Anthem MRX Receivers - 300, 500, 700 Owners Thread & Tweaking Guide - Page 151

Originally Posted by romavictor

Yes the 225 could go higher but I keep at 12 o'clock because it's easier to place it there for accuracy sake. The integrated's volume knob has just a tiny dot that tells you where it is.

Maybe I should get the MCA 50 and sell the integrated? Does anyone know how the two compare for 2 channel audio? That's my only concern.

Originally Posted by romavictor

Will the 700 power the 804s with ease and grace?

Originally Posted by Tigger!


If you plan to keep this complex setup, I think it is time to buy your self a "silver paint pen" and add a dot somewhere up around 90%. The fact that you are cutting the level of the input by close to 50% is a big issue here.

But why not simply get rid of the external amp and see if the 700 can handle your speakers at the volume you plan to listen? Many people on here planned on using an external amp, usually with the 300 or 500, and have opted just to go with the MRX because they found there was no need for the external amp!

As Eric-t stated... not knowing how loud you play, one can never say for sure (do you like to make your neighbors deaf?). However considering that you are currently setting your Integrated 225 at 50% volume, the difference between what the 700 supplies naturally and what you are effectively getting out of your Integrated 225 by setting the volume at 50% are probably not that different! If you can simplify your setup, I think you will be a lot happier! One volume control, much easier ARC configuration to understand and troubleshoot, no additional concerns about things like the Tone Control settings on the Intetrated 225 messing with what you are trying to accomplish.

(I do hope when you are using your Integrated 225 with the MRX, including when you ran ARC, that the "Tone Defeat" switch was on... otherwise you could be creating all sorts of issues that ARC is trying to correct).

Originally Posted by tigger!

but why not simply get rid of the external amp and see if the 700 can handle your speakers at the volume you plan to listen? many people on here planned on using an external amp, usually with the 300 or 500, and have opted just to go with the mrx because they found there was no need for the external amp!

Originally Posted by romavictor

Yes tone defeat was on. I turn it off only when listening to music. And during music, the volume is set at 9 o'clock max due to the balanced inputs from the cd player.
I'm really happy with my 2 channel audio setup, I'm trying my best not to compromise the sound but only to make it better.

Originally Posted by Tigger!

The Integrate 225 needs to take that signal and try to pass it on to the amps at the same level it received it, and this is going to occure up closer to max on the volume nob.

Originally Posted by romavictor

Will the 700 power the 804s with ease and grace?

Originally Posted by gostan

As a former 803D owner, I would assume that there should be no issue with 2 channel or 5.1 setups. What is the size of your room? I know that the MRX700 powers my Genesis Advanced Technology 6.1F's with no problems, and my room is about 16x20 with 18' vaulted ceilings. The Genesis speakers have a similar efficiency to my former B&W's. I would try it out. You can always add a 2 channel amp, if you do not like the SQ. Get the integrated out of the loop!

Originally Posted by Tigger!


I'd give the MRX a try, you just might like it better for two channel as well!

But short of that... time to buy the silver paint pen and put a new dot on the Integrated 225 for a higher volume level to use when you are using it as the AMP for the MRX. The current volume setting you have is not helping things.

Simply put, you are halving the volume of the signal the MRX is sending the amps in the Integrated 225 and the MRX is struggling to try an compensate for that.

Lets say that the MRX wants to send a volume level of "10" to the speakers. You than send that Volume level to the Integrated 225 and cut it in half. So a volume level of "5" is what makes it to the speakers... You than run ARC, and ARC says, wow, those speakers are really quite, so it adds a whole lot of gain to the signal it sends (which at some point will start to distort and have all sorts of other issues). The MRX boost the signal up really high, just so that your Integrated 225 can cut it down.

The Integrate 225 needs to take that signal and try to pass it on to the amps at the same level it received it, and this is going to occure up closer to max on the volume nob.

Originally Posted by FilmMixer


+1000%

Originally Posted by romavictor

The 700 runs hot a it is....don't wanna push it.

Originally Posted by romavictor

So I should set it at 3 o'clock???

Does the silver pen glow in the dark? That would be awesome so I could see the damn thing at night and not have to squint :-)

Originally Posted by romavictor

I'm positive the 700 will power the 804's but it would be like driving a toyota @ 120mph vs a Porsche at the same speed.

The integrated has plenty of reserve and simply sounds oh so Sweeeeeeeettttttt and is barely warm to the touch after playing for hours.

Presently with the 700 only driving the center and surrounds, it gets hot. I wouldn't want to push it any further.

If I decide to get rid of the integrated, it has to be replaced with an equal or better amp.

Amazon has the MCA 50 for $1699 brand new!!! :-))

Originally Posted by jayray


The 700 may be hot but perhaps it's in a bad spot. There aren't many reports of overheating MRXs so this doesn't sound normal. Anthem has tested the 500 and 700 driving Paradigm S8s at high volume for lengthy periods without difficulty. Beta testers have reported driving speakers below 8 ohms, some of which at stressed levels would increase their resistance to slightly below 4 ohms. Now it is hard to imagine you taxing the 700. Now while we all like to spend on our hobby, why spend it on something you may not need instead of on something you may. The reviews back up what we're saying.
John

Originally Posted by romavictor

You're probably right, the 700 is in a component cabinet that's open in the back but the sides and top have about 2-4 inches clearance. Although the cabinets have ventilation holes in them...

Originally Posted by Tigger!


Romavictor,

It sounds like your mind is made up... it will either be the Integrated 225 or some other amp that is part of your solution. That is your choice.

As far as the paint pen goes... visit a paint store or art supply store... they have lots of things that will help you put a mark where ever you determin is the "optimum" volume positition to get the Integrated 225 playing where it should. Heck, they even have glow in the dark solutions .

Your current config is stressing the MRX ability to correct things for you. Why fill a swimming pool with a fire hose that is restricted by a garden hose attached to the end of it? Yes the Integrated 225 maybe more like a 6 inch pipe when compared to the MRX, but the way you currently have it configured to work with the MRX is like a garden hose.

As for where to set the volume nob... I hesitate to give a specific "O'Clock" position, as I don't own an Integrated 225 (I'm just reading your manual). And you may need to play a little. But I would start by turning the nob all the way counter clockwise (as low as you can make it) then all the way clockwise (as loud as you can make it) and turn it back about 10% from all the way up (90% clockwise).

Then Run ARC. Once you are done, if the level set for the fronts is outside of -2 to +2, then adjust the volume nob again.

A) Go up another 5% (95% of all the way clockwise) if the level that was set is Greater than +2.
B) Go down 5% (85% of the way around clockwise) if the level is Less than -2.

Once ARC has set your fronts level somewhere between -2 and +2, put a mark on the volume control nob or Integrated 225 or both so you can quickly set it there again when you want to use the MRX. Obviously, you may need to go higher than 95% or lower than 85% or find somewhere in between to hit your ideal location.

Again this is with your sub at what you previously described as "9 O'clock" or perhaps even a hair lower than that. If you leave the sub at "11 O'clock" and try to adjust things, you will be fighting the sub with all of your level trims! And make sure the "Tone Defeat" button is on!

Looking at your past measurments, I would expect once you get the subs volume and the Integrated 225s volume in the correct places, none of your speakers are going to have level adjusments of less/greater than -3 to +3 most likely.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by eric-t


And doors on the front?

Originally Posted by romavictor

That's great!!! I will try ARC'ing again with the 225 volume set at 3 clock and sub set at 9 clock. My only fear is the sub will be non-existent like it did previously.

Question: how is the MRX being stressed by IT setting a high trim level?? Isn't it just sending a high gain to the 225 to do it's thing? isn't that less taxing than powering the speakers itself?

Originally Posted by eric-t


Stressed to the point it can't correct any further. Since +12db is the max it will correct boosting it's hard to say it needs more. It's also sending alot of gain to your 225 which Tigger or jayray can word better then me This is why it's better to raise your 225 volume up so the gain will be lower from the MRX. It's too extreme from the MRX and too little out of the 225.

Originally Posted by romavictor


The 700 runs hot a it is....don't wanna push it.

Originally Posted by FilmMixer


The heat is mainly from the video processor...