Onkyo PR-SC886P - any alternatives on the horizon?

[Blaumann]

Hi guys,
so i am thinking about getting the Onkyo PR-SC886P, as soon as street prices have reached a level i am willing to pay (about 1,000 Euros). I will not go much above that, so alternatives like the Marantz AV8003 probably aren't an option. Right now i have a temporary solution with a htpc and active speakers directly plugged into the analoge outs of the htpc. The setup is working fine, but i can't use other gear like a dedicated BD player this way. So getting a pre-amp is my no.1 priority for next year.

The Onkyo fits my needs almost perfectly:
- I have a setup with fully active speakers, so i don't need any kind of power-amps. Instead i just want a good dedicated pre-amp.
- Main focus will be home-theater and the internal decoding of the lossless codecs.
- Music, A/D conversions and video processing will not be very important.
- The balanced outs are great, my speakers have balanced ins. Perfect match.

Now my question is rather general. Dedicated pre-amps seem to be rather rare in a market dominated by receivers, especially in the relatively lower price regions of the Onkyo. Do you guys think, we'll see more dedicated "budget" HT pre-amps in 2009 or will they stay an "odditiy", reserved for the high-end? Personally i am not aware of any announcements in this area and i also don't think there is a big market for them. Just want to avoid pulling the trigger, only to find out there are a bunch of alternatives coming along just a few weeks later.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Decepticon07]

Have you looked at the 885P? You can pick one up cheap on audiogon from what I have seen.

[Blaumann]

Thanks for the heads-up. Afaik the 885P hasn't been available here in Europe/Germany, they just started offering the 886 here. I would be reluctant to get the 885 because of the colorspace issue and the 4/3 stretching bug.

[Decepticon07]

Oh sorry, I was unaware about the Europe thing.

[Woody]

The only less expensive alternative I have ever heard of is an "upcoming" Emotiva pre.


I would go with the Onkyo piece. I am not sure when/if the Emotiva pre will be available. Also With something as complex as a modern-day pre amp you are bound to have issues with a small company putting all of these goodies into 1 box. Hell, companies like Onkyo/Marantz are still releasing FW updates for their units AND the Marantz has decoding issues of its own.

The point I am making is that if companies like Onkyo and Marantz with their R&D dollars still have permanent and/or correctable issues, you can bet a company without their resources and charging LESS will probably have issues.

I know many love Emotiva amps, I am not talking about those. Amps are a much more "well known" commodity with regards to R&D and complexity.

[Intamin]

I agree with Woody on sticking with the Onkyo, as I, along with many others, share similar restraint towards the emotiva pre that is coming out. The Onkyo is a solid pre/pro, and Emotiva just doesn't really have the track record with processors. If you look at their first gen processor, it took about a year to get everything worked out. I guess if you're willing to wait a while after the Emotiva processor comes out and let the bugs get worked out, you could go that route. If you're wanting something now though, pick up the Onkyo.

[primaz]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

Hi guys,
so i am thinking about getting the Onkyo PR-SC886P, as soon as street prices have reached a level i am willing to pay (about 1,000 Euros). I will not go much above that, so alternatives like the Marantz AV8003 probably aren't an option. Right now i have a temporary solution with a htpc and active speakers directly plugged into the analoge outs of the htpc. The setup is working fine, but i can't use other gear like a dedicated BD player this way. So getting a pre-amp is my no.1 priority for next year.

The Onkyo fits my needs almost perfectly:
- I have a setup with fully active speakers, so i don't need any kind of power-amps. Instead i just want a good dedicated pre-amp.
- Main focus will be home-theater and the internal decoding of the lossless codecs.
- Music, A/D conversions and video processing will not be very important.
- The balanced outs are great, my speakers have balanced ins. Perfect match.

Now my question is rather general. Dedicated pre-amps seem to be rather rare in a market dominated by receivers, especially in the relatively lower price regions of the Onkyo. Do you guys think, we'll see more dedicated "budget" HT pre-amps in 2009 or will they stay an "odditiy", reserved for the high-end? Personally i am not aware of any announcements in this area and i also don't think there is a big market for them. Just want to avoid pulling the trigger, only to find out there are a bunch of alternatives coming along just a few weeks later.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

This one of the great pure surround sound pre amp processors with no power that are in the same league as higher priced units like B & K, Anthem, Sunfire, etc. for only $1300 US which is what 700 Euros?

Check out http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/997.html

Main Features

• HDMI 1.3 with Deep color support

• Lossless Audio: Dolby TruHD; DTS Master Audio

• Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx fully adjustable, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone Layers 1, 2, 3

• DTS-ES Discrete and Matrix, DTS-96/24, DTS NEO-6

• Analog to Digital Video Transcoding

• Silicon Optix Reon scales all video up to 1080P

• XM Radio "Connect and Play" w/ Neural Surround

• Bi-Directional USB/RS-232

• Upgradeable Firmware

• Multi-room/Multi-Source Capable

• Advanced GUI On-Screen Display

• 7.1 Multi-channel Analog Input

• OSD over HDMI

• A/V LipSync Delay per Input (0-200mS)

Audio/Video Features

• Dual TI 32-bit DSP processors

• Quadruple Crossover

• Surround Preout Reassignement (Bi-amp)

• 4 HDMI inputs, 1 Output

• Theater Compensation

• Balanced Audio Outputs


Trinnov Optimizer

• Includes 4 Microphone Capsule Acoustic Probe

• FIR and IIR filters to flatten speaker response

• Loudspeaker (RE)Mapping

• Supports ITU Surround Music and SMTPE Cinema Standards

• Before/After Curves availble to USB output for Analysis

Additional Features

• High performance tuner

• Direct access station tuning via remote control

• 30 Station Presets

• Room 2 A/V Output with fixed/variable audio level, S-Video and coaxial digital

• IR control with 2 inputs and 1 output

• Dedicated Room 2 Remote

• Front Panel A/V and Mike Input

• Video Input Renaming

• Channel Level Memory

• 12-volt Trigger

• Aluminum Front Panel

[Chevypower]

If your speakers have balanced inputs, obviously self-amplified (active)? I had the 885P, but sold it to make way for a BDP-S550, which I will connect straight to my Yamaha MSR-400 active speakers. Only downside is no balanced out on player, but small drawback for major dollar savings. And I will need to use the volume control on the speakers.

[Blaumann]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

If your speakers have balanced inputs, obviously self-amplified (active)? I had the 885P, but sold it to make way for a BDP-S550, which I will connect straight to my Yamaha MSR-400 active speakers. Only downside is no balanced out on player, but small drawback for major dollar savings. And I will need to use the volume control on the speakers.

Hi,
yeah, i have active speakers, Adam Audio A7 studio monitors. Right now they are connected to the analog outs of my htpc. Things is, you are limited to only one source that way, can't hook up my PS3 or other HDMI gear like my HD DVD player. Definitely need a pre-amp at this point, but thanks for the suggestion!

[primaz]

Blaumann,

I think the new Outlaw Audio 997 along with the balanced outputs and the other great features in a non powered surround sound processor is something worth waiting for as it has the new the Trinnov Optimizer technology addresses virtually all of the challenges of creating the perfect home theater and music environment, including both room acoustics AND speaker placement. For example, imagine being able to electronically “raise” your center channel from a position close to the floor so that it is acoustically aligned with left/right speakers located three feet above the center channel speaker. That acoustic adjustment is only possible with Trinnov processing.

http://trinnov.com/optimizer.php

http://ubb.outlawaudio.com/ubb/ultim.../t/000049.html

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

Hi guys,
so i am thinking about getting the Onkyo PR-SC886P, as soon as street prices have reached a level i am willing to pay (about 1,000 Euros).
.....
Now my question is rather general. Dedicated pre-amps seem to be rather rare in a market dominated by receivers, especially in the relatively lower price regions of the Onkyo. Do you guys think, we'll see more dedicated "budget" HT pre-amps in 2009 or will they stay an "odditiy", reserved for the high-end? Personally i am not aware of any announcements in this area and i also don't think there is a big market for them. Just want to avoid pulling the trigger, only to find out there are a bunch of alternatives coming along just a few weeks later.

The other obvious options would be:

Rotel RSP1570
http://www.rotel.com/NA/Products/Pro...74&Tab=1&Pic=1

For those who desire the ultimate performance and maximum flexibility from their home theater, the RSP-1570 is the surround preamp/processor to own. All of Rotel’s renowned audio experience has been poured into this design to provide you with the very best in audio and video reproduction. The RSP-1570 features HDMI 1.3 connections with 1080p / 24 Hertz compliance, a dual 32 bit DSP processor and 24 bit/192kHz digital-to-analog convertors. It supports the new “Deep Color” and xvYCC video options. This superbly designed component is easy to set up and use and is a custom installer’s friend with rear panel bi-directional RS-232 ports, assignable 12-volt triggers and multiple IR connections. The RSP-1570 can also be used as a “whole house” audio system with its additional multiroom audio outputs

Emotiva UMC1
http://emotivalounge.com/
http://www.emotiva.com/

* 4) HDMI inputs and 1) HDMI output.
* 4) each composite and s-video inputs
* 3) component inputs - all will be scaled and set out over HDMI at whatever resolution you want up to 1080p.
* DVI and VGA inputs which will be scaled and piped out the HDMI
* Full color graphical OSD on HDMI
* Auto room correction with User definable EQ's.
* 4) analog audio inputs (not counting the 7.1 analog input),
* 4) coaxial inputs,
* 3) optical inputs and both coax and optical digital audio outputs
* continuous 2 channel mix down of the audio on a fixed output level, as well as variable and independent Zone 2 output and an analog record output.
* Built in AM/FM tuner, trigger output
* IR in and outputs
* iPOD connectivity
* USB for complete flash upgrades (no need to ever send it in for an update),
* Calibration microphone.
* Deep menu structure that allows for assigning the inputs and selecting default modes per input.
* HD formats including DTS-MA.

[Blaumann]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I feel like living in a third world country, Outlaw and Emotiva aren't even available here in Germany! lol

I was indeed looking at the Rotel, its lack of balanced outputs and only one HDMI out pretty soon led me to favor the Onkyo. Which i have ordered now btw, as i don't see many alternatives being available for me here.

[hanser]

NAD has the T175 prepro.

[primaz]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I feel like living in a third world country, Outlaw and Emotiva aren't even available here in Germany! lol

I was indeed looking at the Rotel, its lack of balanced outputs and only one HDMI out pretty soon led me to favor the Onkyo. Which i have ordered now btw, as i don't see many alternatives being available for me here.

bad in your options, just change it back to US voltage lol

http://www.220-electronics.com/Trans...sregulator.htm

[Blaumann]

lol

Yeah, i'm a little bit pissed at the lack of options over here. Importing would be possible. But in case i would need to use the warranty if there is something wrong with the amp, that would be a total nightmare. I'd have to ship it to the US, if the warranty is even valid here. That's just too much risk to save a few dollars now.

On paper the Onkyo will be just right for me, i just hope the real thing will be as well. Would have been nice to do a little shootout before buying, but what are you gonna do....

[Blaumann]

It's here



I'm in heaven.