"Quite simply, the Anthem MRX 710 is the best sounding AV receiver we have reviewed to date" - Steve Withers, AVForums

AVForums in the UK have long been fans of Anthem's MRX series. Giving both the MRX 300 and MRX 700 rave reviews and Best Buy awards, its fair to say they were supporters.

"When Anthem launched their first AV receivers back at the end of 2010, it would be fair to say we were impressed.The combination of the refined power and sophisticated processing found in both the MRX 700 and MRX 300 resulted in a level of performance that made a mockery of their respective price points. However what impressed us the most was Anthem Room Correction (ARC), a genuinely game-changing piece of software that took the performance of these receivers to an entirely new level when compared to the competition."

So, when we launched the next generation of Anthem MRX receivers, we knew they would be anxious to get their hands on them. And that they did... on a MRX 710.

"It's impressive on paper but can it live up to our impossibly high expectations."

We'll let you read the full review, but if the title of this blog post didn't give it away then *spoiler alert* they loved it! Even more so than the original MRX series! So much so that it earned a score of 10 out of 10 and the AVForums Reference award! Read on for the highlights...

ARC 2
"The user interface for ARC 2 is a massive improvement over the previous version, it is very informative, beautifully laid out and genuinely useful... ARC equalised all the speakers in the room so effectively that they, and the room itself, just simply disappeared... ARC 2 is the best auto-calibration and room EQ software that we have experienced on any AV receiver."

Sound Quality
"We had a good idea of what to expect, having already reviewed Anthem's MRX 300 and MRX 700 AV receivers but even our fairly high expectations were exceeded... The result was a truly cohesive sound experience, with a nice sense of tonality and some extremely precise imaging. The audio performance of the MRX 710 was simply stunning, with a wonderfully realised sound field that delivered precise localisation and effects."

"There was a superb level of detail in the performance, with genuine clarity and dialogue was always clear, instruments sounded natural and bass was beautifully integrated... Overall the performance was classy, subtle and controlled, never sounding overbearing but able to go suitably loud when needed."

"It was the way the MRX 710 integrated the bass that really impressed us. It was tight and controlled but also fast and well timed, so the low frequencies supported the rest of the sound stage, enhancing the experience and delivering impact precisely when it was supposed to."

"As we have found with previous Anthem receivers, the MRX 710 was capable of sounding wonderful with both multi-channel audio and two-channel stereo... This is level of performance with two-channel stereo is something of a rare feat but if you're looking for an AV receiver that can sound as good with your music collection as it will with your movie collection, then look no further."

Conclusion
"Somehow Anthem have done the impossible and made the best receiver on the market even better. The MRX 710 is a genuinely remarkable achievement that combines pure performance with a level of sophistication normally only found in products that cost ten times as much."

"We often wonder how Anthem are able to deliver such a performance at this price point and once again the Canadian manufacturer has managed to surprise us. The MRX 710 would be worth buying if it was twice the price... The Anthem MRX 710 is, quite simply, the best sounding AV receiver that we have reviewed to date and is therefore the reference point against which all the other receivers will be compared."

Click here! to read the full MRX 710 review from AVForums.

Click here! for more info on Anthem's MRX 710.

"I give both the Anthem Room Correction system and the MRX 710 my highest recommendation" - Robert Kozel, Secrets of Home Theater

Robert Kozel reviewed the Anthem MRX 700 in 2011, so it was no surprise after seeing and listening to the next generation of Anthem a/v receivers at CEDIA that he would want to get his hands on one. "I reviewed the first-generation MRX 700, so I was looking forward to seeing the changes in the MRX 710. I also could not wait to play with the updated ARC 1M system." Of course we couldn't wait either, so we sent him a MRX 710. Robert's review has now been published and we are very happy indeed. Read on for some of the highlights...

Movies
"The opening scenes with the shuttlecraft and Spock in the volcano were immersive. My listening room was filled with the thunderous roar of the bubbling volcano and I was immediately drawn into the unfolding drama... The MRX 710 created a large, wonderful soundstage."

"The MRX 710 was adept at handling everything the movie's Dolby TrueHD 7.1 sound track had to offer. From crisp clear dialog as Kirk enlists Kahn to cross over to the Dreadnought-class USS Vengeance, to the subtle echo of Kirk's footsteps in the garbage chute, to the utter silence of space as the doors quickly close behind them as they enter the debris field, the MRX 710 handled all of it with ease."

"The final scenes as the Enterprise falls to earth were simply amazing. The spinning of the ship as it fell into my listening room was visceral. This was a testament as to how well ARC 1M managed the bass. Needless to say, I was completely engrossed with the movie and I ended up watching all of it once again. I loved watching movies on the MRX 710, and my experience with other reference titles like Sky Fall and Tron: Legacy was just as excellent."

Music
 "The sound from the MRX 710 was incredibly detailed and each instrument was beautifully layered to create a gorgeous harmony. The MRX 710 easily transitioned from the commanding sound of the cello and acoustic bass to the delicate sounds of the strings on the mandolin. I just sat back and enjoyed the sumptuous sounds of the entire album."

"High-resolution audio on the MRX 710 was equally enjoyable... The emotion and humor in Isabel Garcia's voice as she sang about love was palpable and intoxicating and the group's harmonies and mix of Brazilian style was pure fun."  

Video
"From a video perspective, the MRX 710 did not display any handshake problems when changing resolutions on my satellite box or when changing inputs to another HDMI source. Video output looked great on movie and television content and Blu-ray content was excellent." 

Conclusion
"Anthem continues their tradition of offering tremendous value for the dollar in their second-generation MRX A/V receivers. The MRX 710 sounds fantastic with both movies and music. The receiver is so much easier and faster to configure thanks to the network interface that Anthem has incorporated into the updated ARC 1M Room Correction System. The user interface redesign and enhanced features in the ARC-2 software are awesome and the software is included with every MRX receiver at no extra charge. If you are looking for a new receiver, make sure you visit an Anthem dealer and check out the second-generation MRX receivers. I give both the Anthem Room Correction system and the MRX 710 my highest recommendation.” 

Click here! to read the full MRX 710 review by Robert Kozel.

Click here! for more info on the MRX 710.

It is with deep sadness that we relay the sudden, unexpected passing of our colleague and 40-year CE industry veteran, Bob Gassel

It is with deep sadness that we relay the sudden, unexpected passing of our colleague and 40-year CE industry veteran Bob (Robert) Gassel, on Sunday, February 2nd, 2014 in Carmel, Indiana at the age of 63.

For the past four years, Bob has worked with the Paradigm, MartinLogan and Anthem brands, initially as Vice President of International Sales and most recently as Vice President of Engineering and Product Development.

Prior to joining Paradigm, Bob was principal of The Gassel Group, a firm he founded to coach sales people toward a deeper understanding of their clients needs in order to be more effective in their sales efforts. Bob employed the creativity, expertise and experience he gained selling direct to end users and B2B in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. He brought a unique perspective and passion to this role, as evidenced by the many written testaments to his successful method of coaching from sales people and clients.

Previous to founding The Gassel Group, Bob enjoyed a stellar 14-year career at the Klipsch Group Inc. where he held a variety of executive positions including Director of Sales for Asia, Global Director of Training, Director of Customer Service and Technical Support, Director OEM and Business Unit Manager International.

Bob travelled the world, was a lifelong audiophile and well respected across the CE industry, both in North America and internationally. He was a gentleman and a true professional. He will be missed for his wry sense of humor and genuine enthusiasm for all things audio. His alternate passion was golf. No one enjoyed their weekend golfing and annual golf trip more than Bob.

His commitment and dedication to guiding the development of new Paradigm, MartinLogan and Anthe products and his success in helping grow these brands on the international stage is much appreciated and will be remembered. As a key member of our team, Bob’s expertise, thoughtful input and attention to even the smallest detail will be greatly missed.