Anthem MRX 1140 AV Receiver

The MRX 1140 sits at the top of Anthem’s MRX receiver range, above the MRX 740 and MRX 540, offering 11 channels of built-in amplification alongside full 15.2-channel processing. Designed and engineered in Canada, it combines Class AB power for the five main channels with Class D amplification for the remaining six — delivering 140 watts per channel into 8 ohms on the mains and 60 watts on the surrounds, all at Anthem’s characteristically conservative continuous power rating.

Amplification & Processing

The hybrid amplifier topology is central to the MRX 1140’s design. The five main channels (front left, centre, front right, and the two primary surrounds) use Class AB stages fed by a substantial toroidal transformer, while the six remaining channels employ Class D amplification. This approach allows the receiver to drive all 11 channels simultaneously without the bulk or heat output of a purely Class AB design. Unused amplifier channels can be reassigned to bi-amp demanding front speakers, power additional surround or height channels, or drive a second listening zone.

Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by 32-bit/768 kHz DACs, and the receiver decodes Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS:X Pro, and IMAX Enhanced soundtracks. With 15.2 channels of pre-amplifier outputs, the MRX 1140 can feed external power amplifiers for configurations up to 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos layouts and beyond.

ARC Genesis Room Correction

Anthem’s proprietary ARC Genesis room correction is one of the MRX 1140’s key differentiators. Rather than applying aggressive equalisation that can alter a speaker’s inherent character, ARC Genesis measures the room’s acoustic response and corrects for frequency response anomalies, phase alignment, and bass management. The included calibration microphone has been redesigned for improved measurement accuracy. Four acoustic profiles can be stored and recalled — useful for different seating positions, content types, or room configurations. The system runs via dedicated software on a Mac or PC, with results transferred to the receiver.

Connectivity

The rear panel carries seven HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz pass-through with HDCP 2.3, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR10+, ALLM, and VRR. Three HDMI outputs are provided, with eARC on the primary output and a dedicated Zone 2 HDMI output. Legacy connections include four RCA line-level inputs, a phono (MM) input, three optical digital inputs, one optical output, and two coaxial digital inputs. A 6.3 mm headphone output is fitted to the front panel. All 15.2 pre-amplifier outputs are available on RCA, with RS-232 and IP control for integration with Savant, Control4, RTI, URC, Crestron, and ELAN automation systems.

Streaming & Wireless

Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity support Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast (Audio), Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth v4.2. The Anthem Web User Interface provides browser-based control from any device on the local network, and the Anthem Remote app offers Wi-Fi control of volume, input selection, and listening mode adjustments.

What the Press Says

• “A mighty machine capable of creating a massive soundstage with huge dynamic swings.” — StereoNET, Applause Award (October 2021)