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Diminishing Returns In A Hi-End Preamp/Processor?

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I will always have a separate 2-channel preamp in my system, period. That being said, the two-channel performance in a processor for me means absolutely nothing. I have a stand-alone home theater system.

Therefore, all other components in the system being equal, can the home theater sound of a $1500 processor approach the performance of a $7500 processor like the Anthem D2v?

In a $7500 pre/pro, how much of that is 2-channel excellence? I don't want to pay for what I don't use.

If I've got a killer 2-channel preamp, superior 2-channel performance in a pre-pro is redundant and wasteful.

So, my question is, as you go up the pre-pro price chain starting at $1500, does the processing get proportionately better, or is performance of the 2-channel getting markedly better?

mitch
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128x128mitch4t
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mitch4t OP
1,611 posts
 
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More to the point, is there any point to spending more than $1500-$2000 on a pre/pro if all you want to use it for is home theater?
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martykl
3,578 posts
 
None on the audio side IMHO
riley804
1,224 posts
 
is there any point to spending more than $1500-$2000 on a pre/pro if all you want to use it for is home theater?

Dont think you even have to spend that much if its only for HT use.
edorr
714 posts
 
For multi channel sacd music and concert blu ray most definitely yes. For movies I would not bother, but guys with ultra expensive theaters and multiple subs will obviously not settle for a 2k pre/pro.
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dbphd
1,631 posts
 
Marty comments, "If you switch to the "analog direct" option, it's a much harder call, particularly if you're using analog sources. At some auditions, I felt like the difference in A/B was pretty material, at others, much less so."

I've wonder what if any is the contribution of the pre/pro to sound quality when its in bypass mode with analog input. My Oppo BDP-95 sends analog as unbalanced 7.1 or balanced stereo to a Cary Cinema 11a. The Oppo does speaker management and codec processing; the Cary passes that input to the amps.

db
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