SOTA processors also bang for the buck

Hi Marty,

You purchased a PR SC5509 in the US?

Last time I spoke with the US distributor, they had no idea about the 5509.

Sorry, my mistake - the post should have read PR-SC5508. I think that continuously staring at computer screens during the +/- 18 months of research I did prior to this purchase have permanently damaged my ability to accurately recall model #s.

Marty

PS I haven't set-up my analog inputs yet,but on digital source material, the results continue to amaze and delight.

Thanks for the responses thusfar. How does the PR-SC5508 compare to the Denon as a preamp SQ wise. I have not had any experience with Onkyo/Integra products in the past but I gather there have been some reliability issues.
Thanks again

I suggest you consult the threads dedicated to these products on AVS forum. Lots of comment/info there.

Kal

I actually listened to both the Denon (with its internal amps - and also as a pre) and the Integra 80.2 (in the end, as an Onkyo stand-in), but couldn't offer a meaningful comparative judgement, because it was different dealers, rooms, systems, etc. I will say that both sounded very good in their respective systems.

I chose the Onkyo/Integra route because balanced XLR connectivity is important to me (I use an ARC VT130SE power amp that only accepts a balanced input). I ended up buying the Onkyo rather than the Integra based on the advice of a (trusted) local service tech who does warranty repairs on both brands. I concluded that he had more experience in direct comparison than I could ever achiveve thru auditioning both of these units at their respective dealers.

Marty