The Anthem P2 is a 2-channel stereo power amplifier from Anthem Electronics, designed and engineered at the Paradigm Advanced Research Centre (PARC) in Mississauga, Canada. Positioned within Anthem's P Series amplifier range, the P2 is built to satisfy demanding home cinema and two-channel listening requirements, pairing naturally with Anthem's own AVM series processors and STR preamplifier.
Amplifier Design
The P2 uses a Class A/B topology to deliver 325W per channel into 8 ohms (400W into 4 ohms), providing substantial headroom for driving a wide range of loudspeakers. The balanced differential design minimises noise by rejecting common-mode interference, and the amplifier accepts both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connections. The low-feedback, high-current output stage is engineered for stability into demanding reactive loads.
Build and Construction
The chassis is constructed from heavy-gauge aluminium and steel, with the front panel featuring Anthem's signature brushed aluminium finish. Large custom-wound toroidal transformers supply a dedicated power reservoir per channel, reducing crosstalk and ensuring consistent performance under load. A substantial bank of filter capacitors maintains a stable power supply during dynamic musical passages.
Connectivity and Operation
The P2 provides one pair of balanced XLR inputs and one pair of unbalanced RCA inputs per channel, with a front-panel input selector and volume control bypass for direct integration with a preamplifier or processor. A 12V trigger input allows automated power sequencing in a rack or custom installation system. The soft-start circuit protects connected loudspeakers at switch-on, and a thermal management system modulates internal cooling automatically.
Pairing and Application
The P2 is an effective match for Anthem's AVM 90 and AVM 70 AV processors in a high-performance home cinema system, or alongside the Anthem STR Preamplifier in a dedicated two-channel setup. It is equally suited to driving demanding floorstanding loudspeakers from the Paradigm Persona or Founder Series, where its current delivery and dynamic reserve can be fully exploited.