What processor?

Depends on your video needs. The Cary will pass the video to your display just fine. However, for non-BluRay materials, i.e., DVD, TV, etc, many people prefer to have a video processor to enhance/optimize video performance. If you are one of these, you would have to add a video processor to the Cary 11a or, alternatively, buy a pre/pro that incorporates video processing, like the Onkyo/Integra.

Kal

Blazer -

I am sure that the Cary is a fine unit. But there is no comparison in functionality to the Integra. Essentially the only reason to buy the Cary is because you value sound quality above a carefully integrated tool for creating a home theater experience.

Here is my personal hierarchy of HT needs

It must be SOTA so it must support HDMI 1.3 (ideally 1.3b) The current Cary does some form of 1.3 - an older Cary may not as this is a new (2007-8) standard.

The first function of a pre/pro is to serve as the central signal switcher so that you are switching audio and video together in the digital domain.

In this regard, the Cary is also a bit limited. It has two (2) HDMI inputs which I consider to be a significant limitation since any source you buy going forward will most likely be HDMI. The Cary has one HDMI output which may or may not be workable in your situation.

Next you need to make sure that the pre/pro can decode all the newest audio formats which the Cary certainly can.

I agree with Kr4 - given the current state of technology, the video processing is not that important because on the whole there is nothing the pre/pro can do that an HDMI source and HDMI/HD monitor can't do.

BUT The video processing becomes much more important if you have legacy sources like laser disc, VHS and it being Malaysia (dunno) 480 television sources. Then the ability to uprez (scale) in the processor becomes important.

The Cary has zero capabilities in this regard - it is audio only. This also means that you are giving up the option to adjust the video output (if you choose or need to) to optimize the picture on your big Mits.

Finally, given the his and hers collection of gear you two are starting with (and the attendant questions about hyow resolving it really is), I have to ask if a slight improvement in audio is the best way to spend your money to upgrade your HT experience.

Well I was considering the Halcro SSP220 which came highly recommended from the guy I bought the Halcro MC50. However it doesnt decode the latest codec internally and I need to get a bluray player that decode it internally. I wonder whether its wise and whether it make any difference whether the latest codec is decode by the processor or the bluray. Thks the feedback thus far

It makes no difference if decoded in the player or the processor.

Kal

Kal is correct - theoretically the decoding should be identical wherever it takes place.

BUT - and this was huge for me - by decoding at the pre/pro you only need one (1) HDMI cable from the BD to the pre. And that cable carries both 7.1 audio and 1080p video

If you decode 7.1 at the BD you then need 10 cables, three component video and 7 audio. Now you are stuck with all the traditional painful choices about how good those cables have to be to preserve that pristine sound you just decoded...

A lot of people could easily spend more on the ten cables then the pre/pro. To say nothing of the mess if you have more then one multichannel source.

To me the elegance of HDMI cabling is a big part of the equation...