Anthem MRX 1140 8K – 11.2-Channel AV Receiver

The Anthem MRX 1140 8K is an 11.2-channel AV receiver that combines eleven built-in power amps, a 15.2-channel preamp, and ARC Genesis room correction in a single chassis. It's the flagship of the MRX series – built for home theaters where ceiling channels are a given, not an afterthought.

Why the MRX 1140 8K?

The channel count is the real reason. Eleven amplified channels means a complete 7.2.4 Atmos layout with four genuine height channels from a single unit, with no extra power amp and no argument about rack space. Anthem deliberately splits the power unevenly – channels 1 through 5 run in Class AB at 140 watts into 8 ohms and carry front, center, and therefore the main load, while channels 6 through 11 deliver 60 watts in Class D for surround and ceiling. Eleven equal numbers would have looked prettier in a brochure; in the room, what matters is where the watts sit. Add amp matrixing on top: up to ten freely assignable channels, for example for bi-amping the front speakers or for Zone 2.

What you'll hear

ARC Genesis is what you'll notice fastest. Anthem's room correction measures your room, smooths out the bass range, and sorts out the handovers between speakers; you can save four profiles, for example separate ones for movies and music. The biggest audible jump in a home theater rarely comes from new speakers – it comes from a room that's finally under control. Add Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced, two independently adjustable subwoofer outputs, and an HDMI 2.1 platform that passes through 8K/60 Hz and 4K/120 Hz – VRR and ALLM included for the console.

Who is the MRX 1140 8K for?

Straight talk: the MRX 1140 8K pays off if you're really running ten or eleven speakers – or concretely plan to. If you're staying at 5.1 and will keep staying there, you're buying six channels of reserve that will never see a signal; then the MRX 740 or 540 is the more honest choice. If, on the other hand, you're after uncompromising power for demanding floorstanders, a separate processor plus multichannel power amp gets you there more confidently – at the cost of more boxes and more space. And if you want to hook up a turntable: there's no phono input, but there are five analog stereo inputs and a suitable phono preamp ahead of them.

Our verdict

The MRX 1140 8K is the tidy path to a big home theater: eleven channels, clean 8K pass-through, the best room correction Anthem has to offer – and one chassis instead of three. We're happy to plan with you which speaker configuration suits your room: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, +41 44 680 22 00, WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls) or shop@hdzuerisee.ch.

Here's what the trade press says: "Anthem's new MRX-1140 is a mighty machine capable of creating a massive soundstage with huge dynamic swings." – StereoNET, Anthem MRX-1140 review, October 2021 (Applause Award).

Technical specifications

• Type: AV receiver, 11 amplified channels, 15.2 preamp channels
• Power channels 1–5: 140 W into 8 ohms, 170 W into 6 ohms (Class AB)
• Power channels 6–11: 60 W into 8 ohms, 75 W into 6 ohms (Class D)
• Channel assignment: amp matrixing, up to 10 freely assignable channels
• Room correction: Anthem Room Correction (ARC) Genesis, 4 storable profiles
• Decoding: Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio, IMAX Enhanced (no Auro-3D)
• Converters: 32-bit / 768 kHz
• Preamp outputs: 15.2 channels RCA, including 2 independent subwoofer outputs
• Analog inputs: 5 × stereo RCA
• Phono input: not available
• HDMI: 2.1 / HDCP 2.3 – 7 inputs, 2 main outputs (eARC on HDMI 1), 1 Zone 2 output
• Video: 8K/60 Hz, 4K/120 Hz, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, VRR, ALLM, QFT
• Streaming: Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth
• Zone 2: yes, with its own HDMI output
• Control: Anthem Web User Interface, IP (Control4, Crestron, Savant, RTI, URC, ELAN), RS-232, 12V trigger, IR
• Power supply: toroidal transformer
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 43.2 × 15.2 × 36.4 cm (height without feet)
• Weight: 15.2 kg
• Included: receiver, remote control, 2 × Wi-Fi antenna, ARC kit (USB measurement microphone, mic clip, telescopic stand with boom, USB cable), power cable, documentation

Frequently asked questions

How much power does the Anthem MRX 1140 8K deliver per channel?

Channels 1 through 5 deliver 140 watts each into 8 ohms, channels 6 through 11 deliver 60 watts each. Into 6 ohms that's 170 and 75 watts respectively. Anthem splits it deliberately: front and center get the powerful Class AB stages, surround and height get the more efficient Class D stages.

Is eleven channels enough for a 7.2.4 home theater?

Yes, you run a full 7.2.4 straight out of the receiver. Eleven power amps and two independently adjustable subwoofer outputs cover the layout completely, with no extra amp needed. The preamp even processes 15.2 channels – if you expand to more channels later, you add an external power amp via the RCA preamp outputs.

Can I connect a turntable directly?

Not directly – the MRX 1140 8K has no phono input. You need a phono preamp between the turntable and one of the five analog stereo RCA inputs. After that, vinyl runs completely normally, including room correction and zones. We're happy to sort out which phono preamp suits your cartridge in a quick phone call.

What's the difference between the MRX 1140 8K and the MRX 740?

The number of amplified channels: seven on the 740, eleven on the 1140. For 5.2.4 or 7.2.4 with genuine ceiling speakers, you need an extra power amp with the 740, but not with the 1140. The preamp section, ARC Genesis, and the 8K HDMI platform are identical on both models.

Why buy the Anthem MRX 1140 8K at HD Zürisee?

Because an eleven-channel cinema deserves planning, not just a box. We work out the speaker configuration with you, calibrate cleanly with ARC Genesis, and integrate the system into your room. As an authorized Anthem dealer in Wädenswil, we stay reachable with our own technician even after installation.

Goes well with this

Eleven channels want to be fed – left empty, they sound surprisingly unspectacular. Find the right speakers for the Atmos field, more building blocks for your home theater, power amps for expanding beyond eleven channels, plus cables in the right length – or dive straight into the whole Anthem world.