Dynamic, tube-like, very clean

Hate Plastic binding post

This is the amp to audition if you have Maggies 1.6.
With the watts to drive power-hungry Maggies, and the tube
input to soften the high frequencies....this is a match
made in heaven.
When I first purchased the 1.6's I new I had a delimma on my hands on how to drive them. Going strictly with a tube amp would require at least 100wts and for a good sounding tube with that many watts is going to cost big bucks. A solid state amp was needed but being a tube addict would i be satisfied? Well with the AMP 2 my delimma was completely solved!!! I purchased mine brand new for $1400 at a local audio dealer. Feel I received an great deal on a amp I'll keep for many years....

glenn

Similar Products Used:

AMC, Yamaha, Golden Tube

Width and depth of soundstage. Detail. Easy on the ears.

Bass perhaps a bit "tubey" sounding.

I auditioned the Amp 2 in my home for several days, and it is certainly on my short lists for possible amps to buy. I used with the Bryston B-60 as a pre-amp, which is quite passive and neutral. I really like the sound of the Anthem. They have gotten the bybrid thing just right. There is some added warmth from the tube input stage, but the sound is still accurate and fairly transparent--I don't feel it added too much to the sound coming through the pre-amp (I generally use the headphones, running directly off the pre-amp, as a measuring stick, perhaps not a very reliable one.) Imaging is fantastic, both horizontally and front to back. I found on some recordings the highs were more in my face than I'd like, but further investigation suggests that this is the fault of the recordings, not the amp. I'd say that the biggest impact the tubes in this amp make are that musical presence that tubes are famous for. I heard less of this the longer the amp was on, so it may just be a matter of burn-in time. Also, compared to good solid state amps, the bass, while full, is fairly soft--you hear the tones of the bass instruments more than the wood and/or thump (this applies to percussion as well as stringed instruments). The trade-off, I guess, is that you get mellower highs. Anyway, this is an accurate but also warm and forgiving amp with plenty of power and a reasonable price tag. It will run up against some stiff competition on my short list, though, when I try bi-amping with another Bryston, which is as accurate as they come. Anyway, other equipment in the mix:

Cambridge CD player (as transport) with MSB Link DAC
Technics turntable with vintage Shure tube pre-amp (a result of too much time on ebay)
Silver Audio Silver Bullet interconnects (from the DAC)
Audio Quest Emerald interconnects (from the pre-amp)
Audioquest Type II speaker wire (can't do any better given the longs runs along the ceiling I need in my current home)

POWER, DIMENTIONALITY, MIDRANGE, SMOOTHNESS, HIGH FREQUENCY

NONE

I recently tried SONY SACD player with Krell FPB-300C, with
B&W N802, my expectation was very high that I would get real great sound. But to my surprise, though the sound was very detailed, dynamic, image and sound stage was great, but the dimentionality or bloom or liquidity- of amps like Audio Research, Condar Johnson, Plinius was missing. Same thing happened with Mark levenson, Proceed, Aragon, Eagle, Bryston amps - they are detailed, but dimentionality is missing. 'Dimentionality', I mean by the sound or music is liquid sounding, also has bloom like in real live music. Not to have dimentionality, is like many Solid state amps- sounding mechanical, electronic sounding. To me these solid state amps I mentioned, are not real 'hi-end'.

Now, I can add Anthem Amp-2 in a category, where music sound real with bloom, and dimention, with good power and dynamic. But the most interesting part is the price, that is only $1799.00. Which makes it hell of a deal. For those who cannot afford Amp-2, then should try her cheaper sibling 200 watts Anthem MCA-2 at only $699, they are great sounding amp without the usaul solid state nastiness. Give them try you will be surprised.

Similar Products Used:

ARAGON, BRYSTON, KRELL, MARK LEVINSON, EAGLE 4

Seems to do everything right, great imaging, and good, punchy, tight bass.

Over engineered binding posts...my spade lugs won't fit into the "groove." If you are using in mono mode, speaker wire must be split a long way to reach both posts. Runs hot.

Ironically Greg Burtt and I have a very similar system set-up. I think we found a great set of gear.

This is my first experience with tube gear, and I was worried the bass wouldn't be there, but it was. It took me a few songs to get a feel for tube sound, but wow it is really great. This amp does so much right, imaging, detail, articulation, tight bass, crips very clean highs. I was really suprised how much better this upgrade made my system sound. Even held up in HT mode. The weaknesses I mentioned are minor, but does keep this product from 5 stars. I'd give 4.5 if I could.

Equip: Paradigm Ref Studio 100s, Marantz DV-18 DVD, Marantz CC-65 transport, Lexicon DC-1 4.0, Monster HTS 5000 LC, Anthem Amp 2, Marantz MA500s for CC, and surrounds. Transparent Interconnects (ML+), Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker wire, and Transparent power cords

Similar Products Used:

Carver, Marantz, HK, Sony ES, Nakamichi....demoed Levinson, B&K, Proceed