MCA-5

About the MCA-5

The Anthem MCA-5 is a five-channel power amplifier aimed at the home theater market, delivering 170 watts per channel into 8 ohms. It features a simple brushed aluminum front plate with power indication LED and offers both RCA unbalanced and balanced XLR inputs for each channel. The amplifier is built with two large toroidal transformers (0.55 kVA each) and substantial capacitance (40,000 µF for front channels and 60,000 µF for center and rear channels), providing strong power reserves. Each channel uses 8 Toshiba bipolar output transistors, contributing to low distortion and high reliability. The amplifier includes a toggle for auto-power on, trigger, or manual operation. It is noted for low inherent background noise (rated at S/N -122 dB at full power) and solid construction, making it a remarkable value for its price point.