Price Paid:  $1400.00 from local audio dealer

Summary:
This review is for the MCA5 replacement, the MCA50. I purchased this amp as part of a complete home theater set-up, and it has performed wonderfully. It is driving Paradigm Studio 100's up front, Studio ADP's in back, and a Studio Reference CC. For the money you would be hard-pressed to find a better amp. The point of diminishing returns has been lowered with this unit. There are better amps, but on my budget I could not afford a Bryston 9Bsst! This amplifier bridges the gap between the Adcom, Aragon, Parasound, Sunfire and the Krell, Bryston, Theta products. Questions?? Email-JamesRGeib@yahoo.com

Strengths:
I enjoy my movies at high volumes, and when I'm off during the week and no one is in the neighborhood, I listen to my movies at theater reference levels. Not once has this amp made the sound congested. Every nuance of the soundtrack is audible. The same goes with two channel music. Very clean, detailed and plenty of punch. Also, this amplifier does not run very hot.

Weaknesses:
Rather bland faceplate compared to some higher priced amps. Nothing else considering the price point.

Similar Products Used:
auditioned extensively: Parasound, Sunfire, Adcom, Bryston, Aragon, Acurus. Listen to now and then: Krell, Boulder, Theta.

Summary:
In my opinion you do get what you pay for. Because I paid less than MSRP, I feel that I got a decent deal. 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. It DOES NOT compare with the B&K Reference 7250, like at least one reviewer claims. What you need to decide is whether the MCA 5 compares to the ATI 1505, Adcom 7500, Parasound 1205 and Outlaw 1050. Those amps compare to the MCA 5 in terms of power when true, all- channels driven power is expressed. As always, audition before you buy. I fully expected to drop a level in overall performance when I sold my B&K 7250 and replaced it with a MCA 5, and I did just that. I added a rear center channel to my system, and I had to make some "compromises" in order to power my newly configured home theater. I had 7 channels (5 for home theater and 2 for the rest of the house) powered by a B&K Ref 7250 and 2220. I only have the space for 2 amplifiers, so when I added the rear center channel rather than buying another amplifier, I sold my B&K amps and bought Anthem (MCA 5 and MCA 3) motivated by cost and space considerations, as well as the reviews from this site. The first MCA 5 was defective. Anthem tech support wanted to solder in a $.50 part, but luckily my dealer sided with me and demanded a new amp. The dealer and I agreed that the defective amp shouldn't have made it past QC to begin with. The MCA 3 that I purchased has a noisy transformer (more than normal) and has yet to be replaced, but that's for another review. The MCA 5 has plenty of power to meet my needs, and it is relatively clean and detailed at anything but lower listening levels. So, if that is what you are after, you will be satisfied with the MCA 5. I say "relatively" clean and detailed, because the noise floor of the MCA 5 seems to be significantly higher than the 7250, despite B&K's rating of only -95dB vs. Anthem's lofty claim of -122dB. That one still has me confused. I guess that measuring lab instruments "hear" differently than I do. I can hear hiss from the speakers with the MCA 5 in a quiet room. I couldn't hear background hiss from the 7250 unless I had my ear within an inch of the speaker, and then it was barely audible. I auditioned B&K's 5125 before I bought the 7250, and I don't remember it being as "noisy" as the MCA 5 either. The physical noise of the MCA 5 is greater than the 7250 as well. The 7250's transformer was dead-quiet, wereas I can hear the hum of the MCA 5 from a foot away. You won't be sitting a foot away from the amp while watching an action movie however, and I am satisfied with the MCA 5 in that regard. A professional review that I read on eCoustics.com stated that the MCA 5 would be a worthy alternative if you are considering an A/V reciever, and I agree. I can't compare the MCA 5 to anything but the B&K's because I haven't auditioned comparative pieces. Just make sure that you do. When I read the review comparing the MCA 5 to the B&K Reference 7250, I had to chime-in to add perspective. Don't expect more than what you pay for!

Strengths:
Power and detail at all but lower listening levels; Turn-on options (many don't even offer 12v trigger)

Weaknesses:
High noise floor; Transformer hum - Expect to get what you pay for

Similar Products Used:
B&K 5125, B&K Ref 7250

Price Paid:  $1300.00

Summary:
First i like to start with my system :As a preamp i have the anthem AVM2 : As XLR i have the audioquest pythons for my fronts an rears an center as well, for my speaker wire, i have the audioquest CALDERA which make my front paradigm studio 100s Reference sound very sharp,depending on what you have at home make a big differants ,for me it work great.

Strengths:
balance outputs XLR

Weaknesses:
To long in size

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from Hillcrest hifidelity

Summary:
This amp just blew me away. I compared it to the B&K ref 7250 for $2500, this amp was as good if not better at half the price. I am using the Marantz AV-560 as a preamp with Sonus Faber Conertino speakers and Stealth pure silver ribbon speaker cables. This amp brings it all together and makes the concertinos sing.

Strengths:
Ausum power, detail and quickness

Weaknesses:
none

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from General Audio

Summary:
This Amp replaced two Parasound HCA 1000 A's in my hometheater set up run in dual-half stereo, as Parasound calls it. The amp has great detail without sounding too edgy, and a fairly large soundstage. More top end extension than the Parasound 1000's with less grain. Bottom end is also superior. In this price range I don't believe you can do any better, especially in Canada. All US products will cost considerably more for us up here. You would have to spend more than twice as much for the Parasound 2205, which I believe is the class leader. Anyway, I love the auto-on feature, and the balanced inputs. One added bonus are the two power supplies. I've configured my amp so that my mains run off separate power supplies, really improves the sound when listening to two channel stereo. More impact, better soundstage and focus, more detail with less grain. The whole system goes louder and overloads more gracefully. And that's a freebe!!! I would also disagree with the reviewer of Hometheater Magazine claiming dynamic compression at full tilt 5.1 listening. I did not experience this within my tolerance for SPL and within my system's ability.

Strengths:
power, detail, flexibility. This amp delivers more than I expected.

Weaknesses:
none in this price range

Similar Products Used:
Parasound HCA 1000 A