New Pre - Pro Sherbourne pt-7020c4

I don't know the new unit but did own a PT-7010A surround processor and 7/2100A 7-channel amp from them a few years ago and can tell you that all things remaining equal, the recommendation from your friend is a good one. Sherbourn has always built extremely good performance for the dollar with rock solid quality that performs extremely well. They offer as many or more of the same features found on much higher priced HT equipment. Their support of formats, both input and output, their customer service, etc...were all first rate when I had their equipment. The 7020c4 offers all the most desirable input and output formats from what I can see together with a known and very performant video scaling and switching section capable of 'Deep Color' HD and virtually everything you could want at a reasonable price. They also offer full 192kbps compliance at a much lower price than alot of their competition.

On balance, I did find better "high-end" audio output quality for pure 2-channel playback and better post-processing options (THX-related) for home theater in a Classe SSP-600 and subsequently SSP-800 however my needs were Home Theater plus 2-channel audio and I also made changes in my amplification after 2 happy years with the Sherbourn equipment so my switching out over time was based upon other factors and came to a much higher price tag.

Thanks for the detailed response.

I am also looking for high level 2 channel performance. Do you think the PT-7020c4 would offer that? I am currently using a Pioneer VSX 92 receiver as my pre-pro and I feel the 2 channel suffers. That is one of the main reasons I am looking to upgrade.

Would I be better off buying something higher end but used?
Do the processors become antiquated quickly?

Again thanks for the info.

Yes, processors do become antiquated relatively quickly in relation to the other equipment. Amplifier technology tends to hold fairly steady as does speaker technology too. Receivers and processors tend to take the largest technology shift hit.

I'd second a newer model for the same reason. I've also become a big believer in automatic room EQ and those systems seem to keep improving. I use an Onkyo with Audyssey pro 32XT (it's strictly a 2.2 channel system for music only). I'm not sure if the Sherbourn offers this (it looks like manual EQ only), so that's one think I'd certainly think thru before pulling the trigger on that unit.

Marty

Agreed with Internetmin with the minor exception that today's processors would be a safer bet than some of the older ones in terms of what standards they support and are worth having moving forward. I cannot speak to the 2-channel quality of the 7020c4 however with my 7010A I can tell you the 2-channel was not adequate to my needs which led me to the Classe units (much better than anything I'd heard in balanced bypass (XLR) however ultimately I found myself buying a separate 2-channel preamp and using it (HT bypass) for the front 2 channels in my HT and as a standalone pre for 2-ch listening.