Anthem STR pre and power amplifier

I have been a big Anthem fan for a while, based on the sound quality of the previous generations of processors but ultimately have been disappointed by the choices made by the room correction as well as by the lack of control.

I'm pretty sure when I get my next system I'll be using Marantz as a processor instead.  The top end units allow for 100% manual EQ settings, which for me have been better.

Lyngdorf TDIA 3400.

@erik_squires @mofojo thanks so much for your responses, after much joyous decision-making I went ahead and ordered it today. I think my life is about to get much much happier and joyful! Happy face, happy face,

Congrats my man!

On Soundstage.com there is an incredibly detailed article about how to use the Anthem STR preamp and the DSP feature.

SoundStage! Access | SoundStageAccess.com (GoodSound.com) - Anthem STR Preamplifier-DAC

Follow the links in the article.

Congrats on your purchase!  The full HT pass thru sealed the deal for me. I use the STR preamp for two channel listening and a Marantz pre/pro for HT.

Have been very pleased with ARC. My room is problematic and ARC has helped me make significant improvements in sound quality, especially below 350 Hz. There are a lot of parameters and targets you can experiment with. Some are not documented well, but the main ones are very clear. 
 

Have fun!

These are decent for the money, but you’re better off buying something else maybe a better integrated from Mola Mola for example.

@yyzsantabarbara  thanks for the article @zgas-music sounds like our lives are similar at least the music 🎼 part. @pennfootball71 one can dream 💭 alas the inheritance wasn’t that much. 

Congratulations. Good company and good stuff. My MXR 720 has been very reliable and still serves me well in my TV room. And ARC is fully customizable when you dig in and use a laptop. Good luck!

@fredapplegate Thanks, The room correction intimidates me has me terrified. Hopefully all my fears will be resolved and the process will be smoother than the future tripping that is going through the noggin.  

Enjoy, that is a great combo.  I think Anthem's ARC works pretty good, you'll really like it I think.   

I have the NAD Masters series pre-pro and 7 channel class D power amplifier. My units were bought in about 2016 or 17 when they just came out and they are excellent in every respect.  I don’t know how they compare with other options like Marantz or Anthem but anyone in the market for a high end home theater should definitely check them out. 

@oddiofyl thanks for the vote of confidence I think 🤔 lol. @ct10 I got the two channel amp and preamp to up my stereo game. Someday I’ll up the surround system. 

Congrats, the pre/power combo are really nice products and audibly a step above the srt integrated. If I was looking for a system that used room correction and sub integration the STR separates would be in my home.

@steve59 thanks for the kind words. Am over the top waiting for the delivery. 📦 was definitely thinking about the integrated. But those needles dancing 🕺 had me. 

I purchased an Anthem STR pre-amp two years ago. Besides the speakers, their position, and room treatment, this is the next most important component in my system that has turned a small challenging room into a music listening paradise. I purchased it for its DSP and subwoofer integration with the idea that those features would elevate my system performance - and it did. It really did. I believe I created magic in my listening room. There are couple ways to use ARC and it comes with two microphones. I used the calibrated version for the laptop version of ARC. It is more powerful. You can run ARC and use the default settings the first time. Listen for a couple of weeks and then go back and adjust the many parameters to get the sound you want. 

@jodeven thanks so much for the vote of confidence, am really excited for this new change in my life. 

I have the Anthem STR pre and power amp. I love it. I also have a Paradigm Prestige sub which I love.

@evo100 we’re almost brothers in arms. Alas, I use a REL acoustic sub. But I shall enjoy belonging to the brotherhood!

I've had the STR Stack for a while now and I still enjoy it. Take some time (if you haven't already) and join the Anthem FB pages and you'll find a ton of info on making ARC easier. There's also some YT videos that take a deep dive if you're more techy. (see my virtual system)

Chiming in a bit late but I got mine about a month ago. I upgraded from their integrated and boyyyyy what a difference. Great definition and response. I currently have them hooked up to B&W 804 D3 and the sound is a big difference from their integrated. It makes the B&W sing effortlessly with lots of headroom.

I wasn’t planning on buying it but it was offered to me for a song and a dance.

I am looking at getting Focal Sopra 2 with it.

Edit:  Aesthetics is very important to me.  I got mine in Silver.  The integrated was this big black ugly box and I hated the looks of it.

@tobaccoleafpie ended up getting the STR preamp and amplifier along with a Innuos Pulse music player. Am over the moon with the performance of this machine. Running a KEF LS 50 meta, thinking of something else but I’m happy for now. It really is going to take something to top.