Designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada, the Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier combines the benefits of an advanced preamplifier with the power of an amplifier featuring eight bipolar transistors and a huge toroidal transformer – delivering continuous output power from 2 x 200 W into 8 ohms to 2 x 550 W at 2 ohms and processor. It includes an advanced DAC, an asynchronous USB input with reception of signals up to PCM 32/384 and DSD 5.6, an on-board Anthem Room Correction (ARC) module, a customizable bass manager for subwoofer outputs, MM and MC-phono inputs – giving much more features than the average integrated amplifier.
Anthem Room Correction works at frequencies below 5 kHz and does not equalize the area above, which is most critical to interference. Working with Anthem Room Correction is a little more complicated. You will need to install the application on your smartphone or the program on your PC (Mac is not supported). Then we fix the microphone, connect it and take the first measurement at the listener’s position. Next, you will need to measure five more positions, making sure that the microphone is not located too close to the walls.
In addition to automatic optimization, a manual mode is also possible – with setting detailed adjustment goals and achieving them. The software is very flexible and pleasant to use – if you don’t want to be too immersed in the calibration process, Anthem STR will do everything for you, if you want – you can spend long evenings searching for the optimal frequency response. And, of course, there is analog direct mode, which turns off all processing sound – what purists need.
Anthem STR is packaged very well. The double cardboard box is closed on top with an additional box with accessories, and there is another one for the microphone and tripod. The Anthem STR is heavy (18 kg), so care must be taken during installation. The case is made according to the principle of “growth” – there is a lot of space inside, which means the parts and circuits will not suffer from overheating. The power transformer looks absolutely amazing – it’s really huge. The Anthem STR is quite a statement piece and would look equally at home on an audiophile’s turntable stand or on a sleek nightstand next to a designer bed. The display, as was assured in press releases, is really large and of very high quality; working with such a visual tool is a pleasure.
We can characterize the general character of the sound as “American”. Anthem STR has power, density and cohesion – but when necessary, it easily moves into the subtlest intonation shades and manages the presentation of mood impeccably. The device’s specialty is rock and jazz, here it is able to recreate a real bass guitar, the atmosphere of a nightclub, and the hoarse voices of vocalists.
Characteristics of Anthem STR Integrated Amplifier
Number of channels – 2
Power 8 Ohm, W – 2 x 200
Power 4 Ohm, W – 2 x 400
Power 2 Ohm, W – 2 x 550
Frequency range, Hz-kHz – 20 – 20
Harmonic distortion, % — 1
Audio DAC — 32-bit/384 kHz
Supported formats — PCM 32/384, DSD 2.8/5.6
Phono stage — Yes, MM/MS
Remote control — Yes, ARC Mobile app.
Features – Professional audio correction program with Anthem Room Correction (ARC) Technology microphone
Inputs – Coaxial, 2 x S/PDIF (RCA), 1 x AES/EBU (XLR), Optical, 2 x Toslink, Ethernet, 1 x Ethernet (RJ45 ) (for setup), USB, 1 x USB type B, (1 x USB type A, mini service)
Analog audio – 6 x RCA, 1 x XLR
Others – RS232, 1 x 3.5 mm IR
Outputs – Analog audio – 2 x RCA
Multichannel audio – 2 x RCA subwoofers
Dimensions – 17.2 x 43.2 x 44.5 cm
Weight – 18 kg
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