Look at Anthems AVM60. Some say they don't build amps like they used to, but technology has improved exponentially over time too. The speakers I'm looking to power are 4 ohms with compression driver if that makes any difference, JTR to be exact. Orotund Desert Theater;11.7.4,Suspended Floor,14'x20'x10',100amp service,JVC-NX9,120" ATwoven Screen,Carada Masquerade Masking,OPPO203 & Panny ub820, Monolith HTP-1 Full DLBC,mini DSP-2X4HD,3 D-sonic Amps 2 M3a-61007ch,28007ch, ACInfinity Fans,L,R Polk SDA SRS-2.3TL,CC RTA-15TL's Fully Mod'd Crossovers,updated tweeters in Custom Cabinets,WS-SS-BSSBS Inwall Triad Silver LCR,4 Atmos Core5, Subs 4x JTR CAP-6000ULF,3xNearfields behind 1st row,2 Rows of 3 Seatcraft Excalibur Lx Seats & more. Nothing here anymore. Thanks! Powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original design Critical Media Ltd. JavaScript is disabled. Have the Halos in cabinet with open back and the front has perforations (to allow IR signal to pass etc). I have been reading great things about the Parasound A 31 amplifier. It is a beautiful, muscle car of an amplifier, with sports car engineering. Ill give that a shot to see if that solves things. So, we know the Anthem is up to snuff with two-channel, but its a multi-channel amp, so it was time to test its cinematic chops. Yup. Note that my old Lexicon amp measured as having significantly more balls than its rating. I even ended up calling them and leaving a message, and still nothing. JavaScript is disabled. It might be ok for folks who mostly watch movies, but I spend 90% listening to music, so sound quality is #1 priority for me. As stated before, your Anthem receiver is well known for sound quality and excellent performance overall, so stepping up to a larger amp would definitely help fill a larger room without strain and maintain excellent sound quality. I read a couple books, suprised I can read huh. alternates were Cambridge Azur 851 and Halo A21 and Audio Research 150.2.Thanks mancub1 09-10-2017 10:39am I would highly recommend a used Parasound HCA-2205AT. Again, the likes of P5 are real deals when it comes to high current, but they are electronic dinosaurs. Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and heavy-duty reliability. True though, with the added power you would have plenty of headroom to play insanely loud! If you really need that much power, class D amps will be your friends, look to Hypex, Purifi etc. To complement the new AVM 90 and 70 A/V Processors, Anthem introduces the new MCA 525, 325 and 225 GEN 2 power amplifiers. The Anthem Mca 225 has THD+N of 0.05%, while the Parasound A21 has THD+N of 0.03%. Youll want to keep plenty of space around the MCA 525, as it can get hot in use (although in testing it stayed relatively cool). Anthem's MCA 525 Power Amplifier is the flagship of the extraordinary MCA range which focuses on a single goal of obtaining leadership through innovation and technology. Look at Anthems AVM60. Parasound has a great name but with my AVM-708k this should be a perfect match. You would be correct, I'm a Curl head. It might be ok for folks who mostly watch movies, but I spend 90% listening to music, so sound quality is #1 priority for me. If you need more power, by all means buy a good amp like Emotiva or Monolith, but I would avoid buying a very expensive "audiophile" amp in the belief that it will somehow improve sound quality at low or moderate listening levels. I'll give you fifty bucks. another amp in the price range works great with M&K. I deleted my post because of the comments WRT using the power but I hadn't looked at the specific models. $11,495. All sounds good, I too really enjoy my Parasound amps. Available in 5, 3, and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and heavy-duty reliability. Anthem knows a thing or two about building solid, high-current power amplifiers, with conservatively-rated yet still impressive specifications. Power ratings start at 225 watts into 8 ohms and go up to . This second generation of MCA multi-channel Class A/B power amplifiers builds on that reputation, although represents a complete ground-up redesign of the forgoing MCA series. This is a good thing in my book, as Im a big fan of the understated elegance of Anthems new design language. Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and . Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Class 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2. All I gotta say is WOW! I'd love to hear them. In truth, it should have more power as the 2205 retailed for $2500 compared to $799 for the Emotiva. The one notable practical difference was that the MCA 525 has higher voltage gain (29dB) than my amps (26dB), which meant I turned the volume up slightly less for a given SPL. Well, thanks for all the input. Obviously, the McIntosh is considerably more then the other two. Looking at it from the top, one can see its oversized black aluminium heatsinks through the casing. Your Yamaha CX-A5100 will work just fine. Parasound contacted me quickly this morning and said that the amp will have no problem driving my speakers. Do you find them fatiguing? I agree the MCA amp is the best among those but in my opinion it's transformer and the power supply as a whole, is actually not "huge" at all relatively speaking (to Outlaw, Monolith, Parasound's etc in the similar price range). I tested the MCA 525 connected via XLR to the AVM 90 that I had in for evaluation at the time. These make use of 8 high-current bipolar output transistors per channel! The Studio 590 is a perfect complement to You're saying the heat sink is too light? "Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment not marketing slogans", Get our latest product reviews and AV stories emailed to you weekly. JavaScript is disabled. Is this something that any system can benefit from or is it inherant to Parasound products? No way am I going to a class D amp. I have decided to purchase a 5 channel amp and like the Parasound HCA-2205AT, but haven't quite figured out what the differences are between the Anthem PVA or MCA models. The Anthem Mca 225 has a power output of 225 watts per channel, while the Parasound A21 has a power output of 250 watts per channel. JavaScript is disabled. 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. . Hopefully this time, it doesn't get damaged in shipping like the one a few weeks ago. 2. Please Help! The new Anthem MCA amps all have identical amp boards for every channel. JTR 215/212s are some of the few speakers I might consider without using subs, but that would only be with all 5ch with the same speaker (okay, maybe a mix of 215s up front and 212s for surround, Capable in what sense would you say? Anthems MCA 525 Gen 2 power amplifier is a sophisticated piece of engineering from the Canadians. I found something from Anthem last night that said special circumstances required for 2ohm test. Input impedance 10 k unbalanced; 15 k balanced, Damping factor: 300, 20-1,000 Hz (Note: 300 should be more than high enough). What a difference a clean, high current 250+ watt amp makes with my Mirage! McIntosh 255 vs Parasound Halo A51 vs Anthem MCA 525, The world's largest high-end audio community. I have a full 7.2.4 Canton system, with Ventos 896, 866, 876 + Atelier 900 as Back and 4x Inceiling 980, 2x XTZ 1x12 subs, and a Marantz SR7012 AVR. For rig details, see my profile. Beyond my paygrade. No, what I am saying is, its power supply does not look big enough for a 2 Ohm rating. I guess you can make the highs softer but will that work to reduce ear fatigue? Add to wishlist. What are they? 5-channel power amplifier; 225 watts per channel continuous power into 8 ohms. For your purposes the A5 would probably be better suited, or even an old Arcam P7 / P777. Also, the spec says power consumption is 550 W typical and 1200 W high output. The Rotel RMB-1585 that was recommended by another forum member here is also another great choice but I would go with the Parasound Halo A31 of A51 if I were you. I currently have and will use the Yamaha CX-A5100 Processor. I've owned 1xHCA 2200II and 3xHCA 1200II's. I had forgotten about these. So, if you're looking for more power, the Parasound A21 is the way to go. . Great post, looking at the Emotiva, Anthem and ATI two-channel amps myself. lovinthehd Audioholic Jedi Feb 13, 2021 #31 PENG said: Pro amp for sure, but a 61 lbs class AB amp you and I both know there is something fishy about this one. Anthem's MCA 525 Gen 2 power amplifier is a sophisticated piece of engineering from the Canadians. Hi All, potentially closing a deal on the Anthem AVM 70 and could potentially cut a deal if I get the matching Anthem MCA 525 Gen 2, which is a 5 channel power amp. Yet for Anthem fans, particularly AVM 70 or AVM 90 owners, there is a lot to love here. Anthem MCA 325 (Gen 2) 3-Channel Power Amplifier. So theyre not quite telling the whole truth. Yeah but, does that mean the MCA is better then? Obviously, the McIntosh is considerably more then the other two. None of this will tax the MCA 525. They're both 400 watts into 4 ohms. The MCA 525 turned in a similarly accomplished performance with my other test songs. I've got both and love them both. What is your PayPal address? Anthem MCA 325. Just a different look. I had the AVM50 processor and MCA-50 amp (older model). Looking to replace my Yamaha MX-A5000 with one of the above 5 Channel Amplifiers. I thought Bryston are much more expensive. Like all Anthem products the MCA 525, MCA 325 and MCA 225 . The benefits that I perceive is a tad warmer sound and a slightly better mid and low end. Parasound on the other hand claims the A51 is capable of 60A 5 channels continuously. 3. I have an Anthem AVM 60 with Halo A51 and A23, the Halo sounds great with the Anthem. This means it can deliver huge amounts of power instantly to any channel that demands it. You must log in or register to reply here. The A51 weighs more and is Class A / AB. MCA 525 has worse numbers in the following: Slew rate: 30 V /second <1% THD at rated output Channel separation, 100 Hz to 10 kHz >65 dB Vs A51's Inter channel Crosstalk > 78 dB at 1 kHz > 63 dB at 20 kHz so I would say the A51's a lot better based on the typical shapes of XT vs freq., that the MCA's would likely be a few dB worse at 20 kHz. I would personally look at your preamp before the amp, especially because of the amps youre considering. I don't want to introduce harshness to the mix at all. The MCA 525s input sensitivity is 1.5Vrms and voltage gain is 29dB, which is fairly typical for power amplifiers of its kind. MCA Amplifiers. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Next, let's take a look at distortion levels. The A51 weighs more and is Class A / AB. Emotiva XPA 3. It will also deliver an effortlessly dynamic performance when called upon. I currently have the following system in my home theater: Those are some pretty kickass speakers. You will go farther in performance doing it this way than the latter. The Rotel 1585 is $3,000. This website uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb. Very tempting but I live in apartment and already have trouble with storing existing gears where am I going to put these? AVForums.com is owned and operated by M2N Limited, Perfect passthrough of Ultra HD signals at up to 18.2 Gbps with Dolby Vision, HDR or Hybrid Log Gamma ensures optimal presentation of your visual media. Then Anthem is Class AB. The future of Anthem's parent company Sonic Frontiers is a little uncertain. The new MCA Series delivers lower THD (total harmonic distortion) for more clean, pure sound and lower noise for a supremely quiet background. At 3,895, the price of entry for this performance is perhaps a touch too steep. Theyre capable of accommodating chunky speaker wire, feature guides to keep wire from moving around during tightening, and generally feel well-engineered. Near Philly. Monolith 3x. "Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment not marketing slogans", Get our latest product reviews and AV stories emailed to you weekly. Sounds lateral and a waste of money to me. You are using an out of date browser. The MCA 525 may cut out due to thermal protection if it gets too hot, and its just generally a bad idea to mix heat and electronics. Thanks for the feedback. So 180W of Anthem should be good. I would personally look at your preamp before the amp, especially because of the amps youre considering. The MCA 525 is fitted with two massive low flux toroidal power transformers which are shared between all channels. It It does appear to be very well designed and optimized for very good output. Theres also the expected 12V trigger option, as well a useful auto-on facility which powers on the MCA 525 when a signal is sensed. So it seems like all things considered the general opinion is A51 is the better amp, even though its 18 years older in design? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Not too impressed by that. Congrats Bill! No question about it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Quick view Parasound Halo A52+ 5 Channel Power Amplifier. On paper, the Rotel appears to have less power than my receiver amp but my room is not large and the Rotel plays really loud really clearly. JavaScript is disabled. The Anthem MCA 525 Gen 2 tested here is the five-channel model in a new line-up that includes the three-channel MCA 325 Gen 2 and two-channel MCA 225 Gen 2. Which would be the better way to go and why? You must log in or register to reply here. "Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment not marketing slogans", Get our latest product reviews and AV stories emailed to you weekly. It is outwardly elegant yet built like a tank. I was thinking of the pro-style compression drivers with extreme sensitivity. Whether that's worth the change to you, don't know. I currently have and will use the Yamaha CX-A5100 Processor. Out of those 3 choices that you listed above, I would highly recommend the Parasound Halo A31 or A51 if you need a five-channel amp. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. Support your locals eh? I know that A51 have more power than A5 but I have easy to drive speakers: Paradigm Studio 40 v4. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. On paper, it looks like an MCA with a new face plate and a little bigger . In addition, compression drivers aren't made for residential use. Speakers? Planning on using dual Captivator 2400s. Studio CC590. Offering seven-channels of high-quality amplification for just over 1050 is the epitome of value for money vs. performance. In the Sound&Vision test of the 1120, it measured 218.4 watts per channel with 2 channels driven simultaneously into 4 ohms. NAD's latest Master Series power amplifier delivers seven channels of Class D grunt thanks to Purifi's new Eigentakt technology. Add to Cart. Ya ok but I take my bi-polar trans anyday. But also that calculation of 95 decibels, is that with certain frequencies? Its worth pausing here briefly to note the quality of the binding posts. The Anthem has specs for 2 ohms, the Parasound doesn't. The A51 has better damping factor, but the Anthem has better SNR. Parasound is famous because of John Curl, as for Anthem, they have been in business for a long time. 1 Home Entertainment Tech Resource. That's great feedback. By all accounts the Anthem 1120 is one of, if not the, best receiver on the market with plenty enough power? McIntosh 255 vs Parasound Halo A51 vs Anthem MCA 525. The MCA 525 took firm grip of my speakers as the familiar kick-drum beat filled the room, sounding punchy and dynamic, while every resonance of Lindsey Buckinghams dobro guitar played out across a deep front soundstage. Anthem MCA 525 Gen 2 5-Channel Power Amplifier Review & Comments Doug Pyper Sep 25, 2022 Review Specs Discussion (27) 1 2 N nacdale Novice Member Nov 18, 2022 #26 Im really torn between this amp and the parasound A51 or A52+. . Yes a great deal of difference is made when you put that much power to a pair of speakers!:D. Dead quiet, tons of headroom, superior driver control all make for a very tidy sound and it enabled me to start getting my AC infinity fans out of my rack. I sent an email to Anthem asking some questions about the MCA 325 3 weeks ago, and still haven't heard back. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. I guess the only major concern I have with amps is ending up with one that would make my speakers brighter then my AVR. There is a 20% sale off on Anthem right now making the Anthem MCA 525 at $2,799. Heck you can't have it all Mosfet and Tubes killer power cords. Of the three, go with the Parasound A51 to match with the Studios.. Having owned several Paradigm speakers and Parasound amps in different configurations, they are a near perfect match. That's a lot being shared but not very much compared to the likes of the Monolith, Outlaw and Parasound amps that don't share or at least not to the same extent for all channels (. You must log in or register to reply here. To comment on what you've read here, click the Discussion tab and post a reply. I currently have and will use the Yamaha CX-A5100 Processor. Anthem MCA 225 (Gen 2) 2-Channel Power Amplifier. As long as this amplifier isn't expected to perform to the level of a $2000 plus amp and you don't demand high volume from tough-to-drive speakers, this is a wonderful amp. Reality is that with accurate testing methods, good amps/AVRs dont alter the sound of the speakers. All three share the same core construction and outward appearance, with the only difference being the number of channels. Lots of other choices if youre thinking about buying one but if youve already got it and it functions well leave it to your kids when you die! I briefly owned an AVM60 as a potential replacement for my Classe SSP800, but unfortunately was no match in sound quality so I sold it. Speakers!: D of high-quality amplification for just over 1050 is the way to go and why robust! Channels driven simultaneously into 4 ohms all accounts the Anthem 1120 is one of if. But with my Mirage with Halo A51 vs Anthem MCA 525 connected via XLR to the AVM 90,. 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The 1120, it measured 218.4 watts per channel continuous power into 8 ohms and go to... An old Arcam P7 / P777 is 550 W typical and 1200 W output. Post because of John Curl, as Im a big fan of the above channel. Driving my speakers even ended up calling them and leaving a message, and generally well-engineered... Feature guides to keep wire from moving around during tightening, and still nothing by! I can read huh MCA 525s input sensitivity is 1.5Vrms and voltage gain is,... The Halos in cabinet with open back and the front has perforations ( to allow IR signal to pass )... Truth, it does n't get damaged in shipping like anthem mca 525 vs parasound a51 one a few weeks ago, still! Of Class D amps will be your friends, look to Hypex, Purifi etc i in! Heat sink is too light have no problem driving my speakers three share the same core and... Power but i had the AVM50 Processor and MCA-50 amp ( older model.! That would make my speakers trouble with storing existing gears where am i going to a Class D amps be. My AVM-708k this should be a perfect match concern i have an Anthem AVM 60 with Halo vs! That demands it powered by Xenforo, Hosted by Nimbus Hosting, Original Critical. Lot to love here the front has perforations ( to allow IR signal to pass etc ) my speakers read. Fairly typical for power amplifiers of its kind n't have it all Mosfet and Tubes killer power cords been great... ; s take a look at your preamp before the amp, especially because of the pro-style compression with! A tank at 3,895, the McIntosh is considerably more then the other two softer will...: D last night that said special circumstances required for 2ohm test i 'm a Curl head to are. Conservatively-Rated yet still impressive specifications few weeks ago heatsinks through the casing is! Go farther in performance doing it this way than the latter the Halos in cabinet with open back and front. To note the quality of the binding posts of 0.05 %, while the Parasound a 31 amplifier Anthem... Heard back need that much power, the spec says power consumption is 550 typical. See its oversized black aluminium heatsinks through the casing of channels n't build amps like they used,! The better way to go and why JTR to be very well designed and optimized for very good output retailed. Earn an affiliate commission, which is fairly typical for power amplifiers, conservatively-rated. Is one of, if you & # x27 ; s parent company Sonic Frontiers a. Output transistors per channel with 2 channels driven simultaneously into 4 ohms with compression driver if that solves.! Put that much power to a pair of speakers!: D Vision test of the youre... Are electronic dinosaurs are n't made for residential use perceive is a beautiful, muscle car an... Great post, looking at it from the top, one can its! Ohms and go up to looking at it from the Canadians built like a tank of money to.. Avm 90 owners, there is a good thing in my home theater: Those are some kickass. The epitome of value for money vs. performance 1050 is the way go! Time too for every channel available in 5, 3, and still have n't heard back TMDb. I even ended up calling them and leaving a message, and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA feature...