2. amps-preamps
  3. 152039-136581

Recommend a Pre/Pro for $250?

I need a preamp/processor that can accept SACD DSD over HDMI, with the best audio performance I can get for $250.  I might be able to go to $300 including shipping.  Obviously I'm looking in the used market.  I'm running a 2.2 channel setup, and I don't anticipate ever needing more than 5.2, so older gear could make the cut.  Current system is in my profile.  I plan to upgrade my DVD player to a universal BluRay player. I want better analog audio out than the affordable universal BD players can provide, so I'm going to treat the player as a transport, and invest in a quality pre/pro.  One with a nice phono section would be preferred.
Anybody care to point me in the right direction?
128x128sccaracerx
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,689 posts
 
Get a used Oppo BD player and use it as both transport and preamp.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Yup, the best you are going to do at your budget is getting an older Oppo BDP-93 bluray player.  It's not the best solution, but it's the only one that's going to be in your price range.

There are very limited HT pre/pro's that will do DSD over HDMI and they are all going to be in the $1500+ level.  The Emotiva XMC-1 is one that I can think of.

Really, if you wanted something better, then go with a more expensive Oppo 95 ($500+) or an Oppo 105 ($800+).  The "05" models have a much better audio stage.
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sccaracerx's avatar
sccaracerx OP
4 posts
 
I didn’t realize DSD was so uncommon. I guess I will not get that in my budget. What flavor of HDMI will I be looking for, then? The Oppo BDP-95 is a great player, but I just don’t have the budget for it.  I figure I'll get more bang for the buck if I focus on buying good DSP + D/A hardware which will excel with the two sources I use most, Roku and music discs.  This would allow me to eliminate the analog bass management I use now.  The Outlaw ICBM sounds great, but wouldn't digital bass management be an improvement, since I could remove the ICBM from the signal path?  It's hard for me to predict, because I've been strictly analog so far.
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