Anthem MRX SLM AV Receiver: A Video Review

A while back I asked a simple question: Where the heck are the small AV receivers?

Introduction

Anthem heard the call and responded in kind. This is the Anthem MRX SLM, and it is just what I asked for. A small, streamlined AV receiver that is purposely designed to fit into small spaces.

But they took it a few steps further. They made it almost comically small. Small enough that you can mount this unit to the back of your TV and completely hide it from view. They have a dedicated mount for exactly this purpose. It can be mounted on its side or into a recess in your wall. Pretty much wherever you choose. And because of this, it’s a custom installer’s dream, and it’s perfect for those who detest looking at audio gear.

It has everything that you need to enjoy surround sound:

* It’s got connections for a full 5.1 surround setup
* Subwoofer output
* HDMI input and output
* 3.5 mm Analog input
* Optical input
* It’s wireless
* Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Bluetooth Spotify Connect
* Ethernet connection
* IR Extender
* Anthem Logic, Dolby Surround, DTS Neural:X, Stereo, All Channel Stereo, Mono, All Channel, Mono

So, I hooked it all up and gave it a bit of a run-through to see how it worked.

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Anthem MRX SLM AV Receiver Specifications

Frequency Response:

20 Hz – 20 kHz +/- 0.2 dB, channels 1-5

THD+N (1W output, 20-20 kHz BW):

< 0.005%, channels 1-5

S/N Ratio (1 W output, IEC-A filter):

93 dB, channels 1-5

Speaker Impedance:

4 Ohms or higher

Amplifier Channels:

Power Rating:

50 Watts per channel continuous power into 8 ohms

Amp Matrixing:

Yes

Amp Matrixing Channels:

Subwoofer Outputs:

Anthem Room Correction:

Yes

Speaker Profile Memories:

Crossover Settings:

40-200 Hz + Off (10 Hz increment)

Optical Inputs:

Stereo Analog Inputs:

Analog Sampling Rate:

24-bit / 48 kHz

HDMI Inputs:

HDMI Version:

2.0b with eARC support

HDCP:

2.3

Compatible with Dolby Vision:

Yes

4:4:4 Chroma Subsampling @ 4K60 (18.2 Gbps):

Yes

High Dynamic Range:

Yes

BT.2020 Color:

Yes

Deep Color:

Yes

Consumer Electronic Control (CEC):

Yes

Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC):

Yes

Audio Return Channel (ARC):

Yes

Standby Pass-Through:

Yes

Formats:

Anthem Logic, Dolby Surround, DTS Neural:X, Stereo, All Channel Stereo, Mono, All Channel, Mono

IP Control:

Yes

IR Input:

Yes

DIMENSIONS:

1.5” H x 11” W x 11” D

WEIGHT:

6.6 lbs. / 3.0 kg

MSRP:

$1299.99 USD

Website:

https://www.anthemav.com/index.php

Company:

Anthem

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Anthem, MRX slm, avr, receiver, home theater, custom install