ANTHEM MCA 525 Generation 2 Amplifier Instruction Manual

: June 6, 2024
: ANTHEM

ANTHEM

ANTHEM MCA 525 Generation 2 Amplifier

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL

THE LIGHTNING FLASH WITH ARROWHEAD SYMBOL WITHIN AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE IS INTENDED TO ALERT THE USER TO THE PRESENCE OF UNINSULATED “DANGEROUS VOLTAGE” WITHIN THE PRODUCT’S ENCLOSURE THAT MAY BE OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE TO CONSTITUTE A RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK TO PERSONS.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE, AND OBJECTS FILLED WITH LIQUIDS, SUCH AS VASES, SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THIS APPARATUS.
CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS:

Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including ampliﬁers) that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. When the provided plug does not ﬁt into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use the attachments/accessories speciﬁed by the manufacturer.
Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table speciﬁed by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus.
When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualiﬁed service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

CAUTION: FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST RISK OF FIRE, REPLACE THE FUSE ONLY WITH THE SAME AMPERAGE AND VOLTAGE TYPE. REFER REPLACEMENT TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: UNIT MAY BECOME HOT. ALWAYS PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION TO ALLOW FOR COOLING. DO NOT PLACE NEAR A HEAT SOURCE, OR IN SPACES THAT CAN RESTRICT VENTILATION.

WARNING:
To reduce the risk of ﬁre or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. Avoid installing this unit where foreign objects may fall onto this unit and/or this unit may be exposed to liquid dripping or splashing. On the top of this unit, do not place:

Burning objects (i.e. candles), as they may cause ﬁre, damage to this unit, and/or personal injury.
Containers with liquid in them, as they may fall and liquid may cause electrical shock to the user and/or damage to this unit.

Apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects ﬁlled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
Do not install this equipment in a conﬁned space such as a case or similar. Install it away from direct sunlight, heat sources, vibration, dust, moisture, and/or cold.
Do not cover this unit with a newspaper, tablecloth, curtain, etc. in order not to obstruct heat radiation. If the temperature inside this unit rises, it may cause ﬁre, damage to this unit, and/or personal injury.
Install this unit near the AC outlet and where the AC power plug can be reached easily.
This unit is not disconnected from the AC power source when it is turned oﬀ. This state is called the standby mode. In this state, this unit is designed to consume a very small quantity of power.

NOTE: This product is not an auto voltage Ampliﬁer. Connect only to the prescribed AC outlet, i.e., 120V 60Hz or 240V 50/60Hz.
CAUTION: Top surface can become hot.
CAUTION: These servicing instructions are for use by qualiﬁed service personnel only. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating instructions, unless you are qualiﬁed to do so.
CAUTION: Changes or modiﬁcations to this equipment not expressly approved by Paradigm Electronics for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

FCC WARNING:
Changes or modiﬁcations not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment oﬀ and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and ampliﬁer.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit diﬀerent from that to which the ampliﬁer is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio / TV technician for help.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR UK CUSTOMERS:
DO NOT cut oﬀ the mains plug from this equipment. If the plug ﬁtted is not suitable for the power points in your home or the cable is too short to reach a power point, then obtain an appropriate safety approved extension lead or consult your dealer. If, nonetheless, the mains plug is cut oﬀ, REMOVE THE FUSE and dispose of the PLUG immediately, to avoid possible shock hazard by inadvertent connection to the mains supply. If this product is not provided with a mains plug, or one has to be ﬁtted, then follow the instructions given below:

IMPORTANT: DO NOT make any connection to the larger terminal which is marked with the letter “E” or by the safety earth symbol or colored GREEN or GREEN AND YELLOW.

The wires in the mains lead on this product are colored in accordance with the following code:

BLUE – NEUTRAL
BROWN – LIVE

As these colors may not correspond with the colored markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

The BLUE wire must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter “N” or colored BLACK.
The BROWN wire must be connected to the terminal marked with the letter “L” or colored RED.

When replacing the fuse, only a correctly rated and approved type should be used, and be sure to re-ﬁt the fuse cover. If in doubt consult a competent electrician.

NOTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:
At the end of its useful life, this product must not be disposed of with regular household waste but must be returned to a collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The symbol on the product, user’s manual and packaging, point this out. The materials can be reused in accordance with their markings. Through re-use, recycling of raw materials or other forms of recycling of old products, you are making an important contribution to the protection of our environment. Your local administrative oﬃce can advise you of the responsible waste disposal point.

RECYCLING AND REUSE GUIDELINES (Europe):
In accordance with the European Union WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive eﬀective August 13, 2005, we would like to notify you that this product may contain regulated materials which, upon disposal, require special reuse and recycling processing. For this reason Paradigm Electronics Inc. (the manufacturer of Paradigm speakers and Anthem electronic products) has arranged with its distributors in European Union member nations to collect and recycle this product at no cost to you. To ﬁnd your local distributor please contact the dealer from whom you purchased this product or go to our website at www.paradigm.com.
Please note that only the product falls under the WEEE directive. When disposing of packaging and other shipping material we encourage you to recycle through the normal channels.

INFORMATION ABOUT COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE BATTERIES (DIRECTIVE 2006/66/EC
OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN UNION)
(for European customers only)
Batteries bearing any of these symbols indicate that they should be treated as “separate collection” and not as municipal waste. It is encouraged that necessary measures are implemented to maximize the separate collection of waste batteries and to minimize the disposal of batteries as mixed municipal waste. End-users are exhorted not to dispose waste batteries as unsorted municipal waste. In order to achieve a high level of recycling waste batteries, discard waste batteries separately and properly through an accessible collection point in your vicinity. For more information about collection and recycling of waste batteries, please contact your local municipality, your waste disposal service or the point of sale where you purchased the items.
By ensuring compliance and conformance to proper disposal of waste batteries, potential hazardous eﬀects on human health is prevented and the negative impact of batteries and waste batteries on the environment is minimized, thus contributing to the protection, preservation and quality improvement of the environment
Anthem and any related party assume no liability for the user’s failure to comply with any requirements.

INTRODUCTION

BEFORE MAKING CONNECTIONS

Check that you have received all items listed below and report discrepancies to your dealer as soon as possible. In case the unit needs to be transported in the future, keep the packing materials. Retain the invoice that you received from your authorized Anthem dealer at time of purchase – without it, service will not be provided under warranty.
Packing List

Ampliﬁer
Power cord

Safety Instructions:

Read all safety precautions and instructions at the beginning of this manual.
Do not connect power if there are any signs of damage to any part of the exterior.
The front panel power button does not disconnect the product from the AC line. Ensure that the power cord remains readily accessible at all times.
To connect power, only use the supplied double-insulated power cord.
Allow adequate ventilation to ensure reliable operation and to prevent overheating. The amount of space required above the unit for radiation depends on ambient air temperature and circulation. Installation inside a cabinet with a front that can be closed is not recommended unless a fan is also installed to adequately draw air away from the top of the unit.
Failing to comply with any safety instruction, precaution, or warning in this manual is in violation of the intended use of the product.
Anthem and any related party assume no liability for the user’s failure to comply with requirements.

IN-USE NOTICES

Disconnect the power cord before connecting or disconnecting any components.
If the ampliﬁer was transported or stored in the cold, let it reach room temperature before use.
Do not remove the top cover.
Do not modify the product.
Due to continuing advances, operational characteristics may change.

RACK-MOUNTING

An optional rack-mount kit is available to custom installers.

CONNECTIONS AND OPERATION

INPUT CONNECTIONS

Balanced XLR connection oﬀers the highest transmission quality, particularly over long cable lengths, because it rejects noise and hum pickup. If your preampliﬁer does not have XLR outputs, use the RCA outputs.
Do not use “RCA-compatible” connectors that have a hollow center pin with a hole at its tip. They can damage the ampliﬁer’s RCA jack internally while being inserted.

SPEAKER CONNECTIONS

Depending on the level of the input signal, the voltage at the outputs can be high enough to cause electric shock – be sure that power is turned oﬀ when connecting or disconnecting anything. As well, be sure that the speakers are rated for use with this ampliﬁer – an overdriven speaker can pose a ﬁre hazard.
Connect the red (+) connection on the speaker to the red (+) binding post on the ampliﬁer, and the black (–) connection on the speaker to the black (–) binding post on the ampliﬁer using cable that is insulated to handle the maximum output of the ampliﬁer. Do not overtighten the binding posts as this may cause damage. The binding post pair accepts a connection from one speaker.

ON MODES

With the three-way switch located on the rear panel, you can set the way the ampliﬁer is turned on and oﬀ. To use Trigger-On, connect a standard 3.5mm (1/8”) mono mini plug cable between the ampliﬁer and the preampliﬁer or control component. Once all other connections are made, connect the power cord to the ampliﬁer and then the wall outlet.

Manual-On:
When in this position, the ampliﬁer is turned on/oﬀ via the power button on the front panel.
Trigger-On:
This feature allows the ampliﬁer to be turned on or oﬀ remotely via the trigger. The 3.5mm (1/8”) mini-jack IN receives power (5-24 volts DC) from an upstream component or system controller. The same trigger signal can be linked to trigger inputs on other units through the OUT jack. Trigger

Auto-On:
This feature also eliminates the need to manually operate the power button. Auto-On turns the ampliﬁer on when it senses an input signal, and switches oﬀ approximately 20 minutes after input signal stops.

FRONT PANEL

MCA 525 GEN 2 model shown. MCA 225 GEN 2, MCA 325 GEN 2 models are similar. Front Panel

Power Button LED:
This is blue when the ampliﬁer is operating normally. It also indicates abnormal operation according to the codes below. In most cases only the abnormal channel is shut down so the others can keep playing, and it resumes playing automatically once normal conditions are restored.
Rapid ﬂashing (less than 1 second) – short-circuited channel. Inspect the speaker cables and connectors and make sure they do not touch other wires or ampliﬁer chassis or any piece of metal.
Slow ﬂashing (more than 1 second) – thermal protection. Allow ampliﬁer to cool and ensure that ventilation is adequate. In an over-temperature condition the temperature must drop before output resumes. This could take several minutes depending on ambient temperature.
Red LED – total shutdown. This can be caused by a ground fault or DC protection. Verify whether the cause is in the ampliﬁer by disconnecting all inputs and the power cord. Reconnect the power cord only and turn on the amp. If the LED is still red, contact your dealer or Anthem Technical Support. For the MCA 525 GEN 2, the LED will also be red if either fuse on the rear panel is open.

REAR PANEL

120V models shown. 240V models are similar. Rear Panel Rear Panel
2

Trigger input and output
On-mode Switch (trigger / manual / auto)
RCA inputs
XLR inputs
Binding posts
Power cord inlet (IEC C18 type)
Fuses
Chassis ground screw

MEASURED PERFORMANCE

POWER OUTPUT

Continuous 20 Hz to 20 kHz, <1% THD (all models)

Load	Watts
8 ohms	225 W
4 ohms	400 W
2 ohms	600 W

THD at 100 W
at 1 kHz 0.0010%
at 20 kHz 0.015%

IMD at 100 W
ITU-R (19 kHz + 20 kHz) 0.0005%
SMPTE (60 Hz + 7 kHz) 0.002%

IMD at 100 W 120 dB

Frequency Response, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
open circuit ± 0.1 dB
8 Ω ± 0.1 dB
4 Ω ± 0.1 dB
2 Ω ± 0.2 dB

Power Bandwidth, -3 dB at 200 W into 8 ohms 90 kHz
Slew Rate 30 V/μs
Damping Factor, 20 Hz to 1 kHz 300
Channel Separation, 100 Hz to 10 kHz

65 dB

Input Impedance
RCA 10 kΩ
XLR 15 kΩ

Input Sensitivity, 225 W into 8 Ω 1.5 Vrms
Voltage Gain 29 dB

POWER REQUIREMENT

standby	idle	typical	high output
MCA 525 GEN 2	2.0 W	80 W	550 W
MCA 325 GEN 2	1.4 W	47 W	350 W
MCA 225 GEN 2	1.0 W	35 W	240 W

This product operates from a single phase AC power source that supplies 108V- 132V at a frequency of 60 Hz for the 120V version and 198V-264V at a frequency of 50/60 Hz for the 220V-240V version.

DIMENSIONS

Height 6-5/8” (16.9 cm)
Rackmounted Height 4U
Width 17-1/4” (43.8 cm)
Depth 18-1/8” (46 cm)

Weight (unpacked)
MCA 525 GEN 2 61 lb (27.5 kg)
MCA 325 GEN 2 43 lb (19.5 kg)
MCA 225 GEN 2 40 lb (18.0 kg)

LIMITED WARRANTY

CANADA & USA
The warranty period on new Anthem products is:
5 years: Separate power ampliﬁers and integrated ampliﬁers
3 years: Audio/Video preampliﬁers and receivers
Please register your product at www.anthemAV.com
The warranty period begins on the date of purchase from Anthem or an Authorized Anthem Dealer. This warranty is oﬀered only to the original owner and is not transferable. Demonstration and display units are covered by the same warranty except that the period commences on the date of dealer invoice, not the purchaser’s invoice, and cosmetic ﬂaws are excluded.

If Anthem determines that the product has a defect in materials or manufacturing during the warranty period Anthem will at its option repair, replace or provide the necessary replacement parts without charging for parts or labor. Repaired or replaced equipment or parts supplied under this warranty are covered by the unexpired portion of the warranty.

Warranty is void if the serial number has been removed, altered or defaced, if the product has been operated, installed or handled other than in accordance with the intended application, tampered with, modiﬁed, or damaged by accident, while in transport or by failure of electric power, or has been repaired by a non-authorized party. Anthem shall have no obligation to correct any defect that is not reproducible by Anthem. If inspection by Anthem discloses that the repair required is not covered by this warranty, regular repair charges shall apply.

If a problem is discovered in your Anthem product, please contact the Authorized Anthem Dealer from whom you purchased the product. Your dealer will help to determine the cause of the problem and arrange for the appropriate action. Alternatively, follow the procedure below for factory service. A Return Authorization (RA) number must be obtained from Anthem Technical Support before a product can be shipped to Anthem for any reason. Product shipped to Anthem without its RA Number clearly visible on the outside of the shipping carton will be refused and returned to the sender, freight collect. Product shipped to Anthem must have shipping and insurance prepaid by the sender, be packaged in the original carton and packing material and accompanied by a written description of the defect. Service will not be given under warranty without an accompanying copy of the sales invoice. Product repaired under warranty will be returned with shipping and insurance prepaid by Anthem (within Canada and continental USA only).

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Under no circumstances shall Anthem, its agents, representatives or employees assume liability or responsibility for injury or damages sustained in the use or operation of Anthem products or for damages to connected products. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations of incidental or consequential damages so this exclusion may not apply to you.

Anthem reserves the right to make design changes without obligation to revise prior versions. All speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice. This warranty shall be the sole and exclusive remedy to you. No other warranty or condition, statutory or otherwise, expressed or implied, shall be imposed upon Anthem nor shall any representation made by any person, including a representative or agent of Anthem, be eﬀective to extend the warranty coverage provided herein.
On the expiration of the warranty all liability of Anthem in connection with the product shall terminate.

INTERNATIONAL
Terms and conditions are set and maintained by the Authorized Anthem Distributor, not Anthem.