Which Pre-Amp

[snmhanson]

I am putting together a home theatre system for a relatively large room. I have a NAD T-973 amp and have decided on Paradigm Studio speakers (60 fronts, CC590 center, APC590 surrounds) although I have yet to purchase the speakers. Now I am moving on to the hunt for a processor. I want to try to stay below $1,500 and am looking at the NAD T-175, the new Outlaw 997 and the new Emotiva UMC-1 for a less expensive options. I know the Outlaw and Emotiva options are not available yet but I am sure they will be by the time I make a purchase.

All else being equal I would prefer the NAD as it seems like it would have a nice synergy with my NAD amp. However, on paper it looks like the new Outlaw and Emotiva will both have better video processing, will have upscaling (may not matter) and will have the new HD lossless audio formating. One thing about the NAD I do like though is the modular concept of it and the ability to upgrade specific features, although that is dependant on NAD coming out with hardware upgrades over time. I am a novice at all this so I am sure I am overlooking all sorts of important features and specs. My gut tells me the NAD would be the better option, but when I run the numbers the Outlaw seems to offer a better feature set. The Emotiva almost seems too good to be true at the price they are going to ask for it so I am wondering if I am overlooking a weakness when considering that option.

Anyone want to offer their opinions on these three processors? Feel free to add other options if you would like. However, there are certain utilitarian features that do draw me to these specific options.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Integra DTC 9.8

 

[adk highlander]

You beat me to it by seconds P-Dawg.

The DTC-9.8/9.9 from Integra and the PR-SC885/886 from Onkyo Pro are great processors and offer great upscaling, balanced connections, 3zone outputs and Audyssey Pro XT room correction.

I have the 885 and which is last years model. I paid under 1300 when I got mine but they are still selling for at least that now. The new model 886 is very much the same except the added the dynamic volume but because these were underpriced when the first came out they sell for at or a little over your 1500 price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yup. Integra 9.8/9.9.

But...... if you had the Paradigm Studio 100s, you don't deserve anything more than a Denon 3808CI.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

That's because guys as smart as me know that an AVR is a good as/better than any pre/pro on the market.

But...... if you had the Paradigm Studio 100s, you don't deserve anything more than a Denon 3808CI.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That's because guys as smart as me know that an AVR is a good as/better than any pre/pro on the market.

**hee**hee

Here is yet another preamp comparison table:

View attachment 6701

 

[ParadigmDawg]

How long did it take for you to find a graph that rated your crap as number1?

**hee**hee

Here is yet another preamp comparison table:

View attachment 6701

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How long did it take for you to find a graph that rated your crap as number1?

Not very long. I just made it up myself.

 

[3db]

That's because guys as smart as me know that an AVR is a good as/better than any pre/pro on the market.

Now remember, you did say "any" ..umm the $4700 Anthem is way more configurable than any AVR found on the market today including the mighty Denon. The down side is, it costs as much as a Denon. If I had money to burn, I wouldn't think twice and scoop up that Anthem... but since I have to earn a living, I'm perfectly content with my new Yammy.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How long did it take for you to find a graph that rated your crap as number1?

And here is one that ranks your crap as Number One:

View attachment 6703

 

[GlocksRock]

What about the Yamaha RX-Z7 or the RX-V3900

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What about the Yamaha RX-Z7 or the RX-V3900

I don't recall Home Theater Magazine testing those, but I bet they are every bit as good as any out there.

 

[egreen1976]

Rotel?

I have the paradigm studio 100 v. 4s., matching center and surround. I have the emotiva XPA-5. I am also looking for a pre-pro. I was debating waiting for the higher end emotiva but the newly released Rotel's look interesting. Any thoughts on the Rotel? Is any of this overkill for the studio 100s.

 

[jostenmeat]

Welcome back, snmhanson.

There is no synergy between NAD pre and amp. I have the same amp. I used to have a NAD pre. I prefer my Onkyo receiver as the pre at this point.

The biggest synergy you must address, is speaker positioning in accordance with the room. One smart fellow who has taught as much about acoustics as anyone else would actually say the listener positioning is even more important. Anyhow, the above combined will outweight pre-amp synergy by the order of thousands.

I also believe the Integras are the best value. Analog performance could be one of its only detractions, according to some, but if everything is hooked up digitally, then you are golden.

The NAD has two interesting features. The first is that is has a modular design. However, they haven't taken advantage of that yet, AFAIK, and if they did, I fear how much the upgrade would cost. Software seems to be cheaper than hardware.

What really drives me nuts about the NAD is that it lacks onboard decoders for the advanced codecs. This is unforgivable, at least at this point in time. Maybe they thought that the only bluray player in existence would be the PS3. They should've addressed this by now.

The second is the addition of more Audyssey curves, namely the one designed by Paul Barton of PSB fame. This unit, as well as the Integras, not only sport XT, but have Pro capability (more money, and need to hire a pro with a computer).

I have no idea what the emo will sport in terms of room correction.

The Outlaw will have Trinnov, which is France's direct competitor to Audyssey. A different, and very expensive, high-end room correction could be found with Meridian.

Some folks are very interested that you can turn off correction above 300hz (iirc) with the Trinnov. This is not possible with consumer Audyssey versions, and I don't know about Pro.

Nice choice of amp. Nice choice of speakers. You're doing very well!

**yes, you noted I use an Onkyo receiver as pre/pro. It was refurbed in fact. I saved a grand by not getting the Integra. I didn't feel the need for Pro Aud, balanced XLRs (note that your amp doesn't have them), Reon HQV, dual HDMI outputs. I WANTED the Integra, but my money went much further with the large purchase of room treatments. Nothing outdates faster than the pre/pro anyways, IMO.

Hope this helps.

 

[3db]

Hmmm, doesn't do analog well? That would be a problem for me since I love my vinyl collection too. That would be enough for me to say no.

Pre-amps may get old fast but so do AVRs. The one thing that never gets old are the amps. I wonder in this rapidly changing technological jungle we're living in if prepros are not the better route as opposed to an AVR?

 

[itschris]

No Sunfire fans?

 

[jostenmeat]

Hmmm, doesn't do analog well?

Only depending who you ask.

That would be a problem for me since I love my vinyl collection too. That would be enough for me to say no.

Integra + 2ch pre w/ HT bypass of your choice is still less expensive than a lot of the competition.

Pre-amps may get old fast but so do AVRs. The one thing that never gets old are the amps. I wonder in this rapidly changing technological jungle we're living in if prepros are not the better route as opposed to an AVR?

Seeing that my post regards using an AVR as a pre/pro, I can't understand your post. I hope you don't mean that since the processor in any current AVR or pre/pro will get outdated quickly enough that you should spend $1,000s more, assuming the given feature set of any AVR is good enough.

 

[snmhanson]

Thanks for all of the great replies. I was wondering if anyone would notice that this is similar to my post from a while ago in the home theater section. I re-read that post and really appreciate all of the advice you offered jostenmeat, as well as your replies in this post. For the record, I figured that since I have an amp now and have decided on which speakers I am going to go with it would make sense to start a new post in the pre/pro section of the forum. I am not trying to be a forum whore.

Anyway, I have looked at the offerings from Onkyo and Integra both pre/pros and AVRs. I will keep them under consideration as I look at my options. The new processor from Rotel looks intersting as well as well as the new Marantz though they might be a bit above my price range. Nevertheless, I would still like to get more opinions on the NAD T-175, the new Outlaw and the new Emotiva (although I know the last two would be prospective of course). They have some basic features and design aspects that really make them appealing to me. I know it's nit-picky but I really like how all of the sources are assignable and fully cusomizeable and that there are not predefined source buttons on the front of the unit.

Thanks again for the input.

Matt

 

[3db]

Seeing that my post regards using an AVR as a pre/pro, I can't understand your post. I hope you don't mean that since the processor in any current AVR or pre/pro will get outdated quickly enough that you should spend $1,000s more, assuming the given feature set of any AVR is good enough.

Never mind, had a brain cramp yesterday.

For most HT applications, I think an AVR will work just fine and for me, it needs to analog really well.

It bothers me that the amplifiers within the AVR would go unused though. I don't know why..

 

[ParadigmDawg]

My first choice would be Integra or Rotel, then the Marantz.

I have no experience with the Outlaw or NAD.

I would only trust a pre/pro from EMO as far as I could throw it.

Anyway, I have looked at the offerings from Onkyo and Integra both pre/pros and AVRs. I will keep them under consideration as I look at my options. The new processor from Rotel looks intersting as well as well as the new Marantz though they might be a bit above my price range. Nevertheless, I would still like to get more opinions on the NAD T-175, the new Outlaw and the new Emotiva (although I know the last two would be prospective of course). They have some basic features and design aspects that really make them appealing to me. I know it's nit-picky but I really like how all of the sources are assignable and fully cusomizeable and that there are not predefined source buttons on the front of the unit.

Thanks again for the input.

Matt