Anthem 225 integrated: Anyone knows anything ?

I have had both  The 804a V2 is very good and well built ut a bit thin sounding  Does not lack bass. Just not a rich sound.  More of a lean sound. Yes the rattle is annoying.   I thought  the Anthem 225  was going to be the deal and end the merry go round. Great bang for the buck.  problem is I (and others) found it kind of dry sounding .  Also  I ran it against an exposure 2010S.  One would have thought the exposure was the more powerful amp.  more exciting , more live more organic.  Much like a Naim or old NAD 3020/7020.  The 225 may have been a touch more refined but less involving.  I still would like to try one again as it is a good value.  A dealer near me has a great deal on them.  NO  relation.

The Anthem stuff being made locally as well other good makes they have always been reachable retail and used. More people seem to prefer hanging on to them because I only see a small handful go up since those started being made. The 225 I had would be I guess 4 or 5 years old by now. I have lots of good things to say about them, but first being that they are for your taste. It can does play a lot on synergies I think paradigm and PSB sound vg with Anthem. Goldi speakers are notoriously known for liking alot of power to sound best, the 225 takes a good grip on them.

Look at the 225 specs, power and stability and other key aspects. If an exposure 2010 sounded more powerful some kind of mismatch was going on there. The anthem outweighs it substantially, they are 42.5 lbs vs 14 with the exposure. I can admit the exposure has more full and robust sound in comparison. That can trick ears into thinking one amp sounds more powerful than it actually is or vs another, until you push them harder then truth shows. they are fine amplifiers, exposures. but the 2010S just havent got the balls of the Anthem. The 225 doesnt sound bad to me Its one I wouldnt of minded keeping it, at the time hearing other amps was higher up on choices. 1300 is a good deal for a new oneé They go for more in other places. even locally, wich dont seem right.

Theres more notes on power, they are known to score higher on bench tested output, the 225 x 2 gets a little under credited in its manual rating.

Nice lookers, blacked out and understated it looks business http://www.anthemav.com/products-current/model=i225/page=overview

So this thread's ancient but the 225i is coming up again as low as $1100. new so i'll share my last 2 years with it. I have kef 107/2, 105/3, and revel F 52's. the 225 I doesn't have a tape loop and the kefs have an active eq for the bass,could be an issue for someone. It does have pre out tho' and a clean 225 wpc that never runs out of power and controls all 3 pair with ease. I bought the 225i to replace my krell 300 il that keeps failing and the krell did have more bloom in the midrange making more of the harsh cd's listenable. I think the 225i is a steal but will never be confused for tube gear. good sound great price. solid state limitless power that has excellent imaging and bass control but thru my f52's sound a little sterile compared to my old krell in the midrange. 

All the positive reviews of the Anthem are in the context of its price.  I have had one and I found it was pretty decent, but not great, at mid and high volumes.  At low volumes - lifeless.  I have had Cambridge Audio and that was similar.  I did hear a 840 at a dealers and that was better.  When I got my ATC SIA150 it was in another league - another league in price too :-<
I would go for an Exposure.  Don't be mislead by Watts.  Class A biasing and circuit design are way more important.
Incidentally I had another curious problem with the Anthem.  Occasionally the Volume Control would start increasing of its own accord. Very scary! It took ages to diagnose but there was an interference between the remote control and the fluorescent lighting!  I would not worry about that though, the chances of that being replicated are too small.