P5
3
and drums sounded distinctly different from one another; even at
very high levels, subtle changes in the overall volume and of
individual instruments were discernible as the music built to an
incredible crescendo. Buried deep within the mix were small
details, such as the crystalline sound of cymbals, that were
startlingly clear, even amid the intense drumming and the guttural
growl of an electric guitar.
“… a level of performance far beyond what is
normally available at this price … a spectac-
ular combination for both multichannel and
two-channel sound … one of the very best
multichannel amplifiers currently available …
I am not aware of anyone else who offers this
level of performance in such a massively built
multi-mono design and at this price.”
The P5’s exceedingly clean sound, quiet background, and neutral
character were even more apparent on stereo recordings. Everything
sounded immediate and real on Johnny Cash’s
American IV:
The Man Comes Around
[CD, American 4400770830]. The guitar
on the title track was incredibly tight and defined, and the piano’s
deep bass notes were powerful, seeming to reach down lower
than I had ever heard without sounding boomy or unnatural.
The stark arrangement of “Hurt” was incisive without becoming
overly aggressive; even at the end of this track, where less
capable amps can sound distorted and compressed, the P5 held
everything together with amazing composure. Recordings with
reference-quality sound, such as Diana Krall’s
The Girl in the
Other Room
[SACD, Verve B0002293-36] or Daboa’s
From the
Gekko
[CD, Triple Earth TRECD115], were simply spectacular, with
razor-sharp imaging, dynamics, and all of the other hallmarks of
a true high-end amplifier.
COMPARISON
I have been fortunate to have recently had three outstanding
multichannel amplifiers in my system: the Simaudio Moon
Aurora (five-channel version), the Bel Canto eVo6, and the Anthem
Statement P5. Although each amplifier had, to some extent, its
own “personality,” they were actually more similar than not. As
you might have guessed, the P5 was the most powerful of the
three, and sounded it. Its grip on the bass frequencies and ability
to snap images into focus and lock them in space was uncanny.
The 200Wpc Aurora was not far behind it in terms of grip and
authority, but it sounded ever so slightly darker; and the eVo6,
although rated at only 120Wpc, held its own against these two
more powerful amps with only a minor decrease in subjective
power and control.
Some may prefer the slightly warmer Aurora and the eVo6, while
others might favor the marginally more transparent P5. However,
the differences in sound quality were very minor; each amplifier
produced multichannel audio of the highest order. Where the P5
will distinguish itself from the competition is in its incredibly robust
build quality and its prodigious power output, which should
allow it to drive even relatively inefficient speakers to home-
theater-approved levels. Although many competitors offer
excellent-sounding multichannel amplifiers that are also very
powerful, I am not aware of anyone else who offers this level of
performance in such a massively built multi-mono design and
at this price.
CONCLUSION
Like the amazing D1 processor, the P5 is a superb addition to
Anthem’s line of Statement electronics. Neither product is
inexpensive, but they offer a level of performance far beyond
what is normally available at this price; together, they made a
spectacular combination for both multichannel and two-channel
sound. I lavished a great deal of praise on the D1 in my review,
but the P5 – with its high power output, incredible build quality,
and first-rate sound – is just as deserving. It should be considered
one of the very best multichannel amplifiers currently available.
