Need multi-channel that's great on 2 channel

CAL MCA 2500 or Theta dreanaught

Get a neutral MCh preamp like the Bel Canto Pre6 and a good MCh amp like the Cary Cinema 5 (I owned this combo at one time) or many other quality amps. I'm not sure that the A/V receivers built for 101 uses can compete with this sort of basic technology built for simply amplifying a signal.

It depends also what for speakers you use. The Arcam and Marantz have both a musical sound. But......they both have one other thing in common. They are both almost 2-dimensional in image. How do I know this. I sold them for many years and I Always test them what they can and what the properties are. Onkyo and Integra ( more expensive Primare) both can give a wide and deep stage. Wenn you use speakers with exeptional good cross over filters you get depth and a wider stage. But wenn you use a Arcam or Marantz amp you will loose a lot of the wide and deep stage. Wenn you compare an Integra/Onkyo with Arcam/Marantz amp to the same speakers ( Monitor Audio is a brand which is very good in making crossover filters and give you a deep an wide stage)you will hear how much smaller the stage will be with the Arcam and Marantz. Depth is the most stunning part in highend audio. This gives you the 3-dimensional image in both stereo and Multi channel. These days I use shows and demo's to teach people the difference between 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional sound. 3-dimensional sound is superior over 2-dimensional sound. Wenn I let people hear my system they directly understand what 3-dimensional sound is and does. It is that simple!

The Marantz 8801 and an Oppo 105 via XLR has put an end to my search for the best of both! Its nothing short of outstanding as a 2/ch pre and was not at all what I was expecting from it. If your looking for a processor to handle multich codecs including DSD direct coupled along with Audyssey's XT32 all over hdmi while having no need to consider a bypass solution for 2/ch. It's the 88011!

I have the AV8801 on order (showing up Friday) and can't wait to hook up my Oppo 95 to it. Do you run the direct mode for 2 channel, bypassing the XT32? My room is so odd that I'm not sure I want to bypass the XT32 (especially, the bass management), but your thoughts are compelling me to give it a try. Now to go look for some nice, pre-owned or demo XLRs...

The way I measure even XT32 is superior in drive and resolution than without. Also for stereo use. I measure at different places and hights. Audyssey uses it wrong. There way you will loose dynamics. I use Audyssey at a perspective from highend audio in mind. So the end results are superior to the way Audyssey advices it. I have done hundreds of tests with it in 3 years of time. And no I never will give info how I do it. Because I know I have gold in my hands. At this moment I am very sucessfull with it. I never had such a big advantage to my competitors in my life. I love audio!!