Anthem MDX 16 Review: Eight Zone Distribution Amplifier

In North America, the installation market is larger and more important than the traditional hi-fi market. In Europe, built-in may be slightly less relevant, in some countries (such as Belgium and Germany) there is a significant growth in projects in which audio is integrated into the home. The fact that well-known audio brands such as Anthem are active in this part of the audio market is a positive thing because they have the right cards to deliver good sound quality in CI projects. The Anthem MDX-16 is one of two CI amplifiers that Anthem has launched this year. The other is the MDX-8, equipped with eight channels. Perhaps we shouldn’t tell you how many channels the MDX-16 has. This is a pure amplifier that you have to combine with one or more sources, controllable via IP or RS232, and compatible with a whole range of home automation platforms.

We now write ‘pure amplifier’, but the MDX-16 does come with a DAC hatch so that digital audio streams can also be played. It’s a real audio matrix; you can forward any source to one or more zones, which offers a lot of flexibility. 60 Watts of power is available for each of the sixteen channels, but in bridge mode (where you merge two zones into one) you can increase that to 200 Watts. You can do something with that.

Price and Availability

The Anthem MDX 16 is available for just under ₹610399. You can get more detailed information about the Anthem MDX 16 current price and availability by consulting us.

Design

The MDX-16 is equipped to be stacked right out of the box. That is made simple by the 2U format standard and the mounting clips on the sides. But if they’d rather, they can easily take these brackets off and mount the included feet. You unexpectedly acquire a piece of equipment that belongs on a piece of furniture or in a cabinet. It is not that the MDX-16 now has a sexier appearance; rather, it still largely functions as a gadget meant for the CI market. There’s nothing wrong with that, and the front-mounted LED display gives you a clear visual of which zones are active. If you need to troubleshoot quickly, this is helpful. It’s a nice feature that the web interface can adjust to the small displays of phones and other mobile devices if a user still wishes to control via the online interface.

Sound Quality

Every one of the eight zones can have an active subwoofer added. In bridge mode, you join two nearby zones (for instance, zones 1 and 2) to form a stronger single zone. The 2 × 60 Watts of a single zone should be plenty for a pair of ceiling speakers. However, the additional power of the bridge mode is unquestionably helpful for a passive subwoofer or a few demanding hi-fi speakers. The user won’t need to access the web interface very much if you pick that boot volume properly. After all, the MDX-16 will automatically turn on a zone when the music begins to play; you will hear sound after 3 to 5 seconds, and precise volume control is frequently possible through the music source (or its app) directly.

Specifications

Conclusion

Anthem made a wise decision by including individual room corrections for each zone (including in bridge mode). Especially considering that it uses the tried-and-true ARC system, which is simple to set up yet highly effective against a variety of acoustic issues. This provides installers a means to improve displays for consumers without significantly raising complexity or cost.

The MDX-16’s ARC feature is without a doubt its most notable feature, but this Anthem gadget also has other great points. That’s nothing: audio matrix functionality, sixteen amplified channels (with bridge mode to increase a zone’s power to 2 x 200 Watt), a simple online interface, and several integration choices.