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processor that could serve as a good preamp

HI everybody
I wonder after how many years does processor start having troubles, like lost of channel, stop working, etc.

What's your personnal experience: which processor and after how many years did they start giving you trouble, if any?
Or maybe you have your processor since many years and they have been flawlessly since then.

It could give me a guidelide about which used processor to look for.
should I look, or stay away from Classe ssp-60, moon attraction 7.1, krell hts...

I don't really need hdmi, I can still connect my dvd's hdmi to the tv set.
My Oppo dvd player does have an HDMI output, and my tv set too.
Right now, finance does not permit high price processor with HDMI and I don,t want to go back to low end component for the sake of HDMI input-output. I suppose I will eventually, maybe in a few years, buy a blue-ray player. Wharn this happen finance will permit to buy whatever processor I wish, brand new ( no more car payment or mortgage.
Application:
Watching lcd tv ( not a 1080) and dvd,
listening to cd ( sometime) and vinyl.

I don't need a phono preamp, I already have a lehmann phono preamp.
It's ok if there's also a tuner, but I don't really care if it's there or not.

Other components:

simaudio amp
B&K reference 20 preamp (defective, no surround, only stereo. This is the one that would be replace. So it must be an upgrade, not a side step).
Oracle delphi 4 turntable, claraudio cartridge.
oppo dvd player (also used as a cd player).
Martin logan Vantage loudspeaker.

I'm interested in any suggestion that you can provide.
Thank you
Dan
ph0361
audiojan's avatar
audiojan
402 posts
 
I would highly recommend Krell HTS7.1. No HDMI and no high-rez audio, but as it does sound wonderful with legacy formats (DD, DTS, etc.) and will outperform many very high-end preamps

When I combined my stereo and HT (due to space limitations), I bought the Krell to serve both for HT, but most of the time, as a pure preamp. Previously, I connected my Wadia directly to my Krell amp to my Magnepan 1.6's. With the HTS7.1 now in the loop, I have lost nothing in terms of resolution.
upgrade1394
1 posts
 
I actually recommend the HTS2 over the HTS7.1 - always felt the 2-ch preamp mode of HTS2 was far superior. You still get your DD, DTS etc, only thing the HTS2 lacks is 7.1 outputs. Used ones can be had for $1000-1200, whereas the HTS7.1 is around $1500 approx (1300-1700 range).
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
On a lower level $$$ wise, I've had a Sony ES receiver, the 444, which was in the middle of their line up then.... for 9 years. Six months ago I had to have the main decoding chip replaced. $130. Other than that it has had no problems. The tech said this was common with the Sonys after six or seven years that chip tends to go out. Mine went almost nine.

Receivers too, if money is an issue, can be used as processors... I've done that for some time. I use an Onkyo as my main HT proc and the sony runs as a recievers still, in my bedroom system.

Many recent model receivers have very tgood 2ch audio, and are quite inexpensive as used items.

Good luck.
ph0361 OP
12 posts
 
Thanks a lot. For the Krell I had exactly this type of question hts 7.1 or hts 2? You answered them before I had to ask.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,676 posts
 
Other suggestions, which have no video, but excellent audio, analog and digital are the Cary Cinema 11 (not 11a) and the Bryston 1.7 preamp-processors. I have not reviewed the Krell but I can personally vouch for these two.

Kal
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