Best processor that is excellent for 2 Ch music

For your less than $1,500 target you can pick up a used Cal Audio 2500. Outstanding processor and very good pre-amp functionality. I liked it slightly better than the Classe SSP 75 which is another outstanding unit but not one which would fall into your price range. The downside to the Cal is that they are out of business so repair could be an issue, but the upside is that it will be tough to find better overall performance within the $1,500 budget.

Why has no one mentioned BRYSTON!! Though I don't use this, the sp1 and up uses basically the same pre as the two channel system.

Any thoughts on going with something like the Outlaw 1070 and a decent 2-channel integrated in the $800 range or so (eg Creek 5350se)?

Seems to me a way to get very nice setups for both worlds, but not something I've done before and still don't entirely understand how it gets setup.

Flrnlamb, have you actually heard the Cary multi-channel pre-pros? The newest one, at 6k, it's a serious pice of audio gear (yes, "audio". Several of their earlier pre-pros are available reasonably and are very good sounding.

No, I don't think they sound better than my stand-alone 2 channel tubed preamp (Herron VTSP1a-166, which is fed by a Cary 303/300 into Herron M150 mono amps thence into Alon Vs).

But I'd put the older Cary pre-pros up against any $500-$700 used 2 channel preamp.

For me, the AVR 300 is dandy in a separate system from the main 2 channel rig. But if I had to condense down into one set up I'd be using my next pre (upgrading to the Herron VTSP-2 soon) with HT by-pass.

I agree James. Though, it may be a tough squeeze to get a Bryston for under 1500. The Bryston has the best two channel performance of all the Pre/Pros I have used. Again you're right, it has a completely separate analog preamp two channel section. Designed from the onset to provide outstanding two channel performance.