Integra DTC-9.8 PreAmp/Processor Review

This would be the exact reason I don't mix 2-channel with HT. But, there's a give and take when you do combine them typically and even though the Integra and Onkyo Pro prepro's are great units, they had to sacrifice somewhere. It sounds like for the majority of what you are doing, it's doing it right. What percentage of listening is in 2-channel versus surround? If it's more 2-channel than HT and space is a limitation, well, I'm not sure what to tell you.

William does the pure direct mode on 885 turns off the subwoofer output?

Yes, it turns off the sub, and all video output except HDMI. Direct also turns off the sub, but leaves all video outputs active.

Tone control is global, not per input.

I was waiting 'till all the Christmas hoopla was over to try and get either the pro or integra version. Now you've got me rethinking this as I'm making a similar move to yours -- 3803 and lsi15s to the pre/pro. I already have external amps that make things crisp...and am not sure how things will pair up if things will sound brighter.

William, what kind of amplification are you using?

You just gotta love power...

Yes, please play around with it some and post your impressions. I'm just expecting a jump in sound quality from a 3803 especially for 2-channel as AVRs do fine for HT to begin with. If 2-channel is bright, seems like there would be receiver options that would give you bang for the buck HT. Did yours come with the latest firmware? Over at AVS they're saying that you get more reon control with the latest update.

Congrats, you were able to get one. The 9.8 is a beast from the looks of it. Im sure its going to be Killer for the HT apps. Nice review as well.

I'd be interested. Use the email in my profile.
Thanks

Well, I got the Integra set up last night. I finished setting up around 1AM, but was up until 4AM putting it through it's initial paces. Some first impressions:

The simplicity and ease of set up - I have to say, at first I was a little bit overwhelmed by all of things this piece can do, but once I got everything hooked up, the set up was a breeze. Everything is so logically laid out, it was refreshing. It seemed like they actually gave a lot of thought into how the menus were grouped and how they flowed, etc. Very well done. I'll also mention that I really liked the supplied remote. It too was laid out very well and easily trumps some of the other "universal" offerings I've used in the past from Rotel (AWFUL remote), Denon (better than Rotel, but still very cluttered) and Yamaha.


Flexibility and options - As well done as the set up was, I was equally impressed with how many options are available to tailor the parameters towards your liking. From the listening modes to the various inputs, there seems like there's no preference the Integra can't accommodate. One unforgivable omission: as I've previously mentioned in this thread, I find it pretty much ridiculous that there is only one sub out on this piece. My 6 year old Rotel even had 2 sub outs. I'm just not sure how a piece like this, with it's myriad of inputs of every conceivable sort, could not have one. I mean, come on Integra...not only is there plenty of room for just one more input jack, but you could have omitted a lesser user input or feature and provided this. You would think that in this day and age, they would realize that someone buying a piece of gear like this would be running 2 subs. Oh well, I'll buy the Y-splitter, but I just think that after spending $1600, I should be set and wouldn't have to make any other purchases (I already had plenty of cabling) to set my system up to my liking.

Video - I went the pass-through route, so nothing really to report here other than that there seems to be no degradation to the video signal at all, although it is a nice option to have the capability to tailor the video realm for your various sources.

2-channel analog audio - Being an audio guy, this is where I had the most trepidation going in. Just how well would the Integra stand up to my long time Rotel mainstay? Disclaimer: I was so eager to get the unit set up, that I simply plugged in the (very) rudimentary distance settings (only in feet vs. the Integra's 1/5 of a foot) from my Rotel into the Integra just to get the party started. I did however pull out the Radio Shack SPL meter to make sure all channels were on an even kiel. Later on today, I'll take actual measurements or just let the Audyssey process run and see what happens. The first thing I tried was the analog CD input accepting a signal from a CD transport digitally feeding an outboard DAC which runs analog to the Integra. I chose "Harder to Breathe" from Maroon 5's first album as I not only know exactly how this track is supposed to sound, but I also wanted to hear how wide of a soundstage the Integra threw as well as measure it's bass prowess. Using the "stereo" listening mode, after hitting play I was initially a bit disappointed. The details in the intro to the song weren't presented in the manner that the Rotel did. The Rotel seemed to pull them from the background and (not unrealistically) shine a light on them, allowing them to easily be heard. The bass was also a bit of a letdown. It seemed a lot more shy than my previous pre/pro. At that point, I walked over to the sub to see what it was doing and noticed that it was putting out some sound. I guess "stereo" is the 2 channel mode that does actually go through some processing and after setting it to "direct," I got no bass from my sub. After setting it to direct, I felt like I enjoyed the sound a little bit more. Not as much as I did with the Rotel, but a little bit more than before. Please keep in mind that at that point the unit had only been on a short time (say 45 minutes) and the innards hadn't really gotten to know each other just yet (AKA burn-in), so I'm reserving my judgment on the analog input's sound until (a) things burn-in a bit longer and (b) I set up the Integra correctly using the true distances. I'm also going to try running the upsampled signal from my DAC digital coax out (vs. analog) to the Integra to see if I can notice a difference.

***Addendum - I feel compelled to add this right now. In hopes that all the circuitry would gel overnight, I left the unit on (not standby) as I had always done with the Rotel. I began typing this when I woke up, so I hadn't had a chance to re-listen to some 2-channel stuff since last night. In the middle of typing this, I figured I'd head down to the HT to turn on the DirecTV box, set it to Dolby Digital EX and let the signal flow through it some more. While down there, I decided to slap some Dave Matthews Band "Crash" in the CD player. Although I wanted to, I hadn't listened to this last night due to how late it was. This is another CD (more so than the aforementioned Maroon 5 album) with which I am totally familiar with. Being a HUGE DMB fan, I've listened to this CD innumerable times and therefore know every nuance in this album...every note, piece of percussion, guitar fret noise, everything is burned into my psyche and even my soul. I was not prepared for what I heard. Last night, things just didn't sound "right." Not certain if it was just hearing something other than my trusty Rotel in my system (I almost felt like I was cheating on it with another pre/pro...I know, pretty strange but that's how it felt after 6 years with the Rotel), I can only describe the sound as slightly veiled in comparison to the very open sound I was accustomed to. I perhaps would even say a tad compressed in terms of the soundstage as compared to the width that the Rotel threw. That was all about to change. I was floored. I don't know if it was leaving the unit on all night, the fact that I really didn't push it all that hard in terms of volume last night for fear of waking my wife or at the very least , the change in CDs, but things were indeed different. Gone was the narrowness (?) of the soundstage. It widened significantly. The sound was still ever so slightly recessed, but I felt confident that it would open up some in the coming days. The speakers sprung to life with the jazz groove of "#41." The textures hidden in the background that I am so intimately familiar with were immediately audible. In fact, to use a common review clich

rjreda,

When feeding any of the analog inputs on the 9.8 or 885 (except multi-channel), the signal goes through an A/D converter, is processed, and goes to the D/A converter. This adds two more conversions to the signal.

I get better 2 channel results by connecting the player with optical, or coax connection. This keeps everthing digital until the final D/A conversion in the pre-pro. In other words it eliminates two conversions.

Lack of sound quality? Although I have the 885, not a 9.8, I can tell you sound quality is very good for 2 channel. The 885 does have "pure audio" though, which for some reason the Integra lacks, and that is the mode I prefer for 2 channel.

mantis wrote: »

I Knew it... I really knew it.

Integra is known for it's lack of sound quality. I have installed them years ago and always left feeling empty. Bright and lack of controled or even good bass. I'm not a fan of them at all.

Now on the other hand knowing all that, I saw this preamp and got really juiced up. In the back of my mind, I knew it. Now another theory of mine which is strongly becoming
reality is Mixing 2 ch with HT is just not the way to go. Seperating them is key. having a system geared towards both never really gives you geat results.

I have been looking for a preamp since HD and Blue came out. I already know after reading these reviews, the Integra sound quality and history characteristics is still very real. I wanted this unit to be more refined and clean like it's higher end brother in Integra research. But wishful thinking is getting me know where.

I'm still very pissed off at Rotel for releasing there **** preamp 1069. It processes nothing. It sucks. I'm sure it sound incredible like mine (1068) at doing everything it does but it doesn't DO what I'M looking for. Why O why is it so hard to have it???? Every single Japanese receiver has everything you could want except sound quality for us idiot 2ch and theater guy mixes....

I'm just mad.

Mantis,

I hear ya...I LOVED my Rotel (1066) but at the end of it's 5-6 year run, it just couldn't do what I wanted it to do now, in '08. Rotel just needs to get their butts in gear. I know they always take just a little bit longer to do stuff based on economies of scale, but they've lost so much money because of this.

Now I disagree with you that you can't mix 2 channel with HT...you can and I had it down a few short months ago. BUT, I wanted to step up to the new formats and sacrificed a bit of that 2 channel sound by going with the Integra. Am I missing something in 2 channel? Yes. BUT, what I gained actually makes up for a little bit of it. I feel that once I run the Audyssey program and snap everything into place sound-wise (I've only SPL'd all channels), I'll be in much better shape.

I'm anxiously waiting for my onkyo pro pr-sc885p which i pre ordered online for a great price. It will be paired with an emotiva mps-2 amplifier in my bedroom.
I'm using a polkaudio rt5000p system with 4 ls-fx and a paradigm ls-1200 sub to round things out.