Looking for a pre/processor

On paper, there are many choices. What's your budget?

Kal

$2k used, maybe twenty five hundred at push. Forgot to mention that the amp is an ATI 6012

If all you want is a two channel system with USB and several analog ins, you could simply upgrade to the Benchmark HDR which has a solid preamp built in and would cover you for all your inputs, is two channel and you already like the DAC sound.

Tough. The Marantz AV7005 (and supposedly the AV8003) might do.

Do you have any need for analog inputs in the pre? If you do, the stakes really go up and I would be hard-pressed to recommend much in that price range that also had HDMI in/outs.

Kal

The problem is that a HDMI capable Pre/Pro which has the same caliber DAC as the benchmark and Bel canto pre cannot be had for $2500.

You currently own say $2K worth of 2 channel DAC / Preamp in two boxes, and you want to buy a single box that does the same on 8 channels, and has a bunch of other features (some of which you won't be using), for the same money. The implication is you will be taking a hit in sound quality.

You could consider these alternatives: keep the DAC and preamp, buy a used integra 9.8 for $1000 for HDMI and MCH duties, and run the Integra through the Bel Canto preamp in bypass mode. More boxes instead of less, but better end result.

Get a used Krel 7.1 for 1,500 (which has no HDMI). The analog Pre and DAC in the Krel is probably competitive with what you have now. You would have to run MCH Blu Ray over the analog inputs in the Krel.

Something has to give.