Name of Amplifier Manufacturer
Anthem.
Model
Anthem MCA 225.
Manufacturer suggested retail price
210,000 PKR.
Basic specifications
Power Output, continuous both channel, 20 Hz to 20 KHz, < 1 % THD
200 W @ 8 ohm
310 W @ 4 ohm
370 W @ 2 ohm
THD at 100 W
At 1 KHz 0.0010%
At 20Khz 0.015%
SNR, IEC-A, ref. 225W 120 dB
Damping Factor, 20 Hz to 1 KHz 300
Channel Separation, 100Hz to 10Khz >65 dB
Input Sensitivity, 225 W into 8 ohm 1.5 Vrms
Voltage Gain 29 dB
Experience using this power amp:
Introduction
I dedicate review of amplifier to my friend Roberto and without his advice i may not have purchased this great sounding amplifier.
Anthem MCA225 is designed, engineered and crafted in Canada. Not made in Asia or Far East.
Out of the box during the first week the sound is a combination of transistor sound and musical sounds. The pleasant musical sound ends by the first week and the buyer or listener is faced with the dire prospect of, not musical, transistor sound thereafter. This review would end here if it were not for the metamorphosis of Anthem amp from ugly duckling to beautiful, graceful swan by the end of first three months of operation.
Inside the Anthem power amplifier
Located on the backside of the front panel is a large single custom low noise, high power toroidal transformer.
In the front right corner is the capacitor bank comprising of 4 medium sized cylindrical high quality filter capacitors.
This amplifier has a dual mono configuration. At the back next to left and right walls there are oversized aluminum heat sinks.
Near each heat sink mounted on circuit board are 8 heat radiating high current bipolar output transistors. These are used for signal amplification.
Advanced power supply regulators operate inside the amplifier.
Description of sound quality
Anthem has transformed to a reasonable or fair extent the acoustic sounds produced by my CLS 1 loudspeakers.
This amplifier produces distortion free, clear, dynamic, resolved, fast, smooth, natural and tonally rich sound. Not a dry or bleached sounding amplifier.
Vocals are soft spoken through this amp. Vocals are not forced down the ears but rather the listener is invited to listen at their ease.
Imaging is very good. Sound images extend a foot to 3 feet outside of both left and right speaker. When I play the track Blasphemous Rumours performed by Depeche Mode of their album The Singles 81>85, there is present stunning imaging on transients.
After listening to The Essential Jean Michel Jarre, I can say, transients are reproduced with speed, precision and clarity. No blurring of sounds. Anthem plays to the strength, namely, precision of the CLS.
The sound gives a hint of delicateness of music notes though not much in this area, unfortunately.
The treble seems understated but on careful listening is evident is natural and not artificially bright like in less expensive and less potent amplifiers. When cymbals are played in Tango in the night performed by Fleetwood Mac the notes slowly decay or fade with time.
I am fortunate this amp performs fairly well when orchestral music is played.
Conclusion
After the three month run in period is over, I am delighted and very satisfied by the performance of Anthem power amplifier. Anthem MCA225 has given new life to my CLS. If, Anthem can make my 27 year old, electrostatic loudspeakers, shine. Then, just imagine how pleasing sound created when matched with new generation electrostatic loudspeakers.
Name of loudspeaker driven with this amplifier
Martin Logan Curvilinear Line Source 1 Version 2.
Image of the amplifier
Anthem.
Model
Anthem MCA 225.
Manufacturer suggested retail price
210,000 PKR.
Basic specifications
Power Output, continuous both channel, 20 Hz to 20 KHz, < 1 % THD
200 W @ 8 ohm
310 W @ 4 ohm
370 W @ 2 ohm
THD at 100 W
At 1 KHz 0.0010%
At 20Khz 0.015%
SNR, IEC-A, ref. 225W 120 dB
Damping Factor, 20 Hz to 1 KHz 300
Channel Separation, 100Hz to 10Khz >65 dB
Input Sensitivity, 225 W into 8 ohm 1.5 Vrms
Voltage Gain 29 dB
Experience using this power amp:
Introduction
I dedicate review of amplifier to my friend Roberto and without his advice i may not have purchased this great sounding amplifier.
Anthem MCA225 is designed, engineered and crafted in Canada. Not made in Asia or Far East.
Out of the box during the first week the sound is a combination of transistor sound and musical sounds. The pleasant musical sound ends by the first week and the buyer or listener is faced with the dire prospect of, not musical, transistor sound thereafter. This review would end here if it were not for the metamorphosis of Anthem amp from ugly duckling to beautiful, graceful swan by the end of first three months of operation.
Inside the Anthem power amplifier
Located on the backside of the front panel is a large single custom low noise, high power toroidal transformer.
In the front right corner is the capacitor bank comprising of 4 medium sized cylindrical high quality filter capacitors.
This amplifier has a dual mono configuration. At the back next to left and right walls there are oversized aluminum heat sinks.
Near each heat sink mounted on circuit board are 8 heat radiating high current bipolar output transistors. These are used for signal amplification.
Advanced power supply regulators operate inside the amplifier.
Description of sound quality
Anthem has transformed to a reasonable or fair extent the acoustic sounds produced by my CLS 1 loudspeakers.
This amplifier produces distortion free, clear, dynamic, resolved, fast, smooth, natural and tonally rich sound. Not a dry or bleached sounding amplifier.
Vocals are soft spoken through this amp. Vocals are not forced down the ears but rather the listener is invited to listen at their ease.
Imaging is very good. Sound images extend a foot to 3 feet outside of both left and right speaker. When I play the track Blasphemous Rumours performed by Depeche Mode of their album The Singles 81>85, there is present stunning imaging on transients.
After listening to The Essential Jean Michel Jarre, I can say, transients are reproduced with speed, precision and clarity. No blurring of sounds. Anthem plays to the strength, namely, precision of the CLS.
The sound gives a hint of delicateness of music notes though not much in this area, unfortunately.
The treble seems understated but on careful listening is evident is natural and not artificially bright like in less expensive and less potent amplifiers. When cymbals are played in Tango in the night performed by Fleetwood Mac the notes slowly decay or fade with time.
I am fortunate this amp performs fairly well when orchestral music is played.
Conclusion
After the three month run in period is over, I am delighted and very satisfied by the performance of Anthem power amplifier. Anthem MCA225 has given new life to my CLS. If, Anthem can make my 27 year old, electrostatic loudspeakers, shine. Then, just imagine how pleasing sound created when matched with new generation electrostatic loudspeakers.
Name of loudspeaker driven with this amplifier
Martin Logan Curvilinear Line Source 1 Version 2.
Image of the amplifier
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