Although some other manufacturers, including as Yamaha, Denon, and Marantz, may have a more well-known name, Anthem has undoubtedly earned the respect of customers for producing some really reliable products over the past few years. A wide selection of new AV receivers, power amps, and processors were introduced last year with improved features and revised specifications. We test the Anthem MRX 540, the entry-level model in their MRX series of AV receivers, in today’s review to see if it is a worthy addition to an otherwise very strong, recently updated portfolio.
The entry-level MRX 540 has 5 built-in channels of amplification but can process up to 7 channels with the addition of an external amplifier, which is required if you want some overhead action. For a 5-channel receiver, the device supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced, which is unique. It also has Anthem’s in-house ARC audio calibration technology, of which the ARC Genesis version is the most recent. The MRX 540 is completely loaded with extras, including Airplay 2 and Chromecast, as well as custom integration options, Bluetooth, Roon and Spotify in the future, and the opportunity to upgrade its HDMI ports to the newest HDMI 2.1.
Our Verdict
If you want a robust 5-channel AV receiver for surround sound without Atmos height speakers, go with the MRX 540. With thoughtful and occasionally ground-breaking features, it offers excellent sound quality for the price.
Pros
- Solid Class-AB sound
- Excellent web interface
- 30 assignable inputs
- High-quality room correction
Cons
- No built-in streaming services
- No USB-B or phono inputs
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Highlights
- Dolby® and DTS® surround sound decoding
- Dolby Atmos® and DTS:X processing for use with in-ceiling or “height” speakers for more enveloping home theater sound
- Supports 5.1.2 atmos setup with optional external power amp
- IMAX® Enhanced reproduces the full dynamic range of specially encoded IMAX soundtracks from compatible sources
- ARC Genesis speaker calibration system helps fine-tune your system to best match your room’s acoustics
- Requires installation of free arc genesis software on a mac or pc prior to calibration
- Audiophile-grade 32-bit/768khz dac (digital to analog converter)
- Large front-panel display gives you easy-to-read status updates at a glance
What’s in the box?
5.2ch AV receiver, 70″ AC power cord, Remote control (RC-MRX 2), “AAA” batteries, 2 WiFi/Bluetooth antennas, Calibration mic, Mic stand, Mic adapter bracket, 10′ USB-C to USB-A cable, Quick Start Guide, Product Registration Card and Note For Online Manual.
Price and Availability
The Anthem MRX 540 is available for just under ₹225,900. You can get more detailed information about the MRX 540 current price and availability by consulting us.
Design
The Anthem AV receiver weighs 28.2 lb (12.8 Kg), which is about what you might expect from an AV receiver in this category and measures 17′′ x 14-1/2′′ x 6′′ (43.18 cm x 36.4 cm x 15.24 cm) and has somewhat less internal gear than its larger sister. The new style is really straightforward and features a two-tone front face with a big turning knob and several smaller function buttons on one side and a highly gloss black glass covering the functions display on the other. Here, it’s important to note that the front panel is a complete LCD screen, as opposed to the standard dot matrix screens seen in many AV receivers even today.
Sound Quality
The MRX 540 has 5 built-in channels of 100W into 8 ohms rated amplification. You are able to create a surround system with up to 5.2 channels using the built-in amplifiers that are available. The MRX 540 can process up to 7 channels, thus by adding an extra amplifier, you may build a system that can handle 5.2.2 Dolby channels or 7.2 channels. The MRX 540 is one of the few 5-channel AV receivers that supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which is fairly unique. In fact, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X may function with as many channels as your system has and do not require a certain number of channels.
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Specifications
Brand : | Anthem |
Model : | Anthem MRX 540 |
Maximum Output (<0.1% THD) : | 5.2 VRMS, 7.1VRMS |
Frequency Response : | 20Hz – 30KHz +/-0.2dB |
Weight : | 28.2 lb (12.8 kg) |
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Conclusions
In addition to having exceptional sound quality for its price in both 5.1 surround and stereo music modes, the Anthem MRX 540 is also very simple to set up and customise to your needs thanks to its browser-based control and setup. It’s a fantastic movie machine that achieves its improved soundtrack performance without sacrificing musical attributes.
Bang for buck this one hits the mark
Overall Experience:
At the moment, I am very satisfied, a pleasant sound, but less powerful than I thought, lacks a lot of depth, but overall very good.