Spent an interesting day looking at the latest developments in projectors, av amps, and set-ups with Tom Garrett from Anthem. Tom is something of an AV guru in this industry, and even if you don't always agree with him his knowledge of products and setting them up is encyclopedic. Can't think of anyone else with so much geeky information stored up there, o his poor wife! Actually she's great too.
Anthem is a Canadian company who's reputation for ground breaking av amps has been growing exponentially for a few years now. They are the outstanding pioneers of an auto setup that actuall y works. Anthem Room Correction, ARC, is their system and it measures your speakers responses and balances not only levels but frequencies for the best real world performance you can have in your room. While Anthem pioneered this others have copied it at lower prices less successfully. Remember though that a perfectly balanced rubbish system is still a rubbish system! Anthem started way way above the competition and their new amps have raised the bar again. They sound really good and then ARC makes them better again.
With amplifier combinations going up into 5 figure bills I have long regarded their technology as unsurpassed at the top of the tree, the new line makes this same technology available to you and me.
How can this be I hear to ask, well read on.....
There are 3 new amplifiers, MRX310, 510, and 710. These are nicely styled, understated compared to the brash boys from mainstream japanese offerings, very solidly put together, and cleverly designed.
The case and main chassis of all 3 amplifiers are identical, saving a fortune on tooling and allowing the volume sales of all 3 in total to keep the price of all of them down. A lesson learned from BMW with a 3 series from 316 to 330 and all of them great, just pick your preferred level.
The MRX 310 is great value for just £ 1199. There is nothing to touch it at this price. Both audio and video processing are just so good. The power is a generous 80 watts by 5, and ARC, 7 HDMI inputs, 2 HDMI outputs, and 4k upscaling and pass through are all included.
If you want to go out from any Denon/Yamaha/Pioneer/Onkyo/Rotel/Marantz and give your system masses more clarity and dynamics then this is your first port of call.
Why go to a 510 then? Well it sounds better again. Facilities/connections are almost identical, more than you need, the real difference is that power and control improves with a seven channel by true 100 watt power amplifier section. This can also be easily configured to bi-amp your front speakers, so with proper hifi speakers it really boogies, loud, clear, and tuneful. A £ 1599 snip.
So if the 510 is so good why flash the cash for the £2199 MRX710. There is one big reason. True stereo hifi amplifiers use low vibration high current toroidal transformers to supply greater dynamics, and so does the 710. It's another noticeable jump in performance for the extra £500.
And if you want to further you can add more power amplifiers to any of the three models, giving a sensible and logical upgrade path when you want to take it further.
So which will Lyric sell most of? Interesting to see how it pans out, my prediction is that many people thinking of a £ 700-1000 japanese amp will push the boat out for the kudos of owning an Anthem and go for the £1199 MRX310, and that many people looking at £1300-2000 will equally push the boat out for the £2199 MRX710. We will sell mostly 310s, then 710s, then 510s
Pics to follow soon, along with the rest of the story with Tom and I looking at a new projector. Finished by this weekend, probably. Didnt work out that way, follow on projector blog to come.
