The best Pre-amp/Processor???

[dave03hd]

Looking for a money no object, pre-amp/Processor, that sounds just as good for music, as it doe's for movies. (7.1) Any suggestions

 

[Brucemck2]

One vote for the ADA Reference.

For critical listening you can feed the upper half Trinnov section of the unit directly, bypassing all the non-Trinnov components. (I feed the Trinnov section via 110ohm for two channel digital, and am in the process of getting an Oppo+Vanity board for multichannel bluray sources. All of those will run 96/24 without the down sampling most processors do.) Less critical sources, such as Roku and DirecTV go through the ADA section.

My understanding is that Trinnov is coming out with their own processor later this year, which will likely be more cost effective than the ADA with all the audiophile trappings.

 

[edorr]

One vote for the ADA Reference.

For critical listening you can feed the upper half Trinnov section of the unit directly, bypassing all the non-Trinnov components. (I feed the Trinnov section via 110ohm for two channel digital, and am in the process of getting an Oppo+Vanity board for multichannel bluray sources. All of those will run 96/24 without the down sampling most processors do.) Less critical sources, such as Roku and DirecTV go through the ADA section.

My understanding is that Trinnov is coming out with their own processor later this year, which will likely be more cost effective than the ADA with all the audiophile trappings.

Once you get the Oppo/Vanity up and running, there is absolutely no reason to get the $40K ADA reference over the $15K Trinnov MC, except user interface and adding inputs beyond the 2 x HDMI inputs available on the Oppo 103D (of course, you can put an HDMI switch in front of this).

In fact, getting the MC will give you digital out, allowing you to hook up an audiophile 2 channel DAC to the Trinnov, taking up two channel performance a few more notches.

 

[Brucemck2]

Once you get the Oppo/Vanity up and running, there is absolutely no reason to get the $40K ADA reference over the $15K Trinnov MC, except user interface and adding inputs beyond the 2 x HDMI inputs available on the Oppo 103D (of course, you can put an HDMI switch in front of this).

In fact, getting the MC will give you digital out, allowing you to hook up an audiophile 2 channel DAC to the Trinnov, taking up two channel performance a few more notches.

Largely agree. That's a very cost effective, and very high performance, approach.

I've got eight sources, only two of which are "audiophile", and several don't decode in the source/player, so the ADA works well, and so far has proven "spouse friendly." The new Trinnov unit with decoding should also work well. (At some point I'll add a new 32 channel Trinnov and move the ADA to my secondary bedroom or library setup.)

Others are enamored with Theta's new processor, which you can augment with their outboard Gen8 dacs for the front two or three channels.

I find the Trinnov remapping and active crossover functionality invaluable and addictive.

 

[edorr]

Largely agree. I've got eight sources, only two of which are "audiophile", and several don't decode in the source/player, so the ADA works well, and so far has proven "spouse friendly." The new Trinnov unit with decoding should also work well. (At some point I'll add a new 32 channel Trinnov and move the ADA to my secondary bedroom or library setup.)

Others are enamored with Theta's new processor, which you can augment with their outboard Gen8 dacs for the front two or three channels.

I find the Trinnov remapping and active crossover functionality invaluable and addictive.

For additional non-audiophile inputs, you could get a $2K SSP (Onkyo / Marantz Level) and run this analog into into the Trinnov MC. For critical sources you use the Oppo vanity as input. You would still come out over $20K ahead of using the ADA Reference with equivalent of better SQ.

If you have a free digital input on the MC unit, you could also run a 2 channel source that is higher grade than the Oppo (i.e. optimized Music Server) into the Trinnov, digital out into an outboard audiophile DAC (I did this myself, but lacked inputs, so manually switched out XLR cables when changing source). A true swiss army knive solution.

 

[Brucemck2]

If you have a free digital input on the MC unit, you could also run a 2 channel source that is higher grade than the Oppo (i.e. optimized Music Server) into the Trinnov, digital out into an outboard audiophile DAC (I did this myself, but lacked inputs, so manually switched out XLR cables when changing source). A true swiss army knive solution.

I considered this, but, because I run active speakers it was going to require nine channels of outboard audiophile DACs, which ended up being too pricey vs. the DACs already built into the Trinnov. If I ever go back to passive speakers your route will be my next step. (Or, if I hit some sort of unexpected lottery or interference, I'll purchase nine channels of SOA outboard dacs.)

 

[edorr]

I considered this, but, because I run active speakers it was going to require nine channels of outboard audiophile DACs, which ended up being too pricey vs. the DACs already built into the Trinnov. If I ever go back to passive speakers your route will be my next step. (Or, if I hit some sort of unexpected lottery or interference, I'll purchase nine channels of SOA outboard dacs.)

Why? You just use one audiophile DAC for mains, and the Trinnov DACs for all the other channels. The Trinnov DAC output drives your active speaker directly. That's what I did (I have an active center channel) and it worked fine.

 

[Brucemck2]

Why? You just use one audiophile DAC for mains, and the Trinnov DACs for all the other channels. The Trinnov DAC output drives your active speaker directly. That's what I did (I have an active center channel) and it worked fine.

Why? Because I use the crossover functionality in the Trinnov for my three front channels: for three active three ways I use nine channels of the Trinnov.

 

[edorr]

Why? Because I use the crossover functionality in the Trinnov for my three front channels: for three active three ways I use nine channels of the Trinnov.

I see. You could still get 3 x 2 channel outboard DACs for midrange and highs (assuming bass is less critical) D/A conversion duties, but it adds up in a hurry.....

 

[dave03hd]

What do you think of the Krell Evo 707?