Anthem MRX 300 Receiver Preview

We're always a bit leery when a company that has really made a name for themselves with higher end gear like processors and amps puts out a receiver. Just like when a company known for amps puts out a processor or a sub company puts out a line of speakers. But Anthem is a bit different. They've been in the game for a long time. They may not have the legions of engineers and millions to spend on research that companies like Denon and Yamaha do, but they've got enough know-how to put out a good product. Unfortunately, putting out a receiver takes time and when you are a smaller outfit (not that Anthem is all that small - just not as big as the major receiver manufacturers), you often find your product is obsolete before it hits hits the shelves.

We're happy to report that this isn't the case for the Anthem MRX-300 receiver.

While you aren't going to find the very latest and greatest features that are starting to hit the shelves, the Anthem MRX-300 has enough bells and whistles to keep it competitive while still maintaining the legacy and pedigree that has made Anthem customers so loyal. Let's start with the basics.

The Anthem MRX-300 sports 80 watts per channel with seven channels (continuous power rating) and has four HDMI inputs with one output. There are four composite and three component inputs. For audio you'll find seven stereo analogue plus two coaxial and three optical digital inputs. There is plenty of room for the seven sets of high quality 5-way binding post. We like the fact that all of the outputs are backed by white paint making them easy to find, even in the dark. The Anthem MRX-300 sports of single output of each type (composite, component, HDMI, optical, coaxial) though it does upconvert all video to HDMI an can scale to 1080p/60. It also sports not only 7.1 channel inputs but also pre-outs for integrating an external amp. Zone 2 support is included and can be powered by the surround back channels or through an external amp via RCA pre-outs.

None of this is all that surprising and is stuff we've seen for years.

But the Anthem MRX-300 also has support of all the high definition audio codecs including Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. There is 3D support enabled through a free firmware update (which is available now). The MRX-300 sports Dual-processor audio DSP, a 1080p24 mode, and Dolby Volume which helps keep your hands off the remote when a loud commercial comes on. Dolby ProLogic IIz is included which allows you to designate height channels for increasing the size of the front soundstage. It is unclear if the rear channels can be used for this or if you need an external amp. The Anthem MRX-300 has an HD radio tuner to expand your terrestrial radio choices.

Lastly, the Anthem MRX-300 has Anthem Room Correction (ARC). According to Anthem this:

• Analyzes each speaker’s in-room response then sets output levels, crossover frequencies and room correction parameters for each one.
• Applies correction for up to 7 channels plus the sub!
• Applies Super-Efficient Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters in addition to Anthem’s custom topology … all that means no 'engine' noise, this baby runs quickly and quietly.
• Unlike other room correction systems, ARC allows for multiple microphone measurements, that way everyone in the room gets a better listen, not just those sitting directly between the speakers.
• Processing power to spare!
• ARCuracy! The connected PC’s 64-bit floating point processor calculates the correction curves to the n'th degree of accuracy.
• Separate configurations for music and movies.
• Applies correction to peaks and dips in room response – since rooms have both we get a far more natural and accurate response tackling both!
• Fully automated or manual setup – you choose which procedure you want to use!
  

The Anthem MXC-300 sports a "Made for iPhone" logo on the product page but this is for the new, yet to be released dock. With it, you'll be able to use the HDMI On-Screen Display for not only navigating the menus for setup, video adjustments and other options, but also to control your player and check the status and song navigation.

Conclusion

On its face, the Anthem MXR-300 is a very capable receiver. We were surprised that they managed to get so many of the newer features into the receiver. It is missing a few important ones like networking and Airplay but many wouldn't miss or use them. With the Anthem name and enough of the newest features, this looks to be a very good entry level receiver for the company. The $1k price tag is also very competitive considering the source.

For more information, please visit www.anthemav.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.