JavaScript is disabled. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Or is this a full range system without subs? It seems a trivial thing to note, but I always find it reassuring when I see good quality binding posts; it speaks of thoughtful craftsmanship. What subs are you going to use with the 212s? 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. The Anthem amp will integrate nicely with the MRX receiver, but not necessarily better. So, if you're looking for more power, the Parasound A21 is the way to go. You will go farther in performance doing it this way than the latter. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Yeah but, does that mean the MCA is better then? Wattage rating that high on a speaker is only telling you you could get silly loud before damaging it. Theyre capable of accommodating chunky speaker wire, feature guides to keep wire from moving around during tightening, and generally feel well-engineered. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It looks like it has 2X10 A slow blo fuses, that indicate it has two transformers with VA rating up to 750 VA each but not larger. Studio 590 | 250-watt, dual 8" floorstanding loudspeaker, Need help with floorspeakers and subwoofer configuration, Recommendations for Side, Rear, and Center Speaker Stands. Yet for Anthem fans, particularly AVM 70 or AVM 90 owners, there is a lot to love here. I hooked up my speakers via banana plugs, which fit snugly into the Anthems binding posts. Next, let's take a look at distortion levels. You must log in or register to reply here. I had the AVM50 processor and MCA-50 amp (older model). . Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and heavy-duty reliability. The A51 weighs more and is Class A / AB. Anthem MCA 325. I can personally attest that the MCA 5 (200 watts per channel, with one channel driven) does compare, arguably, with the lower powered B&K 5125 (125 watts per channel, with one-channel driven) in price and performance. Emotiva XPA 3. For Sale: JBL Studio 590's brand new, Local pickup, no separating. Add to Cart. Parasound is known for its bass extension. The Studio 590 uses the technology that JBL engineers developed for pro-audio loudspeakers to deliver accurate, powerful sound to your living room. it did lead me to question the value proposition of the MCA 525. The Parasound sounded more resolving with better details than the Rotel RMB-1585. I think the closest company to me that I really care about is VPI but I can never find it when I used to travel to that area. 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. Thanks for the feedback. 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. I had forgotten about these. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Feb 23, 2016. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. I sent an email to Anthem asking some questions about the MCA 325 3 weeks ago, and still haven't heard back. The new MCA xxx line appears to be more of a cosmetic effort to match the face plate aesthetics of the new AVM 60 than anything else to me. fatstrat New Member Thread Starter Joined Feb 21, 2020 Messages 8 Location Pa More I s'pose you could reproduce thunderclaps and jet engines realistically but you'd only be able to hear it a few times before you blow your eardrums into your sinuses .LOL 400wpc short on power with 101dB sensitivity at 12 feet. Now Available: Tech Talk Podcast with Scott Wilkinson, Episode 19, https://www.d-sonic.com/amplifiers/multi-channel/three-channel/. From available pictures it looks like it has 10X8,200 uf or 82,000 uf filter capacitance total. For lower listening levels I prefer the tubed Anthem, but when needing to rock out a bit the PSound has the balls and headroom needed. 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. Bear in mind when reading this that many speakers have a minimum impedance far lower than the manufacturers stated nominal impedance. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855660&highlight=d-sonic, Need help with floorspeakers and subwoofer configuration, Recommendations for Side, Rear, and Center Speaker Stands. These make use of 8 high-current bipolar output transistors per channel! 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. There's a similar duality to its sonic performance, with the Anthem capable of intimately detailed moments on the one hand and astounding dynamic transients on the other. Those are some pretty kickass speakers. A51 costs me $4K and I can get A5 for around $3K so does $1K is worth for that extra power and what extra or sound quality I am going to get with that extra money. But given differences in how they are specified by the manufactures, I deduce that the Anthem and the Parasound are somewhat closer in actual output capabilities. The new MCA Series delivers lower THD (total harmonic distortion) for more clean, pure sound and lower noise for a supremely quiet background. I'm going to try a Parasound again (HCA-2200ii). Quick view Parasound Halo A52+ 5 Channel Power Amplifier. I'd try hooking the center channel output of the receiver to a different (known good) channel on your amplifier. Parasound has a great name but with my AVM-708k this should be a perfect match. 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. By all accounts, the preamp section of your receiver is top notch, basically the very well regarded AVM 60 with amplifiers. I'll give you fifty bucks. Anthem MCA 525 GEN 2 Power Amplifier. I dont think its an upgrade to get the Anthem if you already own the Parasound though. The MCA 525 turned in a similarly accomplished performance with my other test songs. At 130 pounds weigh and takes up two dedicated 15 A outlet, I don't see the point. Anyone wishing to rackmount one of these using the optional 4U rackmount kit will certainly need help unless theyve had their Weetabix. I know that A51 have more power than A5 but I have easy to drive speakers: Paradigm Studio 40 v4. So 180W of Anthem should be good. Looking to replace my Yamaha MX-A5000 with one of the above 5 Channel Amplifiers. If a speaker is naturally fatiguing by nature and design (the Klipsch RF-7 III's come to mind, seemed to have lots of bass and highs but no mids) then can EQ'ing adjust for this? British company IOTAVX knock it out the park! On paper, it looks like an MCA with a new face plate and a little bigger . There is a 20% sale off on Anthem right now making the Anthem MCA 525 at $2,799. Really looking to compare something like the MCA-2 or MCA-20 to the HCA-1500a or HCA-2200ii. I currently have and will use the Yamaha CX-A5100 Processor. Planning on using dual Captivator 2400s. 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 (. Look at Anthems AVM60. Looking at it from the top, one can see its oversized black aluminium heatsinks through the casing. For your purposes the A5 would probably be better suited, or even an old Arcam P7 / P777. I found something from Anthem last night that said special circumstances required for 2ohm test. You will go farther in performance doing it this way than the latter. . So it seems like all things considered the general opinion is A51 is the better amp, even though its 18 years older in design? The ability of the A21 and the A52+ to better render the bass content most likely comes from two things. I voted for Anthem because its the cheaper of the 2 options. So theyre not quite telling the whole truth. Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and heavy-duty reliability. Not really an upgrade. I currently have the following system in my home theater: No way am I going to a class D amp. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Anthem MCA 325 (Gen 2) 3-Channel Power Amplifier. McIntosh 255 vs Parasound Halo A51 vs Anthem MCA 525, The world's largest high-end audio community. Sounds lateral and a waste of money to me. it speaks of thoughtful craftsmanship. For rig details, see my profile. 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. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Copyright 2000-2023 M2N Limited E. & O.E. 20% music, 80% Home Theater. System is kinda in transition right now, but pics to come soon (guts and arse too). "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. I am wondering if I will get the same response from my speakers once I hooked them up to one of these amps I am reviewing. Beardog, you sound like you own stock in Parasound! Reality is that with accurate testing methods, good amps/AVRs dont alter the sound of the speakers. https://www.anthemav.com/downloads/Anthem-MCA-525-325-225-Gen-2-081020.pdf, https://www.anthemav.com/products-archived/model=mca-525/page=specs, Need help with floorspeakers and subwoofer configuration, Recommendations for Side, Rear, and Center Speaker Stands. Or the transformer needed? Or? Parasound Model 2250 v.2 Two Channel Power Amplifier Review, Storm Audio PA 16 MK2 16-Channel Power Amplifier Review, Yamaha MX-A5200 11-Channel Power Amplifier Review, Emotiva XPA-11 Gen3 11-Channel Power Amplifier Review, Samsung launches its 2023 Q-Series soundbar range in the UK, XGIMI announces new MoGo 2 and MoGo 2 Pro portable projectors, Onkyo announces new flagship TX-RZ70 AV receiver, BenQ set for UK launch of its GP500 4K LED projector. 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. Monolith 3x. It is outwardly elegant yet built like a tank. Thanks for the help! I have been reading great things about the Parasound A 31 amplifier. The MCA 525s input sensitivity is 1.5Vrms and voltage gain is 29dB, which is fairly typical for power amplifiers of its kind. I. It is a 5-channel power amplifier using 225 watts per channel of continuous power into 8 ohm and is designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada. Overall, the Anthem MCA 525 was just a little smoother from top to bottom at high volumes, but the NAD does provide two additional channels for only $500 more -- a not insignificant difference if you're contemplating a seven-channel system. Look at Anthems AVM60. I have decided to purchase a new 5 channel power amp and would like some advice from our forum members. The JTRs are rated at 2200 watts, the A51 is only 400 watts at 4 ohms so thought it might be short on power. Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and . I have an Anthem AVM 60 with Halo A51 and A23, the Halo sounds great with the Anthem. The benefits that I perceive is a tad warmer sound and a slightly better mid and low end. Whilst not exactly A/B side-by-side testing, I reasoned that the comparison might bring to light any obvious differences in audio performance. The future of Anthem's parent company Sonic Frontiers is a little uncertain. You are using an out of date browser. I've owned 1xHCA 2200II and 3xHCA 1200II's. JTRs with that much power is a bit insane IMO. McIntosh 255 vs Parasound Halo A51 vs Anthem MCA 525. You will go farther in performance doing it this way than the latter. It is a beautiful, muscle car of an amplifier, with sports car engineering. 2. Which ones? They're both 400 watts into 4 ohms. Congrats Bill! Ill give that a shot to see if that solves things. Parasound A51 (click on specs) https://parasound.com/a51.php Anthen MCA 525 Gen2 (PDF spec download) For evaluation I used the same demo material that Id listened to during my testing of the AVM 90 with my Hypex NCore-based amplifiers. The JBL Studio 590 floorstanding loudspeaker brings professional-quality sound to the home experience. In these Parasound amplifiers both the positive and negative transistors for each channel are always fully on - the definition of Class A operation - up to 8 watts output per channel. Available in 5, 3 and 2-channel configurations, these new MCA amplifiers feature more robust and efficient power and heavy-duty reliability. Stereo setup: MSB Select ll DAC w/ 2 separate mono powerbases (PSU) & Femto 33 clock, Taeko Audio SGM Extreme music server; Clearaudio Statement v2 turntable, Statement TT tonearm, Statement Goldfinger cartridge & separate PSU; D'Agostino Momentum phono pre; Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage preamp & Naim Statement NAP S1 monoblock amps; Magico M6. 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. Have an anthem MCA5 and have an issue with the centre channel right now where the dialogue for movie watching is choppy and cuts in and out when hooked up to my receiver but the same center speaker when hooked up to just the receiver never has that issue at all. I was thinking of the pro-style compression drivers with extreme sensitivity. This robust construction extends to the interior, which uses large, high-quality capacitors and high-current bipolar output transistors, and features a generally tidy signal path. Both, based on specs are no better than the AVR-X3700H, SR6014, and much worse than the X3600H measured by ASR, but I guess only golden ears know the difference in use. Anthem's MCA 525 Gen 2 power amplifier is a sophisticated piece of engineering from the Canadians. The A51 has 3 - 4 above for ventilation and the A23 has 2 above. What a difference a clean, high current 250+ watt amp makes with my Mirage! I'd just use the A51 and not worry about it. A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Obviously, the McIntosh is considerably more then the other two. Thank you for the adviceit is appreciated. Anthem | MCA 525 GEN 2 | Overview (anthemav.com) "Higher Power into More Demanding Loads While most 5-channel amplifiers use a single power supply for front left and right channels and another power supply of the centre and surround, the new MCA 525 GEN 2 shares its two power supplies between all channels. You would be correct, I'm a Curl head. But that had no audible bearing on sound quality. I don't want to introduce harshness to the mix at all. The MCA 525 is fitted with two massive low flux toroidal power transformers which are shared between all channels. The sensitivity does vary with frequency (and sensitivity measurements don't generally include lower bass), and lower frequencies could well demand a bit more power. 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. Your Yamaha CX-A5100 will work just fine. Active/Powered Speakers Subwoofers Portable Speakers Wireless Speakers Dipole and Atmos Speakers Tweeters Soundbars In Ceiling & In Wall Speakers On Wall Speakers 5.1 Speaker Packages Unique Speakers Audio Affair Exclusive Speaker Deals Need help choosing? 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. $11,495. Like all Anthem products the MCA 525, MCA 325 and MCA 225 . Hi mates, what external power amplifier would you guys recommend between the Anthem MCA 525 and Parasound A52+? Look at Anthems AVM60. Power ratings start at 225 watts into 8 ohms and go up to . Anthem seems to be more assosicated with HT use, but the MCA-20 seems to be a pretty healthy 2ch amp, stable down to 2ohm. Sheeuut! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. company number 03997482, registered in England and Wales. 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