Need A great Processor


Have 2 New Parasound Halo amps, 7.1 surround PMC speakers and need a great Processor.How much do I need to spend, and what do you guys recommend? I know we have Anthem Arcam Onkyo Integra Marantz etc. I want it to be able to play music and Home theater.While it would always be nice to not spend 7k, I have heard that there are probs., with the new Onkyo 80.2.Thanks
Pinto72
pinto72
In the mid-highend($5-$10,000) I would pick Classe SSP 800 in first place for a 50/50(music/movies)setup and the Anthem D2v for people who listen to mostly use it for movies(70/30).But since you are using PMC you may want to look for Brystons new SSP but I am not sure when they are releasing it and it will be up there($$$$10,000) without video.I use a Krell HTS 7.1 and a Marantz UD9004 and run video to TV and rca audio to Krell.This way is a much cheaper way of doing things and works great.
Check around for a used Arcam AV-8 or AV-9. The difference is the AV-9 has HDMI switching. Great for both music and movies.
Hi-I got to audition the SSP-800 a couple of weeks back and the sound quality was spectacular.

I am down to a final decision (seperate pre/amp, prono preamp and turntable) or just get my HT rig current (I am using the original NAD M15). If it goes the way of pre/pro there is no doubt that it will be the Classe SSP-800.
I have an Anthem D2v and I like that fact that they are upgradeable to point where a lot of others aren't. But it depends on your budget. Marantz's AV7005 at 1200.00 is quite a bargain, from what I have seen at the dealers showroom. As far as music I am not thrilled with the Anthem, I use a seperate 2 channel pre-amp with unity gain for all 2 channel listening.
Are you going to be using analogue 5.1/7.1 or HDMI DTS Master audio formats? I have a Parasound HCA 2205AT power amp with an Onkyo Pro SC-885 processor. My analogue 5.1 is played through an Oppo BDP-83SE with spectacular results. Soon to be exchanged for the new Oppo BDP 95 model(much , much better). Video is fed through HDMI.