Interesting. Out of curiosity, which Anthem amps have you listened to?
None. I'm not fond of the cost associated with shipping heavy amps to Canada for OEM service, and tend to (possibly wrongly) believe service would be more convenient here.
I have positive experience with the independent (not OEM) Sunfire service team in the US. I presume there are many multiples more Sunfire amps than Anthem, and hence Sunfire service folks more likely to be familiar with issues. I know the Sunfire product well and would predict it is the likely best performing of the bunch. I'm biased, I admit. The Sunfire will cost less in Mains Current and run cooler, on that I would bet serious money, but it's easy enough to check idle and peak current/wattage. Some Sunfire vintage later than the one mentioned have issues, but I owned the vintage mentioned, which is solid except the OEM electrolytic are past average shelf life.
Bob's is among the world's greatest living designers, and most prolific.
I have absolutely nothing against the Anthem and would own one, just not my likely first choice. In fact, I'll edit my post and delete the omission text. The faster I needed the amp the more likely I'd consider a used Anthem. Admittedly, used Sunfire seem to increase in used price because of all the items I listed above. If I never sold my Sunfire ten years ago I could still get the same money for it or slightly less!
Electrolytic shelf life could be as low as 15 years, especially if "dry" (uncharged/unused). Any buyer of any used component this age or older must be financially prepared to replace every such cap no already replaced.
