Receiver as Pre/Pro

[rramacha]

Hello All

I am new to this forum so may be what I am asking has been asked and answered. I am currently running Sherbourn 7/2100A Amp and Marantz SR7500 Receiver as a pre-amp.

Its time to upgrade to HDMI Switching Pre/Pro or Receiver to make my connections simple. Should I try to get a Pre/Pro (Marantz AV8003) or should should I get a receiver from Denon (4308 or 3310)?

Thanks

Raj

 

[agarwalro]

Both Marantz and Denon make some great receivers. So either of those that you site will do a good job. On the other hand, if your audio needs are being met, you can always add just an HDMI switch like this one,

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2093/0/oppo-hm-31-advanced-3x1-hdmi-switch

 

[rramacha]

Switcher

I am looking to upgrade either to a pre-pro dedicated or a receiver acting as a Pre Pro so that I have all the latest codecs available plus hdmi switching. Now I am running 7.1 analog cables running from my blu ray player and the player decoding lossless signals. This means too many cables not making my install look clean. So that is the reason just the switcher will not work.

 

[agarwalro]

For a best bang for buck pre-pro, wait for the Emotiva UMC-1. But there have been delays and no ship date is confirmed. Also, this is a new product with no reviews. That said, Emotiva makes great gear and this should be no different.

For a no holds barred pre-pro, look into the Integra DHC 9.9. This thing can do pretty much anything you can ask off a pre-pro with documented reference quality. It also provides excellent video processing via HQV Reon and has Audessy MultEQ XT for the audio side.

 

[jostenmeat]

For a no holds barred pre-pro, look into the Integra DHC 9.9. This thing can do pretty much anything you can ask off a pre-pro with documented reference quality. It also provides excellent video processing via HQV Reon and has Audessy MultEQ XT for the audio side.

Not just the Audyssey XT, but also Pro capability. How else would Jeff Permanian be able to do a pro cal on rmk's system? Ok, sure he has the 9.8...

Problem is that for most people, you are out at least another $500, if not more, and that's if they're willing.


Anyhoo, I agree with the above posters in getting a dedicated pre/pro. At that budget you can afford to. You're not limited to the economies of scale.

Also look at Anthem D2v somewhat past budget, and the awaited Outlaw 997 somewhat below it.

 

[Davemcc]

The Integra DTC-9.8 or Onkyo PR-SC885, being last year's models, can often be had quite inexpensively and will likely do 99.9% of anything you want it to do for less cost than the Denon 4308. I would gladly choose the 9.8 all over again especially at their current going rates.

The 9.9 will be easier to find but cost more. It's hard not to recommend when you already have the amp and you're looking in the range of the 4308 anyway.

 

[rramacha]

Thanks a ton

I will look at Integra in my near by dealer.

Thanks

 

[jostenmeat]

I will look at Integra in my near by dealer.

Thanks

It's important to note that the 9.9/886 corrected colorspace issues with Reon that existed in the 9.8/885. It also adds Dynamic Volume and EQ.

If it was me, and the price difference was only a couple of hundred dollars, I'd get the 9.9. If it was double the price, I'd go with the chepaer. Then again, I only watch native hidef and watch movies loud enough where I wouldn't miss dyn vol/eq.

 

[PENG]

Hello All

I am new to this forum so may be what I am asking has been asked and answered. I am currently running Sherbourn 7/2100A Amp and Marantz SR7500 Receiver as a pre-amp.

Its time to upgrade to HDMI Switching Pre/Pro or Receiver to make my connections simple. Should I try to get a Pre/Pro (Marantz AV8003) or should should I get a receiver from Denon (4308 or 3310)?

Thanks

Raj

I have the 4308 and in many A/B tests I have conducted I found no sound quality differences between its internal amps and my external amps. So since you have an external amp already you should get a prepro such as the Integra/Onkyo's latest models instead of wasting your money on the receiver's internal amps that you won't be using.

 

[croseiv]

I have the 4308 and in many A/B tests I have conducted I found no sound quality differences between its internal amps and my external amps. .

Even with dynamics? I can tell a pretty big difference using my XPA-5 vs. my VSX-1015's amp/power supply. The XPA-5 handles the dyamics much better 250 wpc vs 110 wpc.

 

[PENG]

Even with dynamics? I can tell a pretty big difference using my XPA-5 vs. my VSX-1015's amp/power supply. The XPA-5 handles the dyamics much better 250 wpc vs 110 wpc.

I don't know about the 1015 but in my case, even with dynamics at over 100 dB bass drums hits and/or canon shots I heard no difference. I also measured the voltages and currents when I had the 3805; and I posted the results. There was in fact no difference! My listening environment is not that big, only 12X18X8. To me, unless you are in a big room with not too sensitive speakers, any talks of day and night differences between amps and mid end receivers such as the Denon/Yamaha 3XXX and Onkyo 8XX and above are often exaggerated.

That being said I am not telling people to stick with recievers at all. I am merely suggesting that the OP not waste money on the internal amps of the 4308 when he already has a very powerful multichanel amp.

 

[rramacha]

Integra 9.9

I looked at the Integra Pre/Pro and was kind of put off by its design. I like the looks of Marantz AV8003 Pre/Pro better. My question now is I heard both and cant figure which one is better just by auditioning at the shop. Does any one own the Marantz and what are their thoughts about it?

Thanks

 

[croseiv]

I don't know about the 1015 but in my case, even with dynamics at over 100 dB bass drums hits and/or canon shots I heard no difference. I also measured the voltages and currents when I had the 3805; and I posted the results. There was in fact no difference! My listening environment is not that big, only 12X18X8. To me, unless you are in a big room with not too sensitive speakers, any talks of day and night differences between amps and mid end receivers such as the Denon/Yamaha 3XXX and Onkyo 8XX and above are often exaggerated.

That being said I am not telling people to stick with recievers at all. I am merely suggesting that the OP not waste money on the internal amps of the 4308 when he already has a very powerful multichanel amp.

No problem. The 4308 is a beauty of a receiver. Very robustly designed. It would undoubtedly out perform my 1015 that's for sure, but the XPA-5 really shines with the dynamics over my 1015.

 

[septim]

I use a hybrid. I have an XPA-5 which is driving my front stage which are JTR 12LFs, and then I have a Marantz SR8002 supplies my back two channels (Rocket RS850 8 ohm) with power and acts as a pre-pro.

To me it doesn't really make sense to get a pre/pro over an AVR as you seem to pay more to have XLR out but no amp selection.

 

[rramacha]

Thanks

You guys been really helpful. I think that would be waste of money on amp plus if I buy a dedicated Pre/Pro then I can run balanced out from Pre/Pro to Amp.

You guys rock.

Thanks

 

[jostenmeat]

I looked at the Integra Pre/Pro and was kind of put off by its design. I like the looks of Marantz AV8003 Pre/Pro better. My question now is I heard both and cant figure which one is better just by auditioning at the shop. Does any one own the Marantz and what are their thoughts about it?

Thanks

Well, if we were to presume that the greatest sonic differences would come from the EQ being used . . .

Marantz doesn't offer XT with anything, including their top of the line 8003. Just vanilla MultEQ. The Integra not only sports XT, but also has pro capability.

 

[PENG]

I looked at the Integra Pre/Pro and was kind of put off by its design. I like the looks of Marantz AV8003 Pre/Pro better. My question now is I heard both and cant figure which one is better just by auditioning at the shop. Does any one own the Marantz and what are their thoughts about it?

Thanks

LOL..I don't like their look either. That's one reason why I opted for the 4308 instead of the seemingly superior 905 (more power and Reon vs Faroudja) at the time. If you don't need the superb video capability of the Integra/Onkyo then surely the Marantz is the way to go!

Whether all prepro sounds the same or not, Marantz does have a good reputation in terms of sound quality.

 

[rramacha]

LOL..I don't like their look either. That's one reason why I opted for the 4308 instead of the seemingly superior 905 (more power and Reon vs Faroudja) at the time. If you don't need the superb video capability of the Integra/Onkyo then surely the Marantz is the way to go!

Whether all prepro sounds the same or not, Marantz does have a good reputation in terms of sound quality.

Yup even I heard about the Reon vs Faroudja vs Anchor Bay in Marantz. In some forums they were also mentioning it is just not the chip that they use but the implementation also matters.

If its any consolation I think Oppo Blu-Ray Player as well Marantz use Anchor Bay and its considered very good. Now I may be wrong (according to my wife always) and the others can clarify this.

Thanks

 

[Seth=L]

Even with dynamics? I can tell a pretty big difference using my XPA-5 vs. my VSX-1015's amp/power supply. The XPA-5 handles the dyamics much better 250 wpc vs 110 wpc.

PENG's power demands probably differ from yours, and you must also consider that you are comparing a MSRP $600 AVR to one that costs almost 5 times that. The VSX-1015 is a very stout avr for it's price range but I would not expect it to compare favorably to the likes of the Denon AVR-4308CI which likely packs around a 1kva transformer compared to approximately 500va transformer in the Pioneer.

Edit: Seth should really read the whole thread to see if this was answered already.

 

[Davemcc]

Even with dynamics? I can tell a pretty big difference using my XPA-5 vs. my VSX-1015's amp/power supply. The XPA-5 handles the dyamics much better 250 wpc vs 110 wpc.

It's been a while since I looked at your system pics. I forgot how nice it is.