What's the word on the Anthem MCA 525 multichannel amplifiers?

[fatstrat]

Been looking at 5 channel amps to replace a Marantz 7055 and ran across this sweetheart. Anybody know anything about them. I'm looking at possibly getting one. Just picked up an AVM 60 and am hearing they go really good together.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I've owned the AVM 50 at one time... no complaints here... very clean.

Anthem makes some very good products, so you won't go wrong with anything they have.

I am also a big fan of Emotiva.

 

[natty]

Been looking at 5 channel amps to replace a Marantz 7055 and ran across this sweetheart. Anybody know anything about them. I'm looking at possibly getting one. Just picked up an AVM 60 and am hearing they go really good together.

I’d wager that level matched you’d be hard pressed to tell a difference with your Marantz.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Agree... especially if there is nothing inherently wrong with your Marantz.

I also just realized you referenced the AVM60, which is a processor. The Anthem 5-channel amp is the MCA-525, which is considerably more power than your Marantz, so depending on what B&W speakers you have, it's possible at higher volume levels the Anthem may fair better.

I had the AVM50 processor and MCA-50 amp (older model).

 

[fatstrat]

Thanks for the reply. I've read mixed reviews

I’d wager that level matched you’d be hard pressed to tell a difference with your Marantz.

Outlaw audio was better than Marantz.

 

[natty]

Interesting. You say you listen to an Outlaw audio amp, level matched with the Marantz amp, and you liked the sound of the Outlaw audio amp better?

 

[fatstrat]

I had an Anthem AVM2 and an outlaw audio 5 channel amp, 750 I believe. They blew away my current setup of Marantz AV7701 and 7055 amp. The audessey is terrible I hate it. They will be up for sale shortly. I recently purchased the AVM60 and have not installed yet. So I'm looking for an amp to go with it. I miss the AVM2 but it didn't have the HDMI's needed today. Outlaw amp has blown channel (my fault not amp) and they want me to buy new because they are not servicing because of covid-19 at this time. I am reading alot of good things about anthem. A lot saying they will never part with their amps. so, down to Statement A5 or MCA525. I will say I have a Marantz reciever for my computer (no amp) that I like though.

 

[natty]

I had an Anthem AVM2 and an outlaw audio 5 channel amp, 750 I believe. They blew away my current setup of Marantz AV7701 and 7055 amp. The audessey is terrible I hate it. They will be up for sale shortly. I recently purchased the AVM60 and have not installed yet. So I'm looking for an amp to go with it. I miss the AVM2 but it didn't have the HDMI's needed today. Outlaw amp has blown channel (my fault not amp) and they want me to buy new because they are not servicing because of covid-19 at this time. I am reading alot of good things about anthem. A lot saying they will never part with their amps. so, down to Statement A5 or MCA525. I will say I have a Marantz reciever for my computer (no amp) that I like though.

I agree that ARC is far better than Audyssey. Needs a little more user knowledge but it is amazing.

I can't quite follow your other thread. You say you tried the 7055 amp and the Outlaw 750 and the 750 sounded better?

Except if driven to clipping, that seems surprising. That being said, the Anthem amp can get a few more decibels of output, if you are in a borderline situation (low efficiency speakers, no bass management, long distance between listener and speaker) those few extra decibels may be important -- and the Anthem is a fine amp.

Note that lots of people can work on Outlaw amps, not just outlaw. If you have a local AV repair person, they can probably diagnose it and fix if for a fine price. It is a pretty standard ATI configuration based on time proven design and components. I am not suprised you like it. ATI eschews fashion and builds the best stuff to their price target.

And of course another option, if you like the ATI made amps that Outlaw slaps their label on, is to buy another ATI amp, either direct from ATI or some other company that resells them, like Monoprice.

 

[CCole]

Good find on the MCA525 I’ve owned and sold Anthem for the last 10yrs. I run the D2v2 with the 525 and have ran a majority of Anthems amp lineup. I’m currently running an Audio Control Meastro X9 and the 525 paired well with it too. The 525 IMO is the best bang for the buck compared to anything I’ve found at the same price point. I’ve ran 4-5 similarly priced manufactures offering. It seems to have more authority and presence. Just a heads up Anthem has many products backorders lately. Shoot me a PM if you decide to pull the trigger. I might be able to help.
Cheers

 

[fatstrat]

Good find on the MCA525 I’ve owned and sold Anthem for the last 10yrs. I run the D2v2 with the 525 and have ran a majority of Anthems amp lineup. I’m currently running an Audio Control Meastro X9 and the 525 paired well with it too. The 525 IMO is the best bang for the buck compared to anything I’ve found at the same price point. I’ve ran 4-5 similarly priced manufactures offering. It seems to have more authority and presence. Just a heads up Anthem has many products backorders lately. Shoot me a PM if you decide to pull the trigger. I might be able to help.
Cheers

Thanks you just added to the positive things that I have been reading.

 

[fatstrat]

Ordered the Anthem MCA525 today. Found somewhere 1 1/2 hr away that will give me a grand for my Marantz stuff, so I jumped on it. Has to be ordered though. Said about 10 days to come in. Looking forward to pairing with AVM60. Should keep me happy for a while. Will post when it arrives.

 

[fatstrat]

Ordered amp on Monday and got a call on Thursday to tell me it was in. So I picked up on Saturday and installed along with AVM60. It's two days later and am loving it and didn't even run ARC yet. Almost immediately the wife commented that it sounded a lot better, and that is rare for her because she doesn't really care, she just wants to hear sound. Way better than the Marantz equipment I had. Sacd's are lifelike again. Will run Arc in near future to she how things change, but out of the box I am very pleased. The clarity of the sound so far is impressive. Thank you for all your posts.

 

[Todd Anderson]

are you using it primarily for music or movies? Just curious

 

[fatstrat]

I use it for both, probably pretty equally. With the AVM60 you can control how many speakers you want per component. So I can use 5 channel for movies and multichannel audio and 2 or 3 channels for vinyl or stereo audio.

 

[Todd Anderson]

That's great. Glad you're enjoying it.

Satisfied with the power output?

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Ordered amp on Monday and got a call on Thursday to tell me it was in. So I picked up on Saturday and installed along with AVM60. It's two days later and am loving it and didn't even run ARC yet. Almost immediately the wife commented that it sounded a lot better, and that is rare for her because she doesn't really care, she just wants to hear sound. Way better than the Marantz equipment I had. Sacd's are lifelike again. Will run Arc in near future to she how things change, but out of the box I am very pleased. The clarity of the sound so far is impressive. Thank you for all your posts.

Don't feel like just because you spent the time running ARC that you need to keep it. Depending on your room, you may be better off not using ARC.

I put in the AVM60 last winter, and I absolutely love it. Using Emotiva amps. Replaced an Emotiva XMC1. Dirac on the XMC-1 required a lot of fiddling and tweaking and re-running to get satisfactory results. ARC basically matched Dirac the first time I ran it. A few months later, though, after swapping out speakers and re-running ARC, I started going back and forth between ARC and No ARC. I've settled on No ARC. My room is well treated, so the adjustments were minor, but I'm finding that everything is more cohesive without ARC running, like there's more happening between the physical speaker locations.

It sounds great with or without, but in my room I'm opting for without.

 

[fatstrat]

Thanks thrillcat going on vacation so probably won't run til I get back. Will keep you posted.

 

[Bill Shenefelt]

I have a new version (gen 2) of the 525 and their new 15.4 processor both on order. Likely won't show up till late January or possibly even eary February. I have an MRX 1120 I bought a few years ago and like it for movies but I love the sound of my front speakers so I run them full range and do not let Anthem ARC mess with them. I do use a separate audio music system separate from the Anthem theater setup. I have "ancient" JBL monitors I built in the mid 1970's and I have upgraded them several times over the years. Alll upgrades were using the JBL components in newer but they are pre Harmon, Now JBL will not sell parts or drivers without your having purchased the speaker containing that unit, have the serial number at which time you can order a repair part. I have simply worked off of the historical documents and drivers I have been able to buy on Ebay or other sources. It is more profitable to part out a JBL speaker for the driver and crossovers than to try to ship a 100# plus complete speaker in a big cabinet. Sometimes you can find locally, someone selling a big old pair of JBL monitors. By locally I mean within a few hundred miles. .

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Keep us posted on how you like the new Anthem setup once you get it in and setup.

 

[Bill Shenefelt]

Crutchfield says they will be shipping in mid January on the 525 amp but not sure on the 15.4 processor. I ordered my amp and processor from a local dealer I always go to. I have enough amps to run the processor without the amp but at age 77 someday is tomorrow-haha. He told me the processor was wawaiting some part that they did not get yet. The amp in "Gen1" is available but I am waiting for the January release of the Gen2.

As oppoed to a lot (most) of companies I found Anthem engineering phone support in troubleshootingwonderful. Most outfits have sales people available bu tthey have no Idea as to even how to plug their poducts into a wall outlet.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Sounds about right... the guys I've always spoken to at MartinLogan are super knowledgeable. I think we are basically talking to technicians instead of sales guys.