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In Reply to: RE: Quality multichannel preamp/processor? posted by BobH on July 22, 2016 at 06:22:50
There are so many variables, including price, that you should narrow the search for us.
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Sorry, I just assumed those models would be familiar.
Mostly classical; preference for MCH SACD; $2K unless more is necessary. Willing to pay for quality. I include longevity in the quality term because some manufacturers still build that in I hope. I had old McIntosh which was quality but not sure that is true anymore.
Yes but do you need all the bells and whistles of modern prepros for HT or is this only for music?If the latter, get a multichannel preamp.
Edits: 07/22/16
I want analog in/out MCH for SACD. I THINK that is better than digital but that may be a bias that is not true.
Secondarily, I sometimes watch movies, etc., so video processing is another want and HDMI in/out is fine.
The problem I have found is finding the analog MCH in anything anymore, and when you go the processor route you get a gaggle of digital stuff with even more rarely the analog MCH.
I thought the Marantz would work fine but it is failing (dropping all but one channel) and I (incorrectly?) attribute that to quality compromises to achieve all the digital stuff.
Classe was most of my system and sounded great but reliability was not great. If we have reached the point where one must pay $5-10K for components, I want build quality as well as sound quality. I honestly don't trust brand names anymore (Classe, Bryston, McIntosh).
"Is there an honest man out there."
Sorry for the rant -I'm old.
Your experience with the brands you have listed makes me loath to make any further recommendations with regard to a processor.
But do you really need a processor? I do not know what your sources are but a player like the Oppo 105D can do all the disc playback and channel management for movies as well as music and you can feed the HDMI output of a cable box into it. You can play it directly to your amps or insert an analog control for safety and convenience in the form of a Parasound P5/P7.
Kal, my limited experience may not be representative. I would appreciate any viewpoints on current higher end brands. I seem to be seeing Oppo mentioned often also. Any niche consumer (classical, MCH) has to expect to pay more.
I cannot offer any insight into reliability as my experience involves only single samples and rarely have I experienced any failures, including with brands you cite.
Not $2K even used, but I've been really pleased with my Bryson SP3. A Cary Cinema 12 is likely to be in the $2K region used, and they provide excellent sound, but plan to use a tape measure and SPL meter rather than the flawed automated setup. (The SP3 doesn't offer automated setup, but its speaker management is superb.)
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