Best processor that is excellent for 2 Ch music

Reckon. Yes, you're right. You can save "1 box" in your setup, by paying another $5k for the Cary piece! I don't doubt that. However, why would you? Why spend 6x's more money for a pre-pro that's VERY LIKELY got sonic compromises on one portion or the other? Even if it didn't, and was the equal of both a proven out-board solid state pre/pro, plus a proven properly tubed 2 channel pre, again, why spend 5-6x more long green, just to save one box on your self space?? Ok, maybe if you like spending as much as possible, and like impressing your friends with price tags. Then, yes, maybe I can concure.
This IS HOWEVER a used audio trading site! How can you rightly recommend to anyone here to go out and spend retail at a chain store on a very expensive piece, who's results can be had much cheaper here?
When in Rome?...do as the Romans do. That's my 2 cents

what about top of the line Pioneer Elite, 70lb monster with very nice power supply, thx ultra 2

Another vote for an Arcam AVR300. I'm loving mine. It sounds great for two channel listening and I'm actually becoming sort of a HT buff now as well because it sounds great for my 5.1 also. Here's a good review on it:
http://www.iar-80.com/page130.html

HTH.

if your DVD player does 5.1 processing, which many do.

In regards to what Sgower mentioned, you can forget that!
Processing from the digital out into an outboard processor is always much better for dd/dts! It's never processing in the DVD player.