Anthem MCA 50 - 5 Channel Solid State Amplifier

"startling and enveloping clarity ... incredibly smooth and detailed" - Home Theater Sound

SOUND PURITY AND INTEGRITY
Anthem's design for MCA amplifiers follows the “Keep-It-Simple” principle, utilising the fewest possible number of parts in the signal path to maintain the integrity of sound. All parts are of the highest quality and tolerance. These remarkable amplifiers offer the profound sense of musical purity, transparency and naturalness demanded by the most discerning listener.
 
EIGHT OUTPUT DEVICES PER CHANNEL
Solid state amplifiers get their power from the output devices used in the amplification stage. Just like cylinders in a car’s engine, the greater the number of devices per channel, the greater the available high-current power for the crescendos in music, or the thrills, thunder and explosions in movies. Performance is simply more effortless. It also means that the amplifier will run cooler, making it more reliable.
 
MIRROR-IMAGED CHANNELS
Frequency response channel-matching in Anthem's amplifiers has always been far better than the norm. In fact, MCA amplifiers are virtually mirrorimaged. All amplifier channels offer identical performance. The musical picture is incredibly vivid, seamless, and detailed, with a multichannel soundstage that is exceptionally clear, coherent and three-dimensional.
 
MODULAR DESIGN
Each amplifier channel is completely self-contained on its own board and heatsink. In the rare event that service should be required, it can be done quickly and easily by a qualified technician, minimizing the “down time” of your system.
 
NO NOISE, LOW DISTORTION
In a rare feat, transformer-induced noise at the bass frequencies of 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 180 Hz, has effectively been eliminated. MCA amplifiers boast vanishing noise and unbelievably low levels of Total Harmonic Distortion.
 
120 dB SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
Signal-to-noise ratio in MCA amplifiers is 120 dB … a truly remarkable feat! Music and movie soundtracks simply appear out of “dead” silence allowing you to become lost in the emotion of the original performance —the mark (and the end goal) of a truly high-end audio-video component. During even the most tranquil musical passages or dramatically quiet moments in a movie, the background is so ‘black’ that it is audibly gone.
 
MASSIVE TOROIDAL POWER SUPPLIES
MCA amplifiers deliver incredible dynamics thanks to massive “audiophileapproved” conservatively rated power supplies designed with high rail voltages. Advanced-generation toroidal power transformers ensure ultraquiet performance by minimizing stray magnetic field radiation. This provides the pure, clean, low-noise power that is needed to reproduce the full dynamics of home theater and the most complex and dynamic music recordings.
 
STABLE AS A ROCK
Anthem's amplifiers are incredibly stable into difficult, low-impedance speaker loads, making these superb-sounding dynamos reliable performers in even the toughest circumstances
 
RCA INPUTS, XLR BALANCED INPUTS
Gold-plated female RCA jacks provide a high-quality input connection. XLR balanced connections are commonly used in professional recording and broadcasting to ensure the lowest level of noise and hum possible. Now you can use this same high-quality connection for reference-quality highend sound since XLR balanced inputs are included on all MCA amplifiers. Anthem's unique auto-sensing technology makes connecting inputs a snap. Plug in either the RCA or XLR connector and the technology automatically selects the right input.

50% LARGER POWER SUPPLY RESERVOIRS
More Power! More space to store it! With 225 watts, large banks of capacitors are needed to store all of the energy required for the immense dynamic bursts of various special effects in a movie, or the taxing crescendo of a solo piano. These amplifiers are the most powerful MCA amplifiers yet, employing 16,400 micro farads (μF) of capacitance per channel (that’s over 80,000 μF for the MCA 50). With so many joules of energy in reserve, when called upon, the MCA 20, MCA 30 and MCA 50 are able to deliver full bursts of power instantly and effortlessly.
 
LARGER CUSTOM CHASSIS AND HEATSINKS
A redesigned chassis and large custom heatsinks—33% larger than previous MCA Series amplifiers—ensure that these amplifiers dissipate the heat generated by their higher power levels quickly and efficiently. Anthem's custom heatsinks are computer-designed and modeled to maximise contact area for exceptional heat transfer efficiency. Put simply, they run cooler for greater reliability.
 
MULTIPLE POWER SWITCHES
MCA amplifiers can be powered On/Off three ways: manually with the On/Off switch on the front panel; remotely via the 12-volt trigger input on the rear; or automatically, with Anthem's patented Auto-On/Off circuit—an incoming audio signal immediately switches it on, and approximately 20 minutes after the audio signal ends, it simply switches off.
 
BETTER OUTPUT CONNECTION
Anthem's own custom-designed, oversized robust binding posts ensure full power delivery at all times. They’re easy to use and facilitate large speaker cable connectors.
 
DETACHABLE POWER CORD
While a detachable AC power cord comes in handy when connecting various components, its function is more than one of simple convenience. High-end products typically offer the freedom to use a variety of aftermarket power cords offered by specialty cable manufacturers. By including IEC detachable AC female sockets and high-power, high-quality 14-awg AC cords, MCA amplifiers further demonstrate their high-end pedigree.
 
SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP
Like all Anthem products the MCA 20, MCA 30 and MCA 50, designed and built in North America, are like no other amplifiers in the world: custom low-noise high-power toroidal transformers; high-current bipolar output transistors; high-quality filter capacitors; advanced power supply regulators; oversized aluminum heatsinks; custom-designed dual binding posts; and patented auto-on/off circuitry. Superior craftsmanship that is reflected in clean, clear, audiophile-quality sound from top to bottom of the frequency spectrum.

Anthem MCA 50 - 5 Channel Amplifier Reviews

Home Theater Sound by Anthony Di Marco
The MCA 50’s low noise specification proved to be the real thing ... the MCA 50 is one of the quietest amplifiers I have ever listened to.

Even the highly revealing tweeters of my Canton Ergos revealed nothing other than what was on the soundtrack. Waves of water emerged from a noise floor that was well below the sensitivity of my hearing. I also failed to hear the annoying 60Hz hum that can plague many amplifiers and receivers. Hum is often the result of ground loops, but can be caused by poorly isolated transformers. In the time I used it, the MCA 50 exhibited neither problem.

... startling and enveloping clarity ... incredibly smooth and detailed

Classical music benefited greatly with the Anthem at the helm. As with the film soundtracks, I was able to hear the recording’s noise floor clearly. Cymbals and violins were well-rendered, but sounded slightly thin whenever the recording called for it. As I listened to more recordings, I found that this was a characteristic of the Anthem’s transparency: It apparently did nothing to the audio signal but amplify it.

What truly distinguished the MCA 50 from other solid-state amplifiers in its price range that I’ve heard was the way it separated elements within its densely populated and expansive soundstage. Instruments and vocals were rock-solid and precise in their placement, but without the artificially razor-sharp positioning presented by some amplifiers. Voices were up front, but not unnaturally augmented in any way.

The Anthem MCA 50 is a perfect example of what audiophiles can get if they’re willing to dispense with needless frippery. The MCA 50 may not have a spit-shine chassis or drop-dead-gorgeous sex appeal, but it amplifies soundwaves with the big boys. It’s an incredibly impressive amplifier that offers high power, transparency, and a very refined top end, all for an extremely reasonable price. What more can you ask for?

Anthem MCA 50 - 5 Channel Amplifier Specifications

Inputs 5 Single-Ended, 2 Balanced, 1 Relay Trigger (3.5-mm Mono Jack)
Outputs 5 Pairs Speaker Binding Posts, 1 Relay Trigger (3.5-mm Mono Jack)

SWITCHES
Front Panel Power (On/Off)
Rear Panel 3 On/Off Modes (Trigger, Manual, Auto)

POWER OUTPUT (Continuous RMS, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, <1.0% THD)
Impedance / # Of Channels Driven /  Wattage
8Ω 1 / All  225 W / 180 W
4Ω 1 / All  370 W / 260 W
2Ω 1 / All  530 W / 340 W

OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
HEADROOM 1.45 db (8 Ω); 2.3 db (4 Ω)
POWER BANDWIDTH 10 Hz - 80 kHz (200 W @ 8 Ω)
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20 Hz - 20 kHz (-0.15 db); 5 Hz - 100 kHz (-2 db)
THD + N 0.0015% @ 1 kHz; 0.03% @ 20 kHz (100 W into 8 Ω)
INPUT SENSITIVITY 1.5 VRMS for 225 W into 8 Ω
INPUT IMPEDANCE 10 k Ω (RCA); 15 k Ω (XLR)
DAMPING FACTOR 130 @ 1 kHz (ref. 8 Ω)
S/N RATIO 122 db, A-weighted (ref. 225 W)
CHANNEL SEPARATION >65 db (100 Hz - 10 kHz)
VOLTAGE GAIN 29 db
SLEW RATE 20 v/µs

POWER REQUIREMENTS 1800 W @ maximum power output (8 Ω load)
DIMENSIONS (H X W X D) (Heights Include Feet) 43.8 x 17.8 x 44.5 cm
WEIGHT (Unpacked) 27.6 kg