Go digital or separates?

Mazeroth

For about $950 I can get a brand new HK DPR2005 digital receiver that has mucho balls and keeps the digital signal digital until it amplifies it. I remember reading a while ago about it doing something like 150x5 at 8 ohms which is just crazy. If anyone has a link to the testing of this unit I'd greatly appreciate it.

The other option is to buy a used but mint Marantz MM9000 amplifier that does 170x5 @8 ohms and is THX Ultra certified (which means it should handle down to 3.2 ohms no problem). I would probably pair it with an HK AVR335 as a pre due to having HK's new room EQ feature built into it. If I really wanted to go 7.1 I'd just use the HKs amp to provide the remaining power, but doubt I'd go 7.1 for a while.

The latter option would run be about $875 so a little change is saved. Which route would you go and why? I currently am building some new speakers so I'm not sure how they'll end up. Probably 88-90db efficient and still undecided on 8 or 4 ohms.

Thanks!

McLoki

I would go separates all the way. You can always update your preamp or get a cheap(er) reciever to act as your preamp, but power is something that once you have, you may not need to upgrade as often.

When I purchased my AVR, 7.1 was way in the future, as well as variable crossover points. If you purchase a separate amp, you can upgrade your preamp as often as you like and know that the change in sound that you get is from a change in processing. If your amp runs your speakers ok, you never have to wonder if the amp section of an AVR is compatable with your speakers.

What I am looking forward to prior to my next upgrade......
Variable crossover points (like every 5hz from 30hz-200hz so I can match them exactly with my speakers.)
built in high pass filter for the sub output. (variable of course)
built in Parametric Eq. (high quality and at least 5 bands. I would prefer to be able to have it only impact the channels I want it to. (i.e. have each PEQ channel assignable to any amp group. (sub, front, center, side surround, back surround))

I am sure all of these things are coming, now that I have an amp that I know runs my speakers, I don't have to worry about that interaction when purchasing an AVR or preamp.

Michael

madmax

You can never go too wrong with seperates. And if you do, you can sell one piece and buy another without buying a whole system.
madmax

Mazeroth

Zero, what do you have against both of them?