Home Theatre Processor reccomendation

YOu know if you're cd player(or source for music) has better dacs than your pre/pro's your considering. You might stick with the budget Classe SSP30(sonically superb for HT at the very least, plus music), and loop through a higher quality 2 channel tube preamp or something for your 2 ch dubties!! You won't surpas the sound if you're doing digital pre/pro's for your music as well! Although every situation might be a tad different, depending on variables, I think the way you're doing it now is good! You might just upgrade your pieces to better pre/pro and 2 ch pre!
I don't get into the Lexicons myself. I've sold Lex since 1997. Every year they come out with another "digital sounding", unrefined, "non-audiophile" piece! It's always sonically little better than the preamp sections of most receivers I've come across!...sterile at best.
Now maybe I'm pounding the "gadget-marketed", "surround mode oriented" Lexicons a bit much. But I've always been WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAY dissapointed in the sound from those EXPENSIVE units! Now the MC12 is like 8 bagillion dollars or something. And I get better sound from a Classe SSP25(old) and 2 channel high end preamp(for light years less) than the MC12!!!!
Ok, so I have my beef's with Lexicons
While I've not heard the anthem, I would hope it would sound good. If you can find an excellent, audiophile sounding digital pre/pro for movies, I think you shouldn't loose with a better 2 ch pre for music. It's going to likely end up being cheaper, and get maximum results for both! Let us know how it works, and if you're happy with the sound either way. As, of course, there may be variables I've not considered, and better choices!..I'd be interested in finding out if so..

I own a Theta Cassanova and am thrilled with its performance.Its forte is its musicality making it ideal for 2 ch. and HT duties. Theta also has an aggressive program for updates.According to Theta their will be a new software driven processor card available in mid 2003 that will encompass sacd,dvd audio.They are waiting for the chip to digitize sacd. They say you will be able to receive software updates via internet with this new card.

anybody have any experience with the new audio refinement processor? retails for something like 1400

Im looking at the Bryston SP 1.7 and Anthem AVM20. In fact im going to audition both side by side on monday. The main reason im interested in these units is the analog bypass mode. This bypasses all the HT processing within each unit making a solid 2ch preamp.

The Anthem has internal high bandwidth video switching and VERY flexible crossover settings for each speaker. A huge +

The Bryston is "supposed" to have a higher emphasis on the 2ch analog mode equal to the bryston BP-25 2ch preamp. Although lacking video switching and crossover flexibility. Including the SPV-1 video switcher the Bryston path will set you back atleast $2000.00 more USD. Is that warranty (20 years) worth it?

Can anyone else add anything to this thread?

Vedric:

I'm very curious about your results. Living in Maine, doing an A-B is impossible for me. I'm more interested in the musicality of each unit. Let us know what you think. Thanks.