best pre for the price

zippty2001

i am looking to get a pre i want hdmi and the new sound formats

price would be 1000 or less

i was looking at the emotiva um-1 i think but i want to see what other options i have thanks

ohskigod

I will assume you mean a preamp processor for a home theater. if i am wrong, let us know.

I never heard the Emo but at that price point I cant imagine it being bad. Do a search on Audioholics about it as i remember seeing it having some kind of issue, it might have been resolved though since then though.

Outlaw used to have the 990 but it is discontinued. under 1000 new? I am drawing a blank.

if your willing to go used, the oppurtunities open up widely.

zippty2001

thanks yes used is fine with me and yes i am looking for a HT preamp processor

rdb2001

I would look at some used integras or onkyo. There are some on the gon for under a grand used. Marantz has a new pre, the AV7005. But its a few hundred bucks above your price range. At 1000, or less you are not going to find anything new but Emo. You want find much used either. Emotiva is the only company I have seen that has a HT processor with HDMI under 1300. It shows with all the bugs they have had with it so read upon it to decide if its for you. I think your better off with using a receiver right now unless your willing to widen your budget to get a true ht pre.

zippty2001

how much better would a dedicated preamp be over like a pioneer elite with pre outs be ??? i was looking at that 2

rdb2001

zippty2001 wrote: »

how much better would a dedicated preamp be over like a pioneer elite with pre outs be ??? i was looking at that 2

I have ran a Pioneer Elite with good results as a pre. I am running the Marantz sr7002 as my Pre now and I enjoy it. I am saving up to get the new Marantz Processer. I have never ran a dedicated pre so I can't compare. others will chime in on that. I think if its purely for HT, you would be fine with using a Pioneer Elite as a pre/pro. Thats just my opinion. It just depends on your listening habits and such.

cstmar01

I personally after reading about all the issues, problems, firmware updates, etc would not recommend the UMC-1 due to these things as I want a peice that will work when I take it out of the box and not have to fight with it to get what I want to do.

For pre/pro in that price range it will be tough (or impossible) to buy a brand new one for that kind of coin. Used is a good way to go and there are several out on the market that will be good. The Pio is a great, and if you go for the SC line which if you buy last years model or so, you would be set to go for them (don't have the 3D HDMI and some other things) but otherwise fantastic and can be found for the price your looking at. Or the SC-35 retails around 1200 so a little bit more than what you are looking to go but worth it.

Also if doing the AVR for a pre pro (depending on your speakers) you can then use the amp section in it if one of your main amps would go down, so your not stuck sitting there for a week or two without running anything.

cnh

I have to agree with C-01. The problem with dedicated pres for AV processing is that they're usually behind the technological edge and are often overpriced for fewer features than an AVR?

cnh

zingo

A used Lexicon pre/pro is all the processing and sound quality anyone can ask for.

WilliamM2

zingo wrote: »

A used Lexicon pre/pro is all the processing and sound quality anyone can ask for.

Unless he wants the latest surround sound formats and HDMI. And he does.