Anthem MRX 300 7.1 A/V Receiver

Introduction to the Anthem MRX 300 Receiver

Anthem is a company that is well-known in audiophile circles for cost-no-object separates and excellent separate power amplifiers. Anthem is the parent company to Paradigm, whose Studio 20 v.3 monitors were used in conjunction with the Anthem seven-channel MRX 300 AV receiver for this review. I always assume that companies who manufacture both receivers and speakers design them to work with each other. This may or may not always be the case but the two were a good match for power handling and voicing.

Design: 7.1 AV ReceiverPower Output: 7 x 80 WattsCodecs: All, Including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master AudioAnthem Room Correction (ARC), Scaling to 1080p60, 1080p243D Support via Software UpgradeConnections: HDMI, Component Video, S-Video, Composite Video, Coaxial Digital, Optical Digital, Analog Stereo Audio, IR, RS-232Dimensions: 6" H x 17" W x 14" DWeight: 33.4 PoundsAnthemSECRETS Tags: Anthem, Receivers, Room Correction

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Anthem MRX 500 7.1 A/V Receiver

Introduction to the Anthem MRX 500 7.1 A/V Receiver

A quick internet search turns up a number of very positive reviews for the Anthem MRX 700. The MRX 700 is Anthem’s top of line receiver. In my internet search, however, I didn’t find any reviews of the two other receiver models. Incidentally, the MRX 700 has basically gotten nothing but positive reviews as far as I could tell. Meanwhile, Anthem’s other two receiver models; the MRX 300 and the MRX 500, may very well suit those who don’t quite need all the power and features of the MRX 700 or those who have real world budget constraints.

So I decided to spend a little time with the middle receiver, the MRX 500. A very big part of the story is that all three Anthem receivers include the complete Anthem Room Correction (ARC) system. This is an amazing inclusion at the available price points for the line. Let’s see how the $1,499 MRX 500 stacks up.

Design: 7.1 A/V ReceiverCodecs: Dolby TrueHD , Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital EX, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-ES (Matrix, Discrete), DTS 96/24Power Output: 2 x 100 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms - Two Channels Driven; 5 x 75 Watts RMSTHD+N: 0.1%DACs: 24/1922-Zone OperationAM/FM Radio TunerAnthem Room Correction (ARC)Dimensions: 6.5" H x 17.25" W x 15.25" DWeight: 34.3 PoundsMSRP: $1,499 USA, $1,649 CANAnthemSECRETS Tags: Receivers, Surround Sound, Room Correction, 5.1

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CEntrance DACMini USB DAC

Introduction to the CEntrance DACMini


CEntrance is a Chicago based company with engineering in the US and Moscow, Russia, design in Holland, and manufacturing facilities in Asia but final assembly in the US . Let’s just say ‘multi-national’. They got their start in pro audio making microphone/guitar pre-amps with analog to digital converters, the MicPort Pro and AxePort Pro in amazingly small packages. Designed to plug inline on the microphone or guitar cord with a USB output (the units are powered by the USB connection) they provide the smallest possible recording studio, enabling musicians to plug a microphone or guitar ‘directly’ into a computer as if they were plugging into tape deck. Here, we review the CEntrance DACMini.
The natural extension was to go the other way with a USB powered DAC in the same small package, the DACPort. 24/96 DACs available in line level or headphone models. This product was well reviewed throughout the audiophile press. I first heard it at RMAF in 2008. The experience was disconcerting, how could this little thing, powered with that 5V, computer power supply afterthought on the USB interface sound so good? I was impressed but I’d been listening to different systems all day, maybe I was deluded, audio fatigued.

The DACMini is the latest product from CEntrance, using the same DAC technology as the DACPort but in a larger, rather beautiful package, with both headphone and line level (RCA) outputs. Inputs are via USB or S/PDIF. Analog inputs (RCA) are also provided. That latter input might make one think that the DACMini functions like a preamp but it only provides input switching, the volume knob is for the headphone output, the RCA outs are fixed at line level. The line-outs are automatically disabled when headphones are plugged in – preventing embarrassing unintended loudspeaker accompaniment for your late night listening.
Design: USB DACDigital Resolution: 24-bit (Also Supports 16-bit)Sample Rate: USB: Up to 96kHz, S/PDIF: Up to 192 kHzInterface: USB1.1 or 2.0, Driverless Local Clock: 10 ppm Precision, Immeasurable JitterCompatibility: PC, Mac, LinuxNominal Output level: +6.0 dBV (RCA Analog Outputs)MFR: 20 Hz - 40 kHz +0.0 dB / -0.1dB (Line or Digital Inputs)S/N Ratio: (A-Weighted): 144 dB (Line Inputs); 113 dB (Digital Inputs)THD+N: 0.00022% (Line Inputs); 0.001% (Digital Inputs)Crosstalk: -128 dB (Line Inputs); 118 dB (Digital Inputs)Output Impedance: 25 Ohms (Line Output); 10 Ohms (Headphone Output)Maximum Output Power: 1.5W; +13.5 dBV (32 Ohms Load) +18.6 dBV (300 Ohms Load) +19.0 dBV (600 Ohms Load)MSRP: $795 USDCEntranceSECRETS Tags: DAC, USB DAC


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Harman Kardon HK 990 Stereo Integrated Amplifier with Digital Room Correction and Dual Subwoofer Bass Management – Part II

Introduction to the Harman Kardon HK 990 Stereo Integrated Amplifier with Digital Room Correction and Dual Subwoofer Bass Management – Part II

This second part of the HK 990 review examines the signal flows in the HK 990 dual-domain integrated amplifier. This analysis is relevant to all units, including modem AVRs, with a DSP signal processing unit in the main signal path. The signal flow is more transparent in this stereo unit than a 7.1 multichannel unit; so, if you are interested in AVR, please stay tuned in to Part 2.
Analog circuit design methods for consumer high-fidelity products date to 1950 with the emergence of reel tape, LPs, and FM. Consumer-friendly discussions of analog component design are found in early (circa 1947) issues of Audio Magazine and early (circa 1951) issues of High Fidelity. Digital recording and CD players arrived at a time that magazines were still somewhat technical. It was not until Dolby Digital (originally called AC-3) started coming off Laser Discs in the mid-1990’s that units with core DSP processors appeared. By that time, the print magazines had de-emphasized technical aspects of design, preferring to focus on measurements results at the terminals of the DUT.
Design: Solid State Stereo Integrated AmplifierPower: 2 x 150 watts RMS into 8 ohms @ 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 x 300 Watts into 4 OhmsMFR: 10 Hz – 100 kHzTHD: <0.07% at Full Output (8 Ohm Load)Analog Inputs: 7, Plus 1 Phono MC, 1 Phono MM, and 1 Balanced XLRDigital Inputs: 1 HRS-Link, 2 Optical Digital, 2 Coaxial DigitalAnalog Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 350mV/43k ohms for tuner/CD, 10mV/47k ohms for Phono-MM, 1mV/100k ohms for Phono-MCDigital Input Capability: All Standard Digital FormatsDimensions: 6.4" H x 17.3" W x 17.5" DWeight: 43.2 PoundsMSRP: $2,599 USAHarman KardonSECRETS Tags: Harman Kardon, HK 990

Part II of this series examines the dual-domain DSP based system at a deeper level than the treatment found in most reviews, but it is not so technical as to leave an interested audiophile puzzled.
If you missed Part I......


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LG PZ550 50" 3D Plasma HDTV

Introduction to the LG PZ550 3D Plasma HDTV


To follow up my review of the passive 3D LCD LG TV, LG sent me their 50” PZ550 3D Plasma TV to check out. This was a great opportunity for me to compare both the active shutter and passive approach to 3D from the same manufacturer. The LCD set benefitted from the passive approach by allowing its users to purchase many cheap sets of glasses for large gatherings. However, the film-patterned retarder cut the resolution in half and added a shimmer to the image that was too distracting. Another major issue was with the frame creation upconversion that was always on in 3D mode. This gave movement an artificial look and feel and I was worried that might be associated with all 3D sets including the PZ550 plasma and was anxious to find out. Continue reading to hear how this LG TV performed.
Design: 3D Plasma HDTVScreen Size: 50" DiagonalNative Resolution: 1080pBrightness: 1,500 cd/m2Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000:1Light Source Life Span: 100,000 hoursFilm Mode Processing: 3:2 / 2:2 Pull-Down for HDMI 1080p 24pPicture Modes: Vivid, Standard, APS (Power Save), THX Cinema, THX Bright Room, Sports, Game, ISF Expert 1, ISF Expert 2Weight: 65 PoundsMSRP: $1,799.99 USDLGSECRETS Tags: HDTV, Plasma, 1080p


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