"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.

MRX 310 named in "8 Gadgets for Hosting the Most Ridiculously Teched-Out Superbowl Party Ever" by Popular Mechanics

"Sound is a critical part of watching the Super Bowl; you'll want to hear the bone-crunching tackles, the roar of the crowd, and that overly zealous fan in row 10. This AV receiver will help you pick out all the distinct audio from Fox's full-HD surround-sound broadcast, and the Anthem MRX 310 pumps out 80 watts of power to the two front speakers and 60 watts to the sub and side channels. The receiver provides 4K upscaling for the game if you have a 4K television." 

- John Brandon, Popular Mechanics

Click here! to see all 8 recommendations by Popular Mechanics.

Click here! for more info on the Anthem MRX 310 a/v receiver.

Anthem's Statement M1 wins a 2013 Product of the Year Award from SoundStage! Network

We are proud to announce that the Anthem Statement M1 monaural amplifier won a 2013 Product of the Year Award from SoundStage! Network in the category of Pioneering Design Achievement. To win an award from Soundstage! is an honor but especially so given the category.

"Anthem Statement M1 mono amplifier: Our Pioneering Design Achievement was created to recognize those products that break new ground, technically and/or sonically. Anthem’s Statement M1 mono amplifier, which Jeff Fritz reviewed for SoundStage! Ultra last January, is a perfect fit for this award. The M1 sells for $3500, or $7000/pair.

Anthem took more than five years to design and perfect the M1. The result of their efforts is a class-D amplifier capable of extraordinarily high power, claimed to deliver more than 1000W into 8 ohms or 2000W into 4 ohms, and to maintain a flat frequency response regardless of load -- something that’s not always the case with class-D amps. (With many class-D designs, the high-frequency response in particular varies with the speaker load.) The M1 is also said to be stable into any impedance, and to be unclippable -- if it approaches clipping, it simply shuts down. Befitting the M1’s unique technical design is an appearance just as distinctive -- wide and deep (it’s about 19” square), but shallow (just over 2” high), it comes finished in basic black, which makes it sort of Stealth-like."

Above: Anthem's Product Manager, Nick Platsis, accepting the award at CES

Click here! for the full list of 2013 Product of the Year winners.

Click here! for the winner photos taken at CES 2014. 

Click here! for more info on the Anthem Statement M1.

Anthem's MRX 710 a/v receiver earns SoundStage! Network "Reviewers' Choice" status

A fantastic review of our new MRX 710 a/v receiver has been published on SoundStage! Xperience. Earning "Reviewers' Choice" status, we were pleased to read that writer Wes Marshall thoroughly enjoyed his time with our MRX 710. Below are a few quotes that we have taken from the review...

"Anthem’s first priority is high-quality sound. Despite the fact that there have been multiple updates to Dolby, DTS, 3D, and other systems since Anthem last revamped their model line, the company waited, did its research, and came up with upgrades only when it knew they sounded better. And they do. If your No.1 priority is sound quality and you want an AVR rather than a preamplifier-processor, then the MRX 710 is your puppy."

"The Anthem MRX 710 presented a crystal-clear view into these amazing performances... Again, the Anthem receiver was equally at home providing accurate sound for the audiophile, and the necessary switching, decoding, and picture quality demanded by the home-theater enthusiast."

"Over the last two years, we’ve tried several of the finest AVRs: the Marantz 7008 ($1999), the Onkyo NR5010 ($2999), and the NAD T 787 ($3999). While each offered its own take on room correction, none impressed me as much as did Anthem’s ARC 1M. If sound quality is your primary purchasing criterion, then the Performance MRX 710 should be at the top of your list. Even if you have an MRX 700, the MRX 710’s “1M” improvements in ARC and the Advanced Load Monitoring are enough reasons to upgrade."

"...I think that Anthem, with the Performance MRX 710, has achieved its goal of offering the finest possible sound quality."

Click here! to read the full MRX 710 review from SoundStage!

Click here! for more info on the MRX 710.

Digital Trends recommends Anthem's Statement D2v 3D processor and M1 monaural amplifers in Luxury Home Theater Gift Guide

Digital Trends released a "Luxury Home Theater Gift Guide" and not one but two Anthem products were recommended: Anthem's Statement D2v 3D processor and M1 monaural amplifiers!

"Sometimes we spend so much of our time researching the best deals and trying to get the best bang for our buck that we forget it can be a lot of fun to dream big. For this list, we decided to set aside any notion of practicality or budget, and shoot for the moon (or, you know, another galaxy) when picking components and accessories for our no-holds-barred, cost-no-object home theater. We’re pretty happy with how it came out. In fact, we think that, in many ways, it could rival the most insane home theater we’ve ever seen. Let us know what you think in the comments, and tell us about what you might put into your ultimate home theater."

Statement D2v 3D
"Anthem’s flagship processor offers the perfect combination of professional-grade audio and video processing, more inputs than you can shake an HDMI cable at, and balanced outputs on each channel for ultra-clean signal transmission. It’s also rack mountable, and it’ll have to be because it needs to stick close to the seven perfectly-matched amplifiers it will be feeding."

Statement M1
"For some applications, 1,000 watts of power is plenty; but not for this insane home theater. Nope, we’ll be needing seven times that, thanks. Each M1 amplifier can deliver 1,000 watts into 8 ohms; more for lower impedance speakers. More power means better dynamics and less distortion, so why not go for broke and build in some headroom?"

Click here! for Digital Trends' Luxury Home Theater Gift Guide.

Click here! for more info on the Anthem Statement M1.

Click here! for more info on the Anthem Statement D2v 3D.