New pre/pro ideas

[pgblu]

Hi all,

I joined a couple of months ago and have been reading this interesting blog ever since. I have an older set up and started out as an audio only kind of guy (yup, back in the 80's & 90's) and have now changed things over the years to support HT. My current set up is a Parasound AVC-1800 (pre/pro) with an Adcom GFA-555 (L & R front), Adcom GFA-2535 (center and rear). I use a Sony BDP-S300 analog outputs to get True HD & DD Plus (fed into the pre/pro). There are 2 problems with this arangement:
1. no HDMI inputs or HDMI switching
2. no 7.1
I would like to update the pre/pro; however, I don't want to pay for a receiver and not use the amps, as this seems like a waste of money. Also, I don't need the amps; and, most amps that come in receivers are no where near as good as a dedicated amplifier.
The challenge I have is that the pre/pros are either a) super expensive or b) receivers with pre-amp out...
Any ideas on a reasonable upgrade? Say, $1500 - $2000? Less would be fine, too.

BTW, if it helps, the rest of my HT: Vandersteen 2C's (front L & R), Vandersteen VSM-1's (rear), Vandersteen VCC-2 (center), Vandersteen V2W (sub), Sony KDL-52XBR2, SOTA Sapphire (turntable, irrelevant to this discussion...).

[coolmilo]

For your budget, I recommend the Intega DTC-9.9. I have the 9.8 and I am very happy with this pre. I have Audyessy Po enabled and I am able to get a fantastic calibration in my room.

[Clark Kent]

I think many are going to recommend this unit for you:

http://www.gspr.com/integra/dhc99.html

A Cary pre/pro just came out, the Cinema 11a, for those more inclined for the boutique audiophile brands.

[Intamin]

I'd go with the Integra 9.8 or 9.9 or the Marantz AV 8003. A new Marantz is 2300, but you should be able to find a demo or used one in your price range.

[ShyBoy]

I am in the same situation as you and am looking for a new pre/pro. However, I am considering a receiver as a possibility such as the Pioneer SC-05 as one of my choices. But I am holding out until I see the new unit from Emotiva, the UMC-1. From what I have seen, it does have a lot of features and the target cost is around $1,000. It is supposed to be in production right now and a number of members have pre-ordered it.

[pgblu]

Hello again,

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. It always seems the higher end manufacturers are slower to embrace these changes. Then when they do, they are too expensive.

Do any of these suggestions allow firmware upgrades? If not, I would think I'll be in the same position within a year or so, as new technologies evolve...

Thanks again.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by pgblu

Hello again,

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. It always seems the higher end manufacturers are slower to embrace these changes. Then when they do, they are too expensive.

Do any of these suggestions allow firmware upgrades? If not, I would think I'll be in the same position within a year or so, as new technologies evolve...

Thanks again.

All of them should allow firmware updates since bugs are often found or minor tweaks are made.

[primaz]

Here is the perfect solution this is a non powered surround sound 7.1 preamp that is comming in early 09'. They make and sell direct so they can provide quality that rivals Anthem, Sunfire, B & K and other non powered surround set ups at a fraction of the price. It is supposed to sell for around $1300! I own a B & K which is a lot more expensive and plan on getting an Outlaw Audio processor next upgrade.

[pgblu]

Hi primaz,

Thanks for the heads up. I was reading about this very pre pro yesterday online, right before I watched the Ravens win...

The price is right; I will do some more research on the company, as I don't know much about them. I'm going to look online to see if any of their products have been reviewed or tested, too.

Thanks again!

[elaine1015]

The price is right; I will do some more research on the company

[primaz]

Originally Posted by pgblu

Hi primaz,

Thanks for the heads up. I was reading about this very pre pro yesterday online, right before I watched the Ravens win...

The price is right; I will do some more research on the company, as I don't know much about them. I'm going to look online to see if any of their products have been reviewed or tested, too.

Thanks again!

I own their 12" LFM 1EX sub and am so impressed with the sound and quality; not to mention the price! I've also used all of their cables for my system. They have a great reputation and the reviews have been consistently impressive especially with their processors which is what seemed to put them on the map. I have a B & K processor now and while I really like it, think my next processor will be the 997 which I heard is expected next month. I am very eager to read the first reviews.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by Intamin

All of them should allow firmware updates since bugs are often found or minor tweaks are made.

I am not familiar with the pre/pro scene yet, but I am curious how you would apply firmware upgrades to them. Do they have a network connection or USB drive, etc. or am I missing something entirely?

[SPH]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

I am not familiar with the pre/pro scene yet, but I am curious how you would apply firmware upgrades to them. Do they have a network connection or USB drive, etc. or am I missing something entirely?

I do not own any pre/pro stuff but, the preamp looks just like a regular avr. I notice on one in this very thread a network pluc. The pre amp would be the only thing needing a firmware upgrade.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

I am not familiar with the pre/pro scene yet, but I am curious how you would apply firmware upgrades to them. Do they have a network connection or USB drive, etc. or am I missing something entirely?

It all depends really. Some require you to take it into your dealer, and your dealer will send it back to the manufacturer with the new firmware. Others can be done through a network connection.

[Opips2]

I'm interesting about preamp/processor

I wait to see review about Outlaw Audio New 997 has HD audio TrueHD Dolby and DTS HD Master! I'm wait it'd update firware done on pre/pro New 997.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by Intamin

It all depends really. Some require you to take it into your dealer, and your dealer will send it back to the manufacturer with the new firmware. Others can be done through a network connection.

I tried to read a little about the pre/pro arena, but at this point I am not sure if I am even looking in the right direction. Is it the pro part that has firmware to upgrade? I am thinking, noobie here, that the pro simply means processor and is the part running the codecs to convert all those compliant 1s and 0s to an analog waveform of the proper power level to feed into the pre-amp. The pre-amp merely boosts the signal to line level for feeding into the amplifier stages. So the pro part is only used for the digital connections, fiber, coax and HDMI.

That would seem to imply the ultimate pro would be a computer with a really good audio board. Somewhere along the line this seems over simplified. I would consider it a big pain to have to take my pre/pro back to the dealer for shipment to the factory, that can't be cheap. Not that I am likely to be buying separates any time soon but I will keep it in mind to check how the firmware is upgraded. Thanks for the info Intamin.

[red_5ive]

I also cast my vote for the Integra DTC 9.8. If you're ready to spend the cash now and want a tried & true hdmi 1.3 pre-pro, this is a solid unit and is in your price range at $1699. Here's a review from hometheaterhi.com. Otherwise the upcoming Outlaw (997) and Emotiva (UMC-1 or XMC-1) offerings should put a good sized dent in the price/performance category and would be worth waiting for IMO. I'll be going with the UMC-1 myself whenever it comes out.

[pgblu]

Hi all,

Last week I went to Circuit City and found a Sony BDP-S550 for $100. Needless to say, I scooped it up and have connected the analog out to my Parasound AVC-1800 (pre-pro). This solves the problem of not having the latest audio codecs (my main reason for the upgrade), as well as the ability to have 7.1 in the future. Currently, I am satisfied with the status quo and will not be upgrading my pre-pro. That upgrade will wait untill I'm ready to also by another 2 channel amp for the additional 2 channels (~$1000), as well as having spousal approval for putting 2 more speakers (another pair of Vandersteen VSM's ~$1000) in our family room. At this point, I'm not convinced that is worth all the extra $ just to get 7.1

Thanks again for all the ideas and recommendations!

As a side note (JMHO), to those of you posting about having seperates or not, that change was by far the largest improvement I ever made in my system, other than going from my Polk 5B bookshelf speakers to my Vandersteen 2C's (and then V2W sub, etc.). Receivers (regardless of price) will never compete with high quality seperates. The amplifiers in them are usually the sacrifice made, due to physical limitations. As an example, the capacitors in my Adcom 555 are the size of Coke cans... No matter how hard I drive my Vandersteens (not an efficient speaker at all), the 555 doesn't even get warm to the touch. The integrated amp (Harmon Kardon) I had before I bought the Adcom got so hot trying to push the Steens it would probably have fried an egg on it if I had wanted to.

Spend your money on excellent speakers and seperates (again JMHO). Every non-audiophile friend I bring into my HT room who says they can't hear the difference between a HTIB to a high end system, leaves convinced there is a huge difference! They may not (probably will not) go out and buy all new high quality seperates; however, all want to come to my house for newly released BD's and important sports games.

Thanks again and rock on on your quest for HT!

Paul
JMHO = Just My Humble Opinion