Surround Processor Choice

I have an AVM-20, and couldn't recommend it more highly for the price. I looked at the RD-7 equally at the time, which cost over a grand more new compared to the Anthem, and I just could not justify the extra money (especially for a Japanese Onkyo product).

The Sonic Frontiers/Anthem house sound is there, and comes from their experience with hi-end tube products, DAC's, etc. This unit has a very intuitive configuration setup and consistently better software is offered regularly via their website. Each new software rev includes an entire replacement manual, and it is always well-written.

I find it to be a very graceful, feature-filled pre/pro, capable of every potential combo of connections that I could ever think up. I have had Zero trouble out of mine, and it is one of the earliest units around. It has never locked-up or acted quirky at all, which is apparently NOT the case with some well-known (and more expensive) competitors - the Proceed AVP is one example.

I second the Anthem AVM20 recommendation. I've had mine for about 1 month and could not be happier.

Check out the Parasound halo c2 for sonics at least equal, if not better for ht, and one of the best non digitised analog 2channel and multi outs available.

Widescreen reviews september issue reviews the c1[same as c2 with added monitor] as a bargain at 6k.
They said the dacs were superior to there reference Tag av32/192 and the analog outs compared to the McCormack dap-1 analog multi channel preamp.

The c2 can be had for around 3k street and is exactly the same as the 6k c1 sonically,is fully upgradable and comes whith a 10 year warranty..