Processor Recs

A very nice selection of pre/pro's, however with the Meridian DSP 5200's, you can really only use the Meridian processors as they only accept Meridian's digital feed. I might be mistaken as I am not an authority on Meridian speakers, but my brief check of their website shows these as having only digital in's and as such are designed for use in a Meridian digital theater.

Given this fact, and the prior coments as to issues with the Anthem D2 (one I also considered prior to bying my Meridian 861) Arcam is a nice choice, but again won't work with your speakers, the Theta sounds awesome, but you have to use the additional six shooter for MC input, and with HD DVD you will want a 5.1, or better yet if you use it a 7.1 analog in, that or an HDMI, but most pre/pro's haven't got that together yet. My vote would be for the Meridian, the G68 is excellent, for a few grand more (don't know your budget, but it doesn't seem to be low end from your choices) you can get a used 861 v4 and have a future proof pre/pro.

If you plan on using any number of Meridian DSP speakers in a multi-channel system you will need a Meridian processor.

I own an MC-12 and would highly recommend finding a used v2.0 for around $3K, maybe less. It is well built, does HT surround with the best, has one of the few really good synthesized multi-channel music processing, has both 2-channel and 6-channel analog pass-thru, has an excellent video switching section. I haven't compared it to a bunch of other pre/pro's - maybe there is something that edges it out (or "kick's it's ass") - but I think it's a heckuva performer, and now that they go used for this type of price, they're dynamite.

Only downside is that it doesn't do HDMI switching. Personally, I don't care, as there is a lot of funkiness to HDMI right now. It does do component video switching superbly.