Help deciding on DD/DTS Pre-amp

Listened to Proceed AVP $5000, Classe SSP25 $3000, Rotel 976 $1200, and TagMclaren AV32R $4000 Today. Proceed is very nice but maybe a little too much money. Classe sounded excellent and is closer to my range. TagMclaren I had never heard of before today, sounded nice, looked nice, but I just dont know. Rotel did not compare I would prefer to listen to a little higher model before counting them out, maybe. I will check out the Nakamichi and the Meridian thanks for the great suggestions.

TAG McLaren is very good - great in 5.1, outstanding with music, and it's upgradeable (software and hardware). They are very well respected in Europe but are relatively new in the US. Well known for quality and service.

Wcj56, I own a B&K and it is awesome. I have listened and looked at most of the Pre/Pros mentioned plus others(including the Krell, Lexicon, Meridian). For the money(especially the used prices), the B&K is hard to beat. B&K's upgrade policy and service makes it a better value. Furthermore using a DVD with 24/96 out to the B&K D/A converters is amazing on the Master recordings. I would have to A/B a Pre/Pro in my system before I would conceed any of these will out perform mine. Not saying it is impossible, but I'm not ready to throw down the bucks for the highend hipe. Also, going from B&K to that Marantz??? Okay. Good luck......B&K Pre/Pros are great....LR

Took a look and listen to Sunfire, Krell, and Adcom yesterday. The Adcom surprisingly was blown away by the other two. The Krell was the better sounding but at $6000 is a little too much. Has anyone compared the Sunfire TG-II to any of the others? I do like that the Sunfire and the B&K have tuners, its not a big deal but a few less wires. The B&K Ref20 does not have video switching but the Ref30 does, again not a real big deal but every thing added is a plus. I do beleive I will set my limit around $3000 new and hopefully find a deal that is too good to be true. Thanks everyone for your input. Rich

Rich- I think you will want video switching, unless your monitor has lots of inputs. And then you may have to do the multiple remote thing, most universals will not switch video inputs on a TV. I saw a movie demo on the CAL unit (not sure model #). big bucks, but awesome picture and movie sound.