@maguiar
So, unless your center, surrounds, and atmos (if you go that way) are hard to drive - the easiest solution is probably a really nice integrated amp, and a surround receiver to do your surround processing, and drive everything but your 2 channel.
An integrated with a built-in DAC could even simplify streaming.
I have a Marantz 8802 processor, but it does require outside amps to drive my center and rears. (I’m only running 5.1). I currently have a Mark Levinson 585 driving my 2 channel. (I also have pass labs separates I am selling as the 585 is really good). I’ll be using the built-in DAC to take my streamer signal and that makes things even easier.
That said, if I did it over today I would probably just do a higher end receiver and a nice integrated to simplify further. The nicer 2 channel integrated amps have really surprised me with how good they sound for 2 channel.
That said, if the budget is 22k... you have all sorts of options. My biggest question is actually - how much space, shelves, etc do you have and want to use.
The larger companies have one huge advantage I've found and that is in the HDMI switching/pass through market, along with having the latest surround chips. Their stuff works. The higher end stuff DOES sound a bit better particularly for 2 channel (if your SSP is going to do 2 channel), but lord knows they almost all seem to have HDMI switching issues/lag/boards going out, or are a bit behind on the surround processing. Surround formats and HDMI etc change so quickly it's hard to have a solution that is cost effective if you want to have the latest and greatest.
But... how many "boxes" do you want and how much space?
So, unless your center, surrounds, and atmos (if you go that way) are hard to drive - the easiest solution is probably a really nice integrated amp, and a surround receiver to do your surround processing, and drive everything but your 2 channel.
An integrated with a built-in DAC could even simplify streaming.
I have a Marantz 8802 processor, but it does require outside amps to drive my center and rears. (I’m only running 5.1). I currently have a Mark Levinson 585 driving my 2 channel. (I also have pass labs separates I am selling as the 585 is really good). I’ll be using the built-in DAC to take my streamer signal and that makes things even easier.
That said, if I did it over today I would probably just do a higher end receiver and a nice integrated to simplify further. The nicer 2 channel integrated amps have really surprised me with how good they sound for 2 channel.
That said, if the budget is 22k... you have all sorts of options. My biggest question is actually - how much space, shelves, etc do you have and want to use.
The larger companies have one huge advantage I've found and that is in the HDMI switching/pass through market, along with having the latest surround chips. Their stuff works. The higher end stuff DOES sound a bit better particularly for 2 channel (if your SSP is going to do 2 channel), but lord knows they almost all seem to have HDMI switching issues/lag/boards going out, or are a bit behind on the surround processing. Surround formats and HDMI etc change so quickly it's hard to have a solution that is cost effective if you want to have the latest and greatest.
But... how many "boxes" do you want and how much space?