Clarity and detail of sound. Very good current & power reserves. Highly musical on 2 channel stereo. Price/Performance ratio.

For it's price level - none found

This amp is build like a tank. It has nice appearance with silver front panel. No fancy swiches or displays found here, just power on/off. But on the back you'll find everything you need to make it happen: balanced/rca inputs, auto on/off trigger, 5way binding posts etc.
The Sound:
Right out of the box it sounded pretty good. I use Classe SSP 25 Thx Pre/Pro to feed it the signal - it's been the happiest marriage since Anthem introduction. This Amp is very, very neutral so don't expect me to describe it as sweet, bright, dark or edgy because it possesses none of these features. As usuall, good/very good source is the key.
I use renowned tube player and JPS labs cables throughout.
After break in period of appr. 100hrs everything down low just tightened up a little more and mid/high become more "relaxed" - this maybe related to Classe preamp brake in as well. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy music for very reasonable price

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Bryston and some "high end" receivers

Very musical sound, build quality, looks

For the price there is really none except that it seems to break up just a tad at the highest volumes

When cosidering price vs performance, this amp is at the top of the heap. While the Parasounds have deeper low end and the Rotels have a more "warmth" to the sound, this amp is the truest to the source with its neutrality. The Krells sounded too tinny and hard compared to the rest.

Ultimately, however, I ended up choosing the now discontinued Citation 7.1 THX over all of them for its truly refined sound top to bottom, gut-busting low end and non-fatiguing character. In addition, the Citation allows for 4 channel, 3 channnel, or two channel configuration. In two channel bridged mode, the 7.1 pumps out 450 wpc into 8 ohms and about 700 into 4! It is truly a powerhouse and is very flexible and even in 4x150 configuration, the current that it delivers is ASTOUNDING...like no other amp I've ever heard. Sorry Krell fans. The lack of the 5th channel is no big deal...I use a very highly efficient Klipsch Reference 3 center channel and my Newcastle receiver at 100 wpc x5 has plenty of juice for it. I needed something for my Magnepan front and rear channel speaker.

Now, back to the MCA-5. Next to the Citation, the MCA-5 would have been my second choice. It just didn't deliver as much current as the Citation 7.1(retail 2800.00)does and tended to sound a bit broken-up at the highest levels. The MCA-5's soundstage width is absolutely incredible for any amp at any price, beating out even the Citation for width, but fell a bit short for depth and imaging. The MCA-5 is a very clean, powerful amp that I highly recommend to anyone who wants great sound. Don't let the price of some of the other units out there fool you. If you can't find a Citation 7.1 THX or need an amp with that 5th channel, buy the Anthem and you will be delighted. It's the best under $3k multi-channel amp in production right now.

Similar Products Used:

Citation 7.1 THX. Auditioned MCA-3, Rotel 1095MKII and 1075, Parasound 2205AT THX and 1205A THX, and KrellKAV-150a and KAV 500

COST,POWER,SOUND,BUILT LIKE A TANK

NONE

I recently purchased this amp on line I have a lexicon pre amp B&W 603s front 2 602s for a center chan.side by side behind my screen and 2 602s in the rear.I have them all bi wired.this amp is a wonder it goes thru complex soundtrack from explosions, to gun cartridges bouncing off the floor, with ease.try the remasted silverado, I all but jumped out of my chair in the opening.I just saw a review in a home theater mag.it gave it 95 for features, 92 for ergonomics, and only 79 for performance??I never saw an amp get that high on features. as an amp only has off-on no gizmos, its an amp.they must be so tuned into the gizmo boxes they forgot what it should sound like.I also thought it was great on music.it has low background noise so dialog is very clean.sonic frontiers gave us high quality at a low price.I can only compare this to what the old macs were to stereo I give it 5 stars 10 for value.its as good as it gets for 3 times the price.

Similar Products Used:

BRYSTON

BUILD QUALITY, POWER OUTPUT PER DOLLAR, BALANCED INPUTS AND SOUND QUALITY

NONE

I HAVE BEEN SHOPPING FOR A HOME THEATER AMPLIFIER WHICH CAN ALSO GIVE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AS A STEREO AMP FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I HAVE CRITICALLY LISTENED TO ROTEL, SUNFIRE, ATI, OUTLAW, PARASOUND AND CHIRO. FRANKLY THIS AMP TOTALLY OUT PERFORMS ANYTHING IN IT'S PRICE RANGE OF $1400.00 AND CAN STAND UP TO PRODUCTS IN THE $3000.00 RANGE. IT GIVES A INCREDIBLE BANG FOR THE BUCK. I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE MY UNIT FOR $1250.00 I AM EXTTREMELY SATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE. AMPS LIKE PROCEED AND LEVINSON SOUND BETTER BUT AT 3 TIMES THE COST OR MORE.

MY CURRENT SYSTEM:
MSB MDP-3X MULTIPLE DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DRIVING 3 MSB LINK DAC III, THROUGH MSB DIGITAL COAX, AND CONTROLLED BY MSB MULTIPLE VOLUME CONTROL. SPEAKERS MAGNAPAN MG1.6'S FOR FRONTS, MAGNAPAN MGCC1 CENTER AND MGMC1'S FOR SURROUNDS.
INPUTS REGA PLANET CD, PIONEER DV 505 DVD, PANASONIC TAU HDTV AND HUGHES HIRD 45 DIGTAL DOLBY SAT RECIEVER.

THE MCA 5 AMP HAS THE POWER TO DRIVE MY MAGGIES UNDER THE MOST DEMANDING FULL 5 CHANNEL OUTPUT OF DVD ACTION SEQUENCES AND STILL HAS SUBLITIES FOR CRITICAL TWO CHANNEL LISTENING. I GIVES THIS AMP MY HIGHEST ENDORSEMENT.

Similar Products Used:

ROTEL, YAMAHA, PARASOUND & CARVER

Build quality, accuracy, soundstage, looks, flexibility

Size (larger than most amplifiers)

I am presently using the MCA-5 to power the center, side and rear speakers in my HT setup. The amp is driven by a Lexicon DC-2, DVD player is the Pioneer Elite DV-37. Speakers are:

Totem Model-1 Sigs front R/L
Totem Model-1 Sig Center
Totem Mites sides
Def. Tech. Di-poles rear.
M&K MX-2000 sub

This amp delivers all the power I need for my HT. Clean and detailed without grain, the sound produced is uncolored and free of the artificial 'warmth' that some amps have. The build quality is first rate with top notch connections and binding posts, huge power supply and good cooling properties. The 'auto on' feature is a nice touch. The amp turns on automatically when it detects signal on the inputs. It can also be kept on all the time or powered up via the power switch. The amp is heavy and somewhat longer and wider than other amps in this segment. When used to power my front R/L Totems, the sound produced is very pleasant, while not as detailed, revealing or 'quick' as my MacCormack DNA-1, the difference is very small. The sounstage and clarity is wonderful. Considering the price compared to other amps in this segment, it is a bargain. I purchased this product to upgrade from an Adcom 2535 3 channel amp. In fairness to the 1/2 the price Adcom product, the MCA-5 sounds worlds better, with better detailed vocals, clarity and 'speed'. The amp also powers the somewhat power hungry Totems very well. I can't think of a better option at this price point. Highly suggested!

Similar Products Used:

Adcom, MacCormack

Build quality,Both RCA and Balanced connections,Runs very quiet and barely gets warm after being on a long time.

None at this point

This is the first amp I have owned for my system so to say the least I was very impressed when I hooked this up for the first time. I have a Denon AVR 3300 being used as a preamp for the time being until I can upgrade to a better preamp.(hope to get the new AVM2 preamp/processor/tuner by Anthem) this is one truly nice piece of electronics.The difference compared to the Denon was truly awesome even though the Denon was good this amp is heads above.On HT my dvds just come to life and am hearing things I never heard before. The soundstage is great and imaging is very good.Some of my older cds now even sound pretty good and the later ones are great. All said and done this is really a nice 5 channel amp and has sure made my system sound great to me.
My system consists of:
Paradigm Monitor 9's (bi-wired with Kimber Kable 8 vs)
Paradigm CC350 Center channel
Paradigm PW2200 Subwoofer
Paradigm ADP350's Surrounds
Denon AVR 3300
Panasonic 51" rear projection tv.
Toshiba SD1200 DVD/CD Player
:PS Watch chapter 15 on U571 (Depth Charged)
It will make you jump in your seat:))

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 3300,Old Technics equipment

Endless power, transparency, resolution of detail, neutral, build quality

None

I am presently on the upgrade road, for a true Hi-Fi audio system which will also serve as a home theatre system. The intent is be ready for DVD-A and SCD when the discs become common place in early 2001. As such five clean channels of high power is a must.
I have Paradigm Reference Studio 100v2 as my main stereo pair. These are great full range speakers, which are very revealing and accurately reproduce whatever you throw at them, both good and bad. Given the very competitive (read low) price for this amp it was with some doubt that I placed it in my system for an in home trial. At this price, my listening experience of other products suggested a hard bright sound could be expected. After one week of use (and abuse to probe its limits)I bought the unit.
I have now lived with this product for months, using it daily for audio and video. At low volume levels there is a presence and weight to the sound that makes even the theme song to the nightly news engaging. For critical listening however (music) I am still get goosebumps. The subtleties of the music that allow it to communicate directly with our emotions are not lost or blurred. The enveloping soundstage is true to the source material and rock solid. There is solid bass with mids and highs that are liquid and musical even at very loud (too loud, i.e.110+db) levels.
For movies, off satallite or disc, there is no chance you will run out of steam with this amp. On occasion, even when watching an action movie with all the usual crashes and explosions at floor shaking levels, I have gotten halfway then realized I had forgotten to turn on the subwoofer (used for movies only). I am unable to listen at levels loud enough to make the sound harden. This amp must run out of juice at some point, but I value my hearing too much to attempt to find it.
As far as negatives go, there does not appear to be any. Some have complained about the binding posts, but I have had no problems with spades. No doubt you can purchase a better five channel amp, but with this unit Anthem has brought the point of diminishing returns within everyones grasp.
A great product. Go buy it!