Best Pre/Pro for 2-channel stereo sound?

I have rather severe space limitations for my audio/HT system, and thus had no choice but to acquire a combination preamp/processor. My system is used about 85-90% of the time for 2-channel music, so the performance of the preamp was a crucial consideration for me.

To make a medium-length story shorter, I looked at several pre/pros in the $4000-5000 range, and eventually selected the Bryston SP-1 (now upgraded to the SP-1.7, which includes Dolby ProLogic 2, 6.1 and 7.1 surround formats, inputs for SACD/DVD-A, etc.).

I have been very pleased with my SP-1, and am tentatively planning to have it upgraded by Bryston later this year to the SP-1.7 version. Given your criteria for choosing a unit, I think you will be well served to put the Bryston SP-1.7 on your "short list" to audition.

Theta Digital (Casanova/Casablanca) get high marks for thier audio. Prices vary depending upon options. They do volume control in the analog domain, not digital. Lexicon is another good choice. I'm not sure if the volume control is digital or analog for the Lex. THe Casanova and the Lex DC-1 will probably be close to your price used.

I use a Proceed AVP, and am very pleased with it's 2-ch performance. (Contrary to what you may read in some places, it does offer analog pass-through for 2-ch.) I plan to upgrade it to AVP2 configuration, which uses the same DACS and software as the Mark Levinson Mk 40.

I found the Audio Refinement Pre-2DSP to have a very clean 2 channel bypass mode (equal to the Audio Refinement Pre-5 all analog pre), but have since moved to a Pass X1 for stereo, and it has a bypass for theater processor. Now I can have whatever processor I chose without worrying about its 2 channel performance. At a lower price, the Adcom GFP-750 also has a processor loop.

Not so sure why everyone thinks Bryston when they want 2 ch sound out of a pre/pro. No one buys there preamps. They may be better than some alternatives, but i would think a quality 2 ch preamp will give you much better sound.