music mostly sounds dynamic or very good. I mostly listen to You Tube music.
High frequency’s sound natural, slightly understated keeping in line with the overall slightly warm sound. Detail is there and sonics have average transparency.
How Martin Logan sounds with Anthem integrated also depends upon the cables employed. I use, better than average, Nordost speaker cable and interconnect. The sound improved became warmer more dynamic when I replaced the stock digital cable that came with the integrated with Shunyata Research Venom digital cable. My system appreciated this change of digital cable.
OVERALL SUNSHINE:
Amplifier is overpriced at USD 4500. I paid USD 3000. And this is a fair price if not slightly on the high side for this integrated amplifier. Anthem should have kept things simple like in their second last integrated amplifier and not have made a digital ,transistor hybrid amplifier. To sum up having 8 bipolar transistors per channel and large transformer this amp has very good sonics.
NAME OF LOUDSPEAKER DRIVEN WITH THIS AMPLIFIER:
Martin Logan Classic ESL 9.
IMAGE OF AMPLIFIER:
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