2. home-theater
  3. 1104106416

A somewhat unusual request for PrePro help

I have been in 2 channel high end for a long time. I've been very happy for many years with the following:

EAD T1000 transport
EAD DSP-7000 v.III D/A
Bedini Preamp
Bedini 803 amp
Shahinian Diapason speakers
Kimber and Siltech cables throughout

Like others I am struggling with the desire to move into HT, without sacrificing musical reproduction. My problem is as follows: my house does not allow me to support a dedicated 2 channel AND a HT setup (not enough room). I also find that most HT receivers I have heard (B&K, Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, some others) really do not sound all that good - each in their own way (relative to what I'm used to) for unadulterated musical listening. So I have decided to try and put together a HT system with parts of my existing system.

Since the space I have for HT is also non-ideal (it's big enough, but its arrangement makes for troublesome equipment placement), I decided that I would try to replace parts of my system in an effort to try and consolidate things. One of the first new things I bought was the Marantz DV-8400 DVD player. I listened to a few units (including Denon and Sony) in the hope of finding a universal player that would work well with 2 channel music. I settled on the 8400 because it was the best compromise (for me) given its cost. It does 2 channel in a nice, musical fashion. The low end is reasonably articulate (but does not go down quite as low as my EAD rig). The mid is somewhat laid back, but not recessed. The high end is (again) musical and reasonably airy (but not as extended or haze-free as the EAD rig). I know this sounds like a *negative* assessment, but it really isn't. Given that I was not about to look at a Linn Unidisk or anything like that, it's really quite nice. The Marantz is also quick and has nice pace. It was a steal at the price I paid. Plus, it's video performance is quite good.

So I am now looking to replace my Bedini pre with a HT prepro. Now I know that I *should* be looking at using my Bedini in some kind of pass-thru fashion with a HT device just handling multichannel, but I really am trying to consolidate things, so I am willing to make compromises, but only very SMALL ones (g).

I've read up on a few prepros, and have narrowed my interest to Bryston, Cary, Naim, and EAD. My desires are for the following:

Multichannel analog direct mode
2 Channel analog direct
Video switching is not a requirement
The usual other stuff that makes for HT audio capability (but well done)

I am primarily hoping to find something in the $2500-$4000 range (like new or new) that will help the 8400 in both the upper and lower extreme, but not at the expense of grain or hardness at the top, or boominess at the bottom. I am greatly interested in the Naim, but I am a little concerned about how much of the classic "Naim sound" it may have. Now my audio experience is all in 2 channel, and may be a little out of date. But my memories of the Naim sound were that of incredible pace and rhythm, and excellent midrange, a tuneful upper and lower end, but not as airy on the top or as resolved at either end as I would have liked. Additionaly, I found that the old style Naim sound tended (IMO) to impose that sort of Naim-toe-tapping effect on everything that went through it, even when it didn't seem right. Again, IMO, but if the Naim sound has evolved over the years to keep that sense of pace but also add extension and openness then it will definitely help in my thoughts regarding the AV2.

I would greatly appreciate help and opinions from those of you who are familiar with the sound of the Bedini/Shahinian combination (are there any left out there?). As far as speakers go, assume I will eventually move to maybe Arcs or the like for rears, but I don't know yet what to do about a center (unfortunately Shahinian does not make a shielded speaker).

Is it possible for the price range I've laid out to get HT sound that will at least approach what I'm used to?
tonyptony
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
" The only remaining problem would be to get a center that would integrate well (yes, even for movies!) with my Shahinian fronts."

Tony

Yes that is the problem, I use Apogee Duetta Signatures for fronts and Apogee Centaur Minor for center. This is a very good mate and in all cases sounds better than with-out center.

I have tried other speakers (smaller box types) in the center position with no luck for music...but not bad for hometheater.

Dave
holzhauer
201 posts
 
Hi Tony, When will the rest of the world figure out how good these speakers sound? John Marks at Stereophile has been extolling their virtues for some time but many still don't know the joy. My Diapasons were new in January of 2003. They were the first pair to use the revised Double Eagles. They are about 3 inches wider and 3 inches deeper. According to Richard, they are essentially two Hawks placed side by side. They do go deeper in the bass than my older pair of Double Eagles but not a whole lot. Probably flat down to 20Hz instead of the old -3db at 20 spec. My modules also incorporated the first version of a new titanium mid range driver.
The new Bedini mono amp is a pure class A unit. It sounds similar to the 803 but with greater resolution at lower listening levels. The bass is about the same. I like the Plinius SA 100 mk3 which I feel bests the Bedini in the mid bass and bass department yet is inferior for resolution of voices. I'd like to hear an SA-102 to compare sometime. If you like it loud like me, I'd go with a mono amp for each speaker for a total of four amps.
Click on the system tab and you can see pictures of my system. Since the pictures, I have added ceiling and wall diffusion and a Sony XA 777 ES cd player.
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Yes, I saw the pictures. There're a couple of things that look a little familiar there (bg)! I'll have to give Dick a call about the new DEs. I have a friend who has the Hawks, and one of the things I was afraid to admit was that, while the single Hawk subs did not go down as low as my DEs, they seemed to be a bit quicker, which I think helped with giving them a slightly better feeling of pace. Do you find that true with these new DEs compared to the old?

Do you find that the new Bedini 100 is actually better in the bass than the 803? (I also have a highly modified 250/250 - modified by John himself - I wonder how that would sound next to the 100?)

I will send you a PM reagrding other thoughts Shahinian.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Tony: I would assume that most any decent Pre/Pro has adjustable volume settings for each speaker position. When watching a movie, crank the center up. When listening to music, crank the center down. Simple enough.

As far as finding a center channel goes, try contacting Richard and see what he's got to offer. As mentioned though, most of the dialogue comes through the center. As such, using a center that produces believable and intelligibal speach is about all you need. In most movies, there is very little "blending" where all three fronts are playing in unison to any great degree. Even if there is, it is a movie, not music : ) Sean
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tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Sean, I had already asked Richard about this. If you may not already know, his position is driven first and foremost by what is good for music. In that regard he is NOT a believer in a center channel. I already knew they offered nothing in the way of a shielded center (some of his customers have actually hung a Hawk or Diapason module upside down from the ceiling!). He has not yet offered a suggestion for an alternative maker's center as usable in a Shahinian system. I started another thread for this in the Speakers forum.
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