Good Processor

If stereo is very important, going with an AVP can be very limiting in terms of viable options as you well know. And it may also be more expensive relative to using a quality stereo pre for the front L/R speakers and a decent AVP for surround processing and channels. Then again if surround processing and quality of those signals are just as important as stereo (or you're space constrained) I guess it could be worth the additional expense and limited choices for a good AVP. Just in case you hadn't considered the possibility of using a stereo pre in your setup. Best of luck.

I am totally pleased with my NAD T175HD pre/pro for HT, multichannel music, and 2-channel music. It really does do all three very well, IMO.

Bill

I use the Onkyo PR-SC5509 ( same as Integra 80.3) with Audessey pro ( we sell this) with Pass labs X250.5 ( other channels Primare Poweramp) and the results are stunning. It is extreemly holographic. I owned the Meridian 800DAXV4 and sold Meridian as well. The problem is that old technique is bettered by new technique. Meridian can play 3d, but it is not his strongest property. Integra has depth like the better highend has. Marantz, Denon, NAD, Cambridge are all 2 dimensional products. This means that there is almost no depth image. 2 dimensional audio I call STANDARD AUDIO. Integra uses new 32 bit burr brown dacs. And the video section is 12 bit and very nice. I would never go for old technique. Surround without professional roomcorrection is always asking for problems and acoustic flaws. With Audessey pro yo become a very balanced sound. A few years ago I owned the Pass XA100.5 and XP20. Now I have a better focussed image. in recordings voices are better separated than with the XP-20. I never heard surround this good.

I tested many hdmi cables with eachother. Audioquest Diamond is by far the best I ever heard. With a source in stereo it is even stunning. These days high quality cables are more important than ever. Depth will increase a lot wenn you use a processor what can give this like the Integra does. Difference between Audessey XT32 and Audessey Pro is huge. Dynamics are superior, focus is a lot sharper. I play 4 metres behind the speakers, more than 1 metre beside the speakers. And many recordings some instruments play even in front of the speaker. Audessey pro gives you also the tightest and best ballanced sound for your subwoofer. Without you never get this level. These days you even can use a very fast subwoofer to 120hz. This makes voices and instruments better focussed, even in stereo.

My only issue is that I am using some very revealing speakers, Merlin VSM which I intend to keep, and fear lesser quality electronics will stick out. From reviews I have read comparing cary, integra, lexicon even the older higher end units sound better than newer mass processors. HD codecs can output from bluray so that's not an issue. Video will go directly to projector so I don't necessarily need video processing. Considered cary 11a until read the negative reviews on avs forums. So lexicon 12? What series? Older theta Casablanca? Bryston? Budget ~2000 used. Thx.