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Are there really any high end pre/processors at a

I am playing with HT and have been into 2 channel for many years. I finally find a 5 channel amp that I can stand listening to but I am back to what has stopped me from setting up 5 channel; the crappy sounding processors.

I have tried several older processor (Lexicon MC12, Cary Cinema 11, Parasound P2 ECT) via analogue out to my Cambridge 751 and although interesting certainly not close to a really good preamp. I did try a newer Onkyo and I will leave the model number out because it was the worst sounding but I did get to try direct HDMI connection with that unit.

To clarify I do use very high end signal cables when going analogue so it is not the cabling. My HDMI cables are also very high end so again not the problem. I am using about $40K worth of very good speakers so let's eliminate them. For me it comes back to the processor. I really do not want to spend huge money on a processor because next week it will be worth nothing with technology so one thought was the Marantz 7005 but I am real open to any suggestions.
liveaudio
erikt
268 posts
 
Looks like another audiogon 'driveby'....
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
You have to understand one important thing. I do consulting in sound and vision. I am in this business for 14 years. I tested a lot in my life. In think in highend audio. This means the properties which are important to be there for highlevel sound. Depth is a key propertie for highend audio. Cambridge and Marantz both are 2- dimensional products. Even the most expenisve stuff the sell. I tested it many times. Onkyo is the only brand I know which can make a deep and wide stage in the price class they are. The Onkyo PR-SC5509 with Audessey Pro is stunning. Without Audessey it is useless and sounds like shit. I use it with a Pass labs X250.5. I play over 4 metres behind the speakers. I metre beside the speakers. And many speakers sounds like Q-sound. So even the instruments play in front of you. You have to use everything well balanced. Wenn you use speakers which are not good in depth, you cannot use this propertie. 3 dimensional sound is always superior to 2-dimensional sound. Because the exitement and emotions are on a much higher level wenn you listen to music or even movies.
goatwuss
877 posts
 
The answer is yes, and you need to pay for them. Anthem D2V and Classe SSP800 are 2 of them.
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