Pure. Purer. Purist.

Love music? Still want to spin those vinyl LPs to hear all the great music you’ve collected? If you listen to music regularly and don’t require the extra channels of a home theater receiver, put the Integrated 225 on your list of “must haves”. It’s an all-in-one Anthem quality two-channel analog solution that offers the performance of high-powered separates, without the associated cost and complexity. The Integrated 225 is an amplifier/preamplifier boasting a high-quality built-in phono stage to accommodate Moving Magnet phono cartridges.

As usual our “keep-it-simple” philosophy lies front and center. The Integrated 225 is sleek, its outlook minimalist. It doesn’t call attention to itself in any overt way yet when it sits in the A/V rack, you can’t help noticing just how good it looks. The inside story is similar: high-quality component parts; critical inputs are buffered to prevent crosstalk; a combination active/passive “EQ” technology in the phono stage unlocks all of the magic hidden in those vinyl grooves … with a transparency, refinement and detail that should be far more expensive, but isn’t.

Extraordinary, Clean,
Solid, Dynamic Power

Built-In Phono Stage

Designed specifically to accommodate today’s high-quality Moving Magnet phono cartridges, the Integrated 225’s built-in phono stage will delight even the most die-hard vinyl enthusiast.

Since the job of the phono stage is to supply most of the gain, two factors are critical in achieving the highest level of playback quality: a superior approach to RIAA equalization and the quality of amplification used to step-up cartridge output to line-level voltage.

The Integrated 225’s phono stage benefits from a split active/passive equalization topology. Active equalization of the low-frequencies occurs at the 50 Hz and 500 Hz roll-off points (as defined by the RIAA equalization curve). At the 2122 Hz mark (also defined by the RIAA curve) however, high-frequency equalization remains passive. The original signal passes through the curve in tact and with perfect linearity; no musical information is lost or distorted and the nuances of the original recording remain completely preserved.

In an effort to keep component parts to a minimum within the signal path, the non-inverting series feedback topology in this stage is designed around only two dual high-quality op-amps. The first provides all of the gain, while isolating the feedback network from the cartridge to ensure accuracy in frequency response. The second is configured as a buffer, isolating the equalization filter network from the volume control to prevent even the tiniest variation in frequency response when the volume level is adjusted.

The final result? Exceptional retrieval of all of the magic hidden in those vinyl grooves … from a silent background emerges tight, accurate bass, lightning fast transients, and a high-frequency detail and extension that will leave the listener aching for more.

The Power Within

The integrated 225’s main power supply boasts an advanced generation toroidal transformer, a major contributor to the low-noise floor. This massive transformer is conservatively rated and designed with high rail voltage. It feeds two oversized (51 mm x 80 mm) low-ESL, low-ESR Nichicon filter capacitors employing a total capacitance of 30,000 microfarads. The main power supply also features ±15 V rails for the preamp audio circuits fed by two precision voltage regulators. An additional precision voltage regulator is used in the standby power supply. The Integrated 225’s main power supply is active during “on” mode while standby power supply remains active in both “on” and “standby” modes.

Input and voltage amplifier stages are a differential design, however the output power stage, the stage most crucial to ultimate playback, benefits from Anthem’s proven output stage topology: a fully symmetrical complementary Class AB design with three pair of high-quality bipolar output devices per channel. Designed to dramatically reduce distortion, this arrangement also ensures extreme linearity, effortless response and extensive bandwidth while minimizing power consumption.

Advanced Load Monitoring (ALM)

All Anthem® amplifiers are designed to perform flawlessly—offering stunning musicality, tonal neutrality and incredible dynamics while driving any speaker load reliably under real-world conditions! The power supply is conservatively rated and the amplifiers run cool for greater reliability, but we didn’t stop there.

MCA Series amplifiers feature our ALM circuitry which protects sensitive output devices by constantly monitoring temperature, current and voltage to ensure optimum long-term performance. ALM is totally non-invasive—it is not in the signal path and only engages in the most extreme circumstances to protect the amplifier from damage by maintaining the safe operating area of the output devices. Buyer beware however! Not all amplifier manufacturers have sophisticated load-monitoring provisions. Many have saved the added cost, leaving their output devices unprotected, choosing instead to use the amplifier’s output devices as “fuses.” At Anthem, ALM is just one of the ways in which our products provide owners with years of reliable service.