For more than two decades, Sonic Frontiers International has
manufactured award-winning high-end audio/video equipment for music,
home theater and distributed audio. Our products are used at all levels
of music reproduction and sold internationally under the brand names
Anthem, and Anthem Statement — the ultimate in high-end audio/video
reproduction.
Anthem products allow you to virtually 'be there'
every time you listen to a favorite piece of recorded music or
experience the excitement of surround-sound home theater. Our reputation
in analog and digital design is legendary and our products continue to
receive industry awards and acclaim in the finest magazines. Around the
world, Anthem is consistently the brand of choice for leaders in the
field of music and entertainment.
Our original goal was to create
a high-end product without a high-end price. Our success is reflected
in an award-winning product lineup that continues to set new reference
standards of performance regardless of price.
The Anthem difference is audible: you hear it in every product we provide.
I was first introduced to Anthem with their flagship processor the Anthem Statement D2v. When I got the processor into the theater I was, well, blown away. What separates Anthem from the rest of the pack, and I share this opinion with a lot of A/V equipment reviewers out there, is the ARC (Anthem Room Correction) processing software. Like many of the mass market surround receivers out there, the unit comes with a microphone kit that allows the processor to "hear" the room anomalies that result from imperfect acoustical conditions, and correct for that. Essentially, the unit tunes itself to the room.
Stating that "most mass market surround receivers..." also do that may leave you wondering, "just what then, makes the Anthem different?" I'm sure their tech department could explain in detail but for me, but the bottom line is that I don't know WHY they do it so much better than the others, they just DO. Having owned Lexicon and Marantz surround preamp/processors as well as a multitude of brands of surround receivers, I have not come across another pre/pro that sounded this good. I've installed several of these in various applications and each time, the ARC software has corrected the frequency response properly for the room, even in some pretty difficult environments.
Now, that said, the pre/pro has a pretty hefty price tag and it should sound good. But even at a retail price of $8,999.00, it is still a value (I've heard equipment at twice the price that doesn't sound as good as this!) Fortunately for most of though, Anthem released a line of surround sound receivers that are competitively priced with most of the mass market lines of receivers. In fact, I had a pretty high end surround receiver in my family room surround system that I replaced with the Anthem MRX700 and I couldn't believe what an improvement that made!
Anthem has 3 receivers, the entry level MRX300, mid MRX500, and top MRX700. They are priced at $1000, $1500, and $2,000 respectively. Again, if you're shopping for a surround receiver in the $200-$500 range, this may not seem like a great deal but if you're looking at a receiver that's priced around $899 and up, these are not only a good value, they're a steal!
Anthem also has a line of great amplifiers and like I tell all my clients - don't take my word for it, do your homework and check out the reviews.
You can check out Anthem and Anthem Statement products at
www.anthemav.com