M1
State-of-the-Art Monaural Amplifier
The highest sound quality at all volume levels, flat frequency response into any load, and stable into the most difficult loads. The Statement M1 is a state-of-the-art monaural amplifier delivering 1,000 watts into 8 ohms and 2,000 watts into 4 ohms or less with THD remaining under 0.1% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Designed and engineered in our advanced research center in Ottawa, Canada, the M1 is manufactured in our Toronto facility.
More than just a slim, technologically advanced monaural design, the M1 demonstrates that Class D architecture isn't fundamentally flawed, it simply hasn't been implemented well in the past, mainly because it required such a heavy commitment to R&D. We’re fortunate to have the in-house resources to create such a groundbreaking product and one listen will reveal the truly extraordinary nature of this amplifier.
Best Value in the Market
The M1 enjoys all of the attributes of our award-winning Statement Class AB amplifiers but through exclusive Anthem technologies, goes far beyond the current capabilities of Class A, Class AB and prior Class D amplifiers in the market.
The proprietary design employs all of the advantages of a Class D amplifier — high output, high efficiency, compact size — while avoiding the typical Class D limitations such as difficulty driving low-impedance (high-end) speakers, power line contamination, reliability issues and substandard audio quality. The absence of accurate dynamics is so common that it frequently goes unnoticed, but through the M1, music and movies are delivered with breathtaking realism.
Addressing the Class D bias
The “D” in Class D does not stand for digital. It was simply the fourth type of amp recognized and classified by the IEEE. The first was Class A, the second Class B, the third Class C, etc.
Contrary to the bias that exists among high-end enthusiasts and across the industry in general, the Class D design is not inherently flawed. The truth is that no existing designs have been able to reach the Class D's inherent potential for performance. It is not the technology that yields fine audio performance but rather the implementation of the technology. At Anthem, we agree that most Class D amplifiers are poor performers. However the M1 uses Class D amplification of a different ilk (see later section on Class D for a full discussion).
Slim Size, Beefy Power!
Never judge an amp by its size or its rack space
Amplifiers are often judged by their size and weight, the beefier the better since more power requires a physically heavier, larger amplifier. Or does it? It all depends on the design. When rack-mounted, the 20-kb M1 occupies only one rack space but despite its size can deliver 1,000W into 8 ohms and 2,000W into 4 ohms.
Why doesn’t the M1’s power cord have a third prong?
Although more difficult and expensive to implement, Anthem has always used 2-prong AC cords to make installation easier.
A 3-prong cord is prone to ground loops if the system includes other 3-prong equipment or cable/satellite TV. For example: If the preamplifier uses three prongs it is grounded not only through its power cord but also through any non-optical connections to other 3-prong components. This can result in humming or buzzing through the speakers as well as video noise problems. The more elaborate the system, the greater the chance of a ground loop. With 3-prong equipment, balanced XLR interconnection is needed throughout and that type of interconnection is not always possible.
With a 2-prong cord, safety is maintained through either double or reinforced insulation. The next time you see a corded power tool, look for the double-square symbol. It requires more expensive wires on the live side and greater distance between live circuits and isolated circuits and chassis. The distance requirement also applies to spacing inside transformers, making them larger and more expensive. A 2-prong cord also requires a larger line filter because according to safety standards the line-chassis leakage current limit is ten times lower compared to 3-prong. Ironically, a higher leakage current allowance aggravates hum problems in 3-prong systems.
To clear up any final misconceptions, the earth ground provided by the third prong is not meant as a shield, it is a safety measure meant to trip breakers should a chassis become live as a result of coming into contact with a live wire.
Proprietary Load Monitoring
The M1 has a very sophisticated load monitoring system. Two 100A Hall-Effect sensors monitor the output current. A Digital Signal Processor, outside the signal path, is used for power sequencing and to monitor various amplifier and power supply functions including line voltage, output current, ground fault detection, temperature and DC voltage at the output.
The M1’s output stage does not interact with the load. A hysteric PID controller which uses past, present and a predicted future to make adjustments keeps the amp load independent. Hundreds of computer simulations were used to test and optimize this system so that it is able to handle all possible loads. This is a significant design achievement. Whether you are running the M1 from a 120V circuit or a 240V circuit, the amplifier will be delivering the highest output possible according to the operating conditions.
