HT Preamp/Processor vs. Receiver

Many different ways you can go depending on your budget. Some use an AVR and just a 2 channel amp, let the receiver drive the surround speakers which normally are the easiest load for a receiver.

Still some like the pre/pro route and a separate 5-7 channel amp for the ultimate experience. Either way, if you can afford the best, run with it.

Personally, I like the Cary cinema 12 pre/pro for it's SQ in music and movies. If your system does double duty for HT and music, the pre/pro option is the better one imho, but not everyone has the wallet for that.

Went from a Pioneer Elite AVR to Marantz SSP. Same amps but big jump in sound quality going prepro.

nm... for some reason the other posts didn't show up. I'll be watching this thread. I have been pondering the same. I've been leaning towards a low power reciever with all the features of the higher watt models, but I am rethinking that. I'd love one that is fully software upgradeable. My Bluray got an update so it can now process FLAC files plus more video codecs.

In that price range I would probably go with an AVR. Yamaha RX A1050 is about 1200 while the older version RX A1040 is about 250 less, Amazon. If you're in the U.S. Check out accessories4less. Factory refurbished, but many have good luck with them.

This is very true. The other issue with some older stuff is that they lack the calibration software that most modern units have.

I wont say they these software calibrations fix EVERYTHING, but they are MUCH easier than dialing things in by hand.

For me I'd make sure whatever I got at least had a decent software calibration suite with it to help me tame the issues of the room I have that I cant solve due to WAF, the placement options I have, etc.

Gunther16 wrote: »

Also true, Alternative is to spend time on your own or call in your audio specialist and pay $50-100 bucks and have it dialed in. But if you have a good ear you can usually dial things in really well yourself with a little time and patience. Yes buying pre=owned does not get you the latest and greatest but it will get you the greatest musical experience for a lot less money spent.

True, however dialing it in by ear can only get you so far in the older AVR's. You cant add as many cuts/boosts as the newer ones can.

While I dislike buying new for most things, AVR's are ones that I can somewhat justify. Used as a refurb from an authorized reseller is even better.

We agree on all of this, we just differ in that I would say go newer with something with some sort of halfway decent calibration software.

For me I'd want something with ARC, XT or XT32. I've never hear MCACC but know its supposed to be fairly decent. YPAO isnt my cup of tea, nor is whatever Onkyo is now using that they developed in house.

Also Anthem's "new" stuff is pricey, hence looking for a used MRX 300/500/700 which was their first line of AVR's to ever come out. They are on Gen 3 so their prices are lower, however they still fetch a bit of a premium, but given their build quality and their focus on music first without all the gimmicks I think the product is better.

I have had the M-975 from Outlaw for about a year and find it does everything I need. If DTS X and Atmos are not required it should handle everything else you mentioned. No automated room correction which is a deal breaker for some but presented no issues here.

$499.00 B stock (mine was like new without a mark anywhere) with a great 30 day return policy. Kick b u t t customer support.

The Dolby 5.1 sounds similar because it is the exact same code on both AVRs. The various DSP programs just add audio enhancements or detriments, depending on your point of view, to the basic code.

Each manufacturer does have a distinctive sound, or house sound. The house sound, and the build quality of a pre amp over an AVR is the difference you're hearing between the Dolby sounds. If you have, for example, a $400 AVR and a $2000 pre amp, the pre amp should sound better. That's where the manufacturers put their best stuff.

Personally the various DSP programs aren't very important to me with movies, and I absolutely hate them for music. Then again I usually, 90% of the time, listen to music in 2 channel mode.

I think the most important thing you should be looking for is the sound. Go and listen to a few different AVRs.

The second thing is how important is the latest and greatest format to you. You may be perfectly happy with your 5.1 setup, but who knows. Sometime down the line you may want to get an ATMOS module and bounce sound off your cieling. May just be a pretty cool thing to do on a rainy day.

Calibration programs have one thing in common. They can make the speakers work better together than about 90% of the people on the planet. Some do it better than others, but that would probably be good for another thread.

The current and brief previous generation AVRs will most likely offer ATMOS and 4K pass through. Same with pre amps. You would just need to make sure your tv and bd player can process it.

Your choice now is really cost. Want a brand new latest and greatest pre pro, your looking at 2k plus. Not too worried about that, get a used or refurb previous version for 25-50% less.

Want similar capabilities in an AVR, the newer versions, with pre ours will start about the 800-1k range. Go refurb or used, again save about 25-50%.

Every manufacturers pre pro will sound better than their top of the line AVR. That's a given. More than likely it will also allow you to tweak your sound a little to a lot more.