Can a Classe SSP replace a dedicated stereo pre?

Thanks for the replies!

I have a Krell Showcase HT processor. My Luxman Cl38U SE two channel tube preamp sonically completely beats the Krell for music.

I believe the Sigma was deemed better than the Krell for 2 channel performance, so I’m hopeful. Though I think your Luxman is obviously a superior preamp, I don’t think my budget is near that level of performance.

I have a Classe’ Sigma SSP preamp. For a surround sound processor it is outdated. Not good. In 2 channel, setting’s in XLR Digital Bypass it will hold its own against preamps much more expensive.

I only care about SQ, not really much about getting the latest. I can’t get more than 5 speakers, don’t care about Atmos, and have only one 4k HDR source that feeds into the TV first. I plan to split HDMI and feed audio into the SSP, so I don’t need the latest codecs etc.

I have a sabaj d5 DAC, not sure if it’ll outperform the DAC in the Sigma?

The Dac in the SSP is very good? Hard to say which will perform better. Only way to tell is in XLR BYPASS, run your D5. Then take it out of bypass and listen to the SSP. It has a very good Burr Brown Chip.

I have the Classe Sigma SSP Mkii and am really happy with it. I am primarily 2 channel but have a 5.1 system for music concerts and movies. I don’t want anything more than 5.1, but it can handle 7.1. The DAC is excellent, but I have recently been using Lumin T2 streamer and connecting it via XLR and setting the Classe in digital bypass mode. The Sigma acts as a great analog preamp.

I have a great stereo system and great separate home theater system, also a large screen TV with high end sound bar in the bedroom. Obviously a separate system is preferred (a TV in the middle is usually acoustically bad)... I would personally add a really inexpensive surround system to the TV and keep separate if possible. For HT I am so distracted by the video, and the 3D sound effect so much an improvement over none that SQ is not nearly as important in that setting. However, you may have to for various reasons.

It has been a long time since I assembled my HT. It is composed of top of the line Meridian surround processor, 5 matching B&W 805s, 2 B&W 800 subwoofers, and a massive Rotel amp. It sounds great. If you are going to combine them, make sure the processor is as high end as possible and has a bipass. You don’t want your sign going through any digital processing. Good luck to you.

Thanks bwguy, I think I have the same plan and it's good to hear the Sigma is doing well for you.

ghdprentice, I live alone in a small 1 room house, and cannot justify keeping 2 separate systems :) Your theater setup looks great! I am trying to do exactly that, get the best sounding processor I can afford (Hence the Classe), that has analog passthrough.