Anthem MRX1140 AVR Review

[aagstn]

Wonder what happend to the AVR market this product seems decent enough until you se the price tag at least 3 time more expensive than expected for anything similar .

This product category has gotten expensive fast ?

Receivers have jumped in price quite a bit the past few years. I'm sure some of it is the cost to manufacture and ship has gone up. Demand has to be very low too which can't help the price.

 

[RoyRoyRoy]

I don't have data to back me up, but eventually people will buy less and less AVRs. The big push was when we went from component to HDMI. Then the HDMI 1.4, to 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b, etc. It appears that most people are happy with HDMI at 4K. 8K (HDMI 2.1) is really not a factor because people would get that as a consequence of it being packaged with features like VRR for gaming, and other niche features. At that point it becomes niche, your average consumer just won't care. There is no reason to go above 8K. So why upgrade your AVR? So eventually, AVRs sales should plateau. Once you have 8K, maybe there's an Airplay 3.0 or some other new feature, but that should be a software update, and shouldn't require the purchase of an entire AVR. I really hope the subscription model doesn't become more widespread to AVRs to offset lower sales. I shouldn't have written that! Don't want to give ideas.

I've also noted that I've been trying to buy a second AVR with the latest 4K/8K and there aren't many on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. Lots of "Vintage" amps, but most people are holding on to their "8K HDMI" receivers. Again, I only know my city. I'm sure it's different city to city.

 

[5150]

It is more about that them not even getting basic functionality working without issue. That doesn't instill much trust in me that the rest of the device will function as promised. Worse even is that they are fully aware of this bug but have not fixed it. It just shows a general lack of care.

Basic functionality is using the unit as intended - for a whole system including subwoofers. Spending over $4,000 on an 11 channel AVR with independent sub outs, only to not use it with subs, is an extremely niche case. Why would they bother? People who are doing that are literally doing it wrong. The STR exists to serve that market.

The rest of the AVR works just fine. Anthem enjoys a very good reputation for a reason.

 

[SuicideSquid]

"Jack of too many trades but a master of none" << How would anyone ever need 7 HDMI inputs?

Lots of people. There's a reason all midrange and high-end receivers have 6-8 HDMI ins.

I have connected to my AVR:

1. HTPC
2. Sony 4k Bluray Player
3. PS3
4. PS5
5. WiiU
6. Switch 2

With 7 inputs, if I added a cable box and a streamer I'd have to ditch one of my consoles. Having a console or two, a streamer, a bluray player, and a cable box or HTPC is a typical scenario for a home theatre setup these days, and it's nice to have a port or two available for the future.

 

[xanalog]

Lots of people. There's a reason all midrange and high-end receivers have 6-8 HDMI ins.
I have connected to my AVR:
1. HTPC
2. Sony 4k Bluray Player
3. PS3
4. PS5
5. WiiU
6. Switch 2
With 7 inputs, if I added a cable box and a streamer I'd have to ditch one of my consoles. Having a console or two, a streamer, a bluray player, and a cable box or HTPC is a typical scenario for a home theatre setup these days, and it's nice to have a port or two available for the future.

OMG!

Add:

and it's nice to have a port or two available for the future.

You probably also have more than a few extra spares, in the back panel of the TV!

 

[SuicideSquid]

OMG!

Add:

You probably also have more than a few extra spares, in the back panel of the TV!

Running everything through the AVR is much tidier and makes the setup simpler to use than having a mishmash of some devices running through the AVR and some through the TV. It's also basically essential if your TV is some distance from your devices or if you're using a projector.

I do not understand the logic of saying "I wouldn't use this feature therefore no one could use this feature" and then when it's pointed out "actually, here are several common use cases for this feature and here's how I use it myself", responding that this is somehow silly or dumb or illogical. I'm not obligated to get your approval for how I want to use my AVR, thanks.

 

[aagstn]

Lots of people. There's a reason all midrange and high-end receivers have 6-8 HDMI ins.

I have connected to my AVR:

1. HTPC
2. Sony 4k Bluray Player
3. PS3
4. PS5
5. WiiU
6. Switch 2

With 7 inputs, if I added a cable box and a streamer I'd have to ditch one of my consoles. Having a console or two, a streamer, a bluray player, and a cable box or HTPC is a typical scenario for a home theatre setup these days, and it's nice to have a port or two available for the future.

It is the whole reason I have had AVRs since the late 90's. You have multiple devices you need to get surround sound out of before running it to the TV. TVs have at most 4 and you have to use one for eARC if you don't have an AVR and need to send sound out to something else.

I currently have:
1. Apple TV
2. Xbox Series X
3. PS5
4. Panasonic UB820
5. HTPC (for ad blocking the things too annoying on the Apple TV)
6. Sony S790 (For the rare SACD session)
7. Whatever else I need to hook up temporarily.

AVRs get a lot of hate, but they are great at what they are designed for. The limitations are never really noticeable watching movies or playing games.

 

[xanalog]

I'm not obligated to get your approval for how I want to use my AVR, thanks.

Odd?
My query was solely for wanting to find out if such a 'need' was really essential in an AIO AVR.
There was a bit of a 'leading question' in my reply; because, over the decades I've learned to despise Receiver, AVR and AVP hardware ownership.

Life -for a music lover- was simple before the Audio and Video entanglement.
When the HDMI interface was standardized, things got much more complicated.
Leading to this AV marriage via HDMI1.2 introduction, circa ~2005.
I have gone thru at least 4 sets of expensive AV (combo) hardware.
These upgrades were never born from a need but from the forced planned obsolescence of the hw!
Few years ago, I got fed up and divorced my audio-chain from our entertainment-chain (to the maximum extent possible).

Life has gotten much simpler again, I am not shy to change any of my audio hardware, as my needs or my wallet allow.
And it has become dang fun again, as any hobby should be!

 

[dlaloum]

Wonder what happend to the AVR market this product seems decent enough until you se the price tag at least 3 time more expensive than expected for anything similar .

This product category has gotten expensive fast ?

Perhaps because of the additional time required in integration... AVR's are complex beasts (hence the number of bugs many suffer from) - and it takes substantial time/effort to bring to market and also to keep it on the market.

Traditional power amps and integrated / pre-amps have been a design, market, sell, move on setup - so much more driven by materials costs rather than labour costs.

The only way out of this quagmire, would be Open (software) Architecture AVR's - much like PC's, where you could purchase and install your software modules from DTS, Dolby, Auro, Dirac, Audyssey etc... much like Linux & Windows.
But then maintaining an open environment has its expenses too... and the various licensors may not be keen on such a model

 

[Beershaun]

Thanks whomever provided this to Amir! Thanks Amir for testing it. I have this AVR and it's been great for me for about 4 years now. I was able to upgrade it (for a fee) to the 8k HDMI board which is a testament to their customer support. By contrast my denon x3100w ended up being obsolete one year after I bought it because the HDMI board didn't support hdcp 2.3 and so no streaming device would send 4k through it and my only option would have been to buy a completely new AVR if I wanted to use it for input switching.

Gene at Audiohaulics was able to run a CEA 2006 burst power test two channels driven 187w 8ohms 1% and 312w 4ohms 1%.
https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/anthem-mrx-740-1140-receivers

 

[Beershaun]

I think it's a clever optimization having beefy ab amps for the front 3 and then class D for surround and height channels. I am able to run my entire 7.2.4 setup from one box, put it in a console table style enclosure with some airflow and it's rock solid and compact. No overheating issues even when pushing all 11 channels and totally out of sight.

 

[peng]

I think it's a clever optimization having beefy ab amps for the front 3 and then class D for surround and height channels. I am able to run my entire 7.2.4 setup from one box, put it in a console table style enclosure with some airflow and it's rock solid and compact. No overheating issues even when pushing all 11 channels and totally out of sight.

If you are using the build in amps for the main 7 channels, a 3 or 7 channel power amp such as buckeyeamps would be a great upgrade path for you. The AVR used as preamp/dac should sound as good as the AVM90, regardless what they say on AVSF, as facts/data tell the truth, thanks again to Amir, and Gene too, who also measured the MRX740/1140.

 

[SuicideSquid]

I think it's a clever optimization having beefy ab amps for the front 3 and then class D for surround and height channels. I am able to run my entire 7.2.4 setup from one box, put it in a console table style enclosure with some airflow and it's rock solid and compact. No overheating issues even when pushing all 11 channels and totally out of sight.

This seems much more like a marketing optimization than a performance optimization - trying to go after the audiophile market that continues to push the myth that Class D is inferior to Class AB. There's really no reason not to use Class D on all channels - you can get the same power output and general performance with greater efficiency and less heat, or increase the power in the same heat/power draw envelope.

 

[Beershaun]

This seems much more like a marketing optimization than a performance optimization - trying to go after the audiophile market that continues to push the myth that Class D is inferior to Class AB. There's really no reason not to use Class D on all channels - you can get the same power output and general performance with greater efficiency and less heat, or increase the power in the same heat/power draw envelope.

I didn't say it was inferior. Class ab tends to have more burst power for the same max continuous power equivalent class D.

 

[Beershaun]

If you are using the build in amps for the main 7 channels, a 3 or 7 channel power amp such as buckeyeamps would be a great upgrade path for you. The AVR used as preamp/dac should sound as good as the AVM90, regardless what they say on AVSF, as facts/data tell the truth, thanks again to Amir, and Gene too, who also measured the MRX740/1140.

Great idea. Yeah the pre amp section of the mrx is very clean!

 

[dlaloum]

I didn't say it was inferior. Class ab tends to have more burst power for the same max continuous power equivalent class D.

The peak power or headroom of most Class AB amps relates to their use of a "linear" power supply, rather than a fully regulated switch mode power supply.

Class D amps with a linear PSU, often show a similar peak capability to Class AB amps, and Class AB amps with SMPS PSU's show a similar headroom limitation as do Class D amps - in most cases the peak/burst power is a result of the PSU design and not the power amp circuit...

For the Anthem, if the two share the same PSU, they will most likely have similar peak/bursting properties... if there are seperate power supplies (differing in topology) then the peak properties may differ.

 

[Beershaun]

The peak power or headroom of most Class AB amps relates to their use of a "linear" power supply, rather than a fully regulated switch mode power supply.

Class D amps with a linear PSU, often show a similar peak capability to Class AB amps, and Class AB amps with SMPS PSU's show a similar headroom limitation as do Class D amps - in most cases the peak/burst power is a result of the PSU design and not the power amp circuit...

For the Anthem, if the two share the same PSU, they will most likely have similar peak/bursting properties... if there are seperate power supplies (differing in topology) then the peak properties may differ

The peak power or headroom of most Class AB amps relates to their use of a "linear" power supply, rather than a fully regulated switch mode power supply.

Class D amps with a linear PSU, often show a similar peak capability to Class AB amps, and Class AB amps with SMPS PSU's show a similar headroom limitation as do Class D amps - in most cases the peak/burst power is a result of the PSU design and not the power amp circuit...

For the Anthem, if the two share the same PSU, they will most likely have similar peak/bursting properties... if there are seperate power supplies (differing in topology) then the peak properties may differ.

I see. Thanks for the education. I checked Genes peak numbers and you are right the class D amps do burst higher than their max continuous similar to the class ABs.

When I purchased the Anthem I was in home demoing it side by side with the NAD T778. With the additional NAD external 2ch amp the two units are natural competitors. Same all in price point, same general continuous max power rating on paper and similar features. It had class D amps all around. I wanted to like the NAD because blueOS was so much more feature rich for streaming options than Anthem and their UI was so much slicker. The Anthem just drove my speakers much more powerfully so I ultimately picked that for that reason. When I say powerfully I mean I would play a scene from star wars or avengers at the same listening position spl (for a given passage) and the Anthem would just vibrate the couch on the floor above my theater where the NAD just couldn't. My wife would come down and tell me she could feel the difference. So it came off as less dynamic and powerful in everyday use cases.

So I think that colored my thinking that like-for-like class D power rating were not as real world powerful as class AB.

 

[peng]

I see. Thanks for the education. I checked Genes peak numbers and you are right the class D amps do burst higher than their max continuous similar to the class ABs.

When I purchased the Anthem I was in home demoing it side by side with the NAD T778. With the additional NAD external 2ch amp the two units are natural competitors. Same all in price point, same general continuous max power rating on paper and similar features. It had class D amps all around. I wanted to like the NAD because blueOS was so much more feature rich for streaming options than Anthem and their UI was so much slicker. The Anthem just drove my speakers much more powerfully so I ultimately picked that for that reason. When I say powerfully I mean I would play a scene from star wars or avengers at the same listening position spl (for a given passage) and the Anthem would just vibrate the couch on the floor above my theater where the NAD just couldn't. My wife would come down and tell me she could feel the difference. So it came off as less dynamic and powerful in everyday use cases.

So I think that colored my thinking that like-for-like class D power rating were not as real world powerful as class AB.

Imo the Anthem is superior to the NAD, it has a better preamp/dac section. Also IMO those BlueOS things, like MQA are unnecessary features, that NAD seems to like to embrace, that really turned me off.

 

[Beershaun]

Imo the Anthem is superior to the NAD, it has a better preamp/dac section. Also IMO those BlueOS things, like MQA are unnecessary features, that NAD seems to like to embrace, that really turned me off.

I agree. At the time though I was looking for that richer set of streaming options since I use Tidal and wanted to take advantage of all that stuff. Even today with the Anthem, while Chromecast is "fine" I really would like support for the dedicated Tidal Connect protocol. Especially since Tidal no longer has an App on my FireTV and so I now have no way to play Atmos Music.

Also per Amir's review the amps chosen by NAD had some poor frequency response behaviors and early onset of distortion. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?posts/2442176/

 

[Massimo]

Amir, if that is true then would you think logically speaking the same would have applied to the AVM70, that you reviewed and despite that is an AV preamp/processor with much better ESS DAC chips vs the 1140's? It is important to know because if the same applies the to the AVM70, then your measured 99 dB SINAD could have been higher if the subwoofers were enabled. The AVM90 measured about 105 dB so I wonder if it would have still done better too. Can you think of any reasons for the 10 dB difference between subwoofers enabled/disabled, that seems too strange!

The AVM70 measured by Amir in 2021 would have been running AKM DACs. Anthem switched to ESS chips in 2023. Like the AVR1140 measured here, a current version of the AVM70 will be running ESS chips and will likely measure differently, perhaps higher.