Will a Proceed AMP handle LPCM input?

Tim,

I am using the PAV/PDSD for 2.1, because location in the living room makes 5.1 impractical.

To retain Proceed quality sound in a modern fully functional processor, I think you need to step up to a Classe SP-800 or Bryston SP-3. I got a great deal on a Cary Cinema 11a, and the Cary sound had received a rave from Michael Fremer. But the Cary digital is buggy. I use the unit mostly as an analog switch with its inputs set to bypass. Only a Sony XA-5400ES connects via HDMI, and that comes with clicks and pop when a disc is started or a track selected. An Oppo 105 and Parasound JC-3 connect to the Cary via analog. The Cary connects to Proceed HPA 2 and 3 amps via XLR.

db

db,

The Classe and Bryston would be fantastic of course, but out of my price range right now, sadly.

So - resetting my expectations then, I'm either looking at staying with my current rig or move to something like say an AVP2 or SSP600 and add a HDMI switch which sends the audio out to the PrePro. This way I get the DD/DTS core tracks for BluRay audio and otherwise my system is tops for audio. The only thing I'd be missing is the DD HD/DTS-MA. This seems very reasonable to me.

My current TV is a 1080i 42" Sony which is now 8 years old. What that dies there is no telling which way I'd go - 3D, 4K. So having the video switching external to the audio would be a benefit as I could change out the HDMI switch cheaper than the SSP.

Clearly, I have no problem with non-current equipment as long as it sounds and performs outstandingly.

Funny thing about HDMI issues - I have none with my setup: Rotel RSP-1069, PS/3, comcast box, apple tv and marantz dvd to Sony TV. The more I have been reading about issues with ssp's, I realize just how lucky I have been with zero problems.

db - where do you live? AZ by chance? There is a "db" I'm familiar with who lives there...

Tim,

We live in Montecito, a small town adjacent to Santa Barbara, CA.

When I was planning to replace the PAV/PDSD in my main setup, HDMI was most in my thinking. Now I could do without it entirely. The analog of an Oppo 105 into a vintage device that acts as a switch and passes through sound cleanly is all I need. If it weren't for the phono stage, I might go directly from the Oppo to the Proceed HPA 2 & 3 monsters, because the 105 has digital inputs, including HDMI, and is doing all the processing. The Cary does convert RCA to XLR, which for me is a plus because the amps sit between the speakers, distant from the sources.

db

Do you really need an HDMI swithch? I believe many cable boxes and Blu Ray players will send audio/video out of the HDMI and audio out the S/PDIF at the same time. Just something to check.

DB -
A different DB. :)

Oh now you are talking my language about a quality vintage device, but you have one with multi-channel input. IF I were to consider the PAV/PDSD route, do you have any advice/gotchas to watch out for?

DTC -
I probably could cable up and avoid the need for a switch:
- eliminate the Marantz DVD
- apple TV
- uses the one HDMI on the TV
- optical to the PrePro
- PS/3
- component to the TV
- optical to the PrePro
- Cable Box
- component to the TV (Do I have 2 components...gotta look)
- coax to the PrePro

I already have a Logitech Harmony, so I'm not worried about making this work for the Mrs. :)

This solution above would eliminate a AVP2 - it only has 1 optical input.

Just thinking out loud here...thanks for listening/reading.