About to Pull the Trigger

Very nice! Familiar with a Musical Fidelity A5.5/PM1 combo, excellent. Sure the Anthem will be equally good. The Anthem 225 is probably a better value.

The Anthem is a good amplifier, but it is not as good-sounding as the Exposure or Musical Fidelity M3i amplifiers in that price range. I would recommend that you get a better amplifier to drive speakers of such high quality. The Creek 5350 is another amplifier that is better than the Anthem.

I have the Musical Fidelity M3i in one of my systems, and it is a wonderful-sounding amplifier that puts out 80-100 watts per channel, and will drive low-impedance speakers well as well as others. It certainly has all the power required for the PM1 speakers.

I would recommend that you check it out.

Interesting, need to take a look at the MFM3i someday. Had an MF A5, sold it and replaced it with an Exposure 2010S2. Driving Harbeth Compact 7s and the Exposure is a far better performer for my ears. Rega is another favorite for budget integrates but think the Exposure outdoes it. MFs, while usually delivering plenty of power, sound a bit sterile to me. Maybe the M3i will change my perception.

The Anthem 225 is an excellent integrated and should match up well w/the B&W PM1's. The 225 wpc is more than enough power to get the most out of those speakers. Plus your getting a headphone jack, balanced and unbalaced inputs an HDMI input for SACD. Also something you normally don't see too often, a built in phono stage. Gives you lots of options for your setup. Enjoy the music.

Musical Fidelity, Creek, Exposure, and Naim all have very good integrated amplifiers in the $1000-2000 price range that are far superior to the Anthem. The Anthem is simply outclassed in this price range; it wouldn't make my top 5 if I was making a shopping list. The Simaudio is almost certainly better than the Anthem, but that isn't saying much (especially for $4000).

Another possibility that might be better than any of the above would be the Vincent SP-331 power amplifier ($1300), and the SA-31 preamp ($650). The Absolute Sound named the SP-331 Amplifier of the Year in 2010. I don't think I would have to think twice about that combo being my top choice at $2000.

One thing to be aware of is the ultra-low sensitivity of the PM1 speakers; only 84 db/watt. That means they require 4 times as much power for a given volume as a speaker with a 90 db/watt sensitivity.

If those are the speakers you want, be sure you are getting an amplifier that is around 100 watts per channel minimum. The Vincent will deliver 300 watts per channel, so it will drive them very well.

Another option in your price range is the NAD 375 BEE. This integrated has enough power to run a pair of Quads. Won't win any beauty contest but it'll get the most out of those 804's.