Anthem STR Review: Still Worth It!

The Anthem STR integrated amplifier was released way back in 2018, those are ancient times now for most people. You might be thinking, why am I reviewing a product that was released in 2018? Well, the Anthem STR is still one of the best integrated amplifiers out there. It is also the only integrated amplifier that Anthem offers, so there has to be something special about it.

Review

The Anthem STR is a class A/B style amplifier. It produces 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 400 watts per channel into 4 ohms, and 550 watts per channel into 2 ohms, which is a good amount of power for almost every speaker system. The Anthem STR also has preamp outputs, that include dual subwoofer outputs that can be configured. You can use one or two subwoofers for both channels, or you can use two independent right and left channel-specific subwoofers, and it also has full bass management. 

You can customize the Anthem STR in some unique ways that other amplifiers do not offer. For example, you can save different settings into profiles, and assign these profiles to individual inputs. Since it can save profiles, you can set up profiles for different speakers or different speaker and subwoofer pairs. The STR can drive most of the speakers in the market, I tested it with the Bowers and Wilkins 801 D4 Signature speakers, and I had an amazing experience. Odds are, you won’t find a bad pairing with the STR. 

Read our full review of the Bowers and Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Speakers.

The Anthem STR has a configurable phono preamp that has two separate inputs, one for Moving Magnet and one for Moving Coil cartridges. These can also be configured better to suit your cartridge through the amplifier’s onscreen menu. It has five analog inputs, four unbalanced and one balanced. Sadly, the Anthem STR doesn’t have wireless connectivity, streaming, or Bluetooth. 

For digital inputs, the Anthem STR has two Optical inputs, two Coaxial inputs, one AES/EBU input, and one USB input. It also has two additional USB inputs that are only used for software updates or to connect the ARC microphone. The built-in DAC supports high res music signals, and DSD, and you also get an Ethernet port. Regardless of the fact that the STR was released six years ago, all of these connections are exactly what audiophiles want these days. 

One of its standout features and the main reason the Anthem STR is still considered good today is its room correction. Anthem Room Correction, or ARC, is one of the best automated calibration platforms, it is also free to use. To use ARC, you must connect the Anthem to your home’s internet connection using Ethernet or USB. After that, you can access ARC on your laptop or PC, or use the ARC app on your phone. Room correction can be used with the ARC microphone or your phone’s microphone. 

If you have used Dirac or Audyssey, then using the ARC app will be easy for you. ARC will guide you through various measurements displaying your speaker’s response, after that, you can adjust your speaker’s curve or just go with what Anthem recommends. The room correction is absolutely worth it, the sound difference before and after correction is surprising, and you won’t regret using ARC. 

The Anthem STR is a very neutral amplifier, especially in the bass and lower midrange. The bass, with or without a subwoofer is heavy, detailed, and focused. As the STR is neutral, it allows your speaker’s natural sound to come through, which is exactly what you want from an amplifier. 

Verdict

The Anthem STR is still a solid amplifier, even though it was released in 2018. There are some better amplifiers, but they have such huge price tags and you get almost everything you want from an amplifier with the Anthem STR. Its room correction is one of the best out there, and it’s free to use. It has so many connectivity options, and although it doesn’t have any wireless connectivity, we can overlook that because of its release date.