High-end preamp/surround prosessor

[MLB]

Hello fellow audiophiles,

Does anyone know of an high-end surround processor which also
has high-end stereo sound?


Best regards.


Michael B

 

[bonzo75]

I guess Meridian, Datasat, Trinnov, Illusonic? I think the first 3 are known for their room correction/processing as well. Ping Kal Rubinson if he doesn't stop by this thread, or read his reviews in Stereophile.

 

[edorr]

I guess Meridian, Datasat, Trinnov, Illusonic? I think the first 3 are known for their room correction/processing as well. Ping Kal Rubinson if he doesn't stop by this thread, or read his reviews in Stereophile.

Your best bet is a processor with digital out so you can use an outboard high end dac. Trinnov can do this and theta cb IV will integrate with gen viii dac.

 

[bonzo75]

Your best bet is a processor with digital out so you can use an outboard high end dac. Trinnov can do this and theta cb IV will integrate with gen viii dac.

The Datasat can too, right?

 

[MLB]

Your best bet is a processor with digital out so you can use an outboard high end dac. Trinnov can do this and theta cb IV will integrate with gen viii dac.

Hey tanks for your inputs. However im not sure how a dac should be used in such a setup please clarify??

 

[Kal Rubinson]

You already have some good answers but you gotta say more. Do you want to replace a high-end analog stereo preamp? Do you have analog sources? What are your sources and amps? What are the media will you use for stereo and for surround?

 

[edorr]

Hey tanks for your inputs. However im not sure how a dac should be used in such a setup please clarify??

The processor has digital outputs, so you use an audiophile grade dac for your mains, hooked up to the processor. You can use bass management and DRC from the processor on two channel, but have the 2 channel dac downstream.

 

[edorr]

The Datasat can too, right?

I believe so.

 

[duffer]

I would recommend you look at Classe. I have the SSP 800 and I operate it in high quality 2 channel mode as well as in a home theater setting. It is hard to serve both masters, but it beats having to build out two separate rooms. I have had mine for 2 1/2 years and love it. You can also look at Meridian, but that is even more money. I am not sure what your budget is, but Classe is not cheap. You won't regret it if you have the means.

 

[BlueFox]

The Bryston SP3 has the lock on this market, if you have $10k.

 

[edorr]

The Bryston SP3 has the lock on this market, if you have $10k.

It has no room correction, which is a deal breaker for a lot up SSP buyers.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The Bryston SP3 has the lock on this market, if you have $10k.

........and do not require REQ.

 

[rblnr]

The processor has digital outputs, so you use an audiophile grade dac for your mains, hooked up to the processor. You can use bass management and DRC from the processor on two channel, but have the 2 channel dac downstream.

Or put a stereo preamp w/a passthru for HT after the processor, and run the better DAC and whatever else into it (the stereo preamp) for 2ch. I like this approach better (than 1 box) because you can change/upgrade discretely. Changing tech means processors can have shorter shelf life than other components.

 

[edorr]

Or put a stereo preamp w/a passthru for HT after the processor, and run the better DAC and whatever else into it (the stereo preamp) for 2ch. I like this approach better (than 1 box) because you can change/upgrade discretely. Changing tech means processors can have shorter shelf life than other components.

The Trinnov is the inverse of an HT passthrough. It can be used effectively a 2 channel digital passthrough with the option to engage bass management and/or DRC. You can put all the 2 channel audiophile gear downstream you want. I had a SOTA DAC and analog preamp in the 2 channel chain downstream.

 

[Sharp 1080]

I have been happy with my Classe SSP-800. To my ears it's a very musical unit. I never knew how wide and deep of a soundstage it produced until changing cabling and speakers!

 

[Soundrulz]

The Bryston SP3 has the lock on this market, if you have $10k.

The SP3 has two channel bypass. Making it one of the better pre amps out there when in 2 Channel Bypass mode and still is one of the best processor to date. For two channel mode, I run a BDP2 and BDA 3 DAC. Awesome sound. Using all balanced cables.
SP3 also has an upgrade path for hdmi updates.

 

[Mabutu]

I’ve tried many home theatre processors. And I use Vitus and Magico Q5 for music

the Bryston sp-3 is a phenomenal box for 2 channel audio as well as home theatre. If you don’t care for room correction , 12 speakers , Atmos etc it’s a no brainer.

fully balanced input to out put , class A processing. It’s the most beautiful sounding processor I’ve heard. And the bonus is I can hear dialogue so clearly now. Audioholics has some you tube videos on strategies for improving centre channel intelligibility. You can dispense with all their suggestions , as it’s a sign of a garbage processor or centre speaker .

 

[rblnr]

I'm a dealer for Storm, so take this as you will, but having A/Bd all of those mentioned, I think the Storm ISP MK2/MK3 is the best of the lot. The Bryston SP-4 was based on the Storm platform. I honestly don't think Bryston is a competitor in the high-end surround processor space, it's pretty much of a dead platform.

 

[Digital Buddha]

Minidsp SHD/Flex running DIRAC measure pretty good over on ASR. might be giving it a shot soon using digital out to my dac.

 

[Soundrulz]

Another consideration is how long it’ll take to arrive because a lot of the technology and parts are backordered for a long time. For example it took 9 1/2 months to get my speakers and they’re out of California. I’m in Canada.