Who makes a pre/pro with SACD Input?


I have a Sony DVP-NS999ES DVD SACD player that I recently tried to hook up to my just purchased used Parasound P/DD 1550 and P/SP-1500 preamp/processor with Parasound FM tunner.After being told by the seller that I would need to purchase a $150.00 adapter cable and would then be able to use the SACD portion of the Sony unit I found out differently.When hooked up I had no volume control.Useless for practical puposes.I realize this is my fault! Incidently the Parasound units are now for sale for someone that wants to have a system without SACD.
My questions are these:
1)Why is it necessary to have a seperate processor when the Sony DVD SACD has decent quality DAC'S allready?
2)Would it not be better to have a preamp that just controled volume and seletable source switching for audio and audio/video components?
3)Is the reason for a additinal processor for Dolby decoding for a VCR,satelite receiver or HDTV audio signal?
4)If so,are there units that allow you to use the processor for just these functions?
My system consist of a Sony 36" HDTV ready monitor,the Sony DVP-NS999ES,a Nakamichi PA-1 high current 100 watt per channel 5 channel amp,RBH Sound 1266SE's full range towers for LR main ,a RBH 661SE center(goes down to 35Htz),RBH 61SE's for LR and RR(goes down to 45Htz) and a RBH 350 watt 1010SEP sub,a JVC Svideo VCR,a RCA HDTV receiver.
A pre/processor with 5.1 capability that is very clean and non-coloring is what I think I am looking for? Additional sound field processing is not necessary.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thank You in advance,
Steve
455gearhead
Most pre/pro's have a better decoder than the one that sometimes comes in the dvd player. To use these you must use the digital output on the player. If you want to use the DD/DTS decoder that the player contains, then you must use the analog 5.1 outs on the player. The pre part of pre/pro does offer inputs for decoding other sources as you stated.DD/DTS are for movies except in the case of DTS music, these can be output from the player in analog or digital depending on which decoders are the better. None of this has much to do with SACD or DVD-Audio, these newer formats are only output in analog and are not the same decoders used for DD and DTS, they are in the player, for multichannel sacd or dvd-audio you must have 5.1 input on your receiver or pre/pro, all settings except main volume control are also in the player. This came about due to copy protection worry buy the software makers and will be slow to change. I my system, I use digital out for all movies and 5.1 analog out for multichannel music, on top of all this mess of wires I use the two channel analog out on the player for two channel sacd/redbook, more wires.
My Rotel 1066 has inputs for multichannel analog signal sources...SACD, DVD-A, and anything else they may dream up. When the MULTI input is selected all circuitry of the PRE/PRO except the volume control is bypassed. And there doesn't seem to be much gain, because the volume control is usually just about maxed out. It's almost like having the SACD connected directly to the power amp, which is probably a good thing.
I have the sony DVP NS999es DVD SACD...I use an Integra RDC-7 as my pre-pro...the Integra came with a 24 pin to 6 RCAs adapter that I am using...I had the DC-1 Lexicon before I bought the RDC-7...which for 2years I had it was what I thought was great...but the RDC-7 is in another class all its own...took some time to get it set up but it was worth the bother...I am still finding things out each day I use it...It may be the best purchase I have made in years...You can read all the reviews but without hearing something they don't mean a thing...I took a chance and in my case I love it...If you could get a chance to hear one it would be best...its a what you play is what you hear type unit...it does a great job on video also...worth a look.
I don't know your budget but for between $800-$1100 you should look at the Audio Refinement equipment. There is a Pre-2 DSP (which I own) that has an excellent 5.1 analogue input and 2-channel stereo input. It keeps the signal all analogue - no A/D to D/A conversion like in most models. The Pre- 2 DSP is a pre/proc and the other Audio Refinement model is the Pre-5 which is only a 6 channel/ 2 channel preamp with no HT processing. It would be used primarily for connecting an SACD/DVDA player or outboard HT processor along with good 'ole stereo inputs (again no A/D-D/A). I have not heard that unit personaly but I have read great things about it! If it is as good as the Pre-2, it is a winner. The (realistic "street") prices are $1100 for the Pre-2 and approx. $700-$800 for the Pre-5. Happy hunting. -Tony