Anthem 225 integrated: Anyone knows anything ?

I just listened to that amp at a shop in Wilmington DE yesterday for two hours while auditioning equipment. I was impressed by it food the price..about $1300. It was pretty smooth and neutral with realistic bass and mids and decent soundstage. I am looking at moving from steps to an integrated so wanted a pace comparable to my upgraded Macintosh mc250.the 225 was very nice but different more modern. It paled next to the Ayre CX5 I listened to next but that was 2+x more costly. I figure the Anthem is a good budget choice. BTW I was replacing a CA Cd740 which had issues at 3 yes old. Made me wonder about CA quality?

I owned the Cambridge audio 840a and wasn't impressed. It was a good unit just didn't blow you away. The Anthem is also twice the power.

The Anthem 225 will blow you away- tommy89

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