Thanks
Audio Research Corporation MP1 ($7500)
Conrad-Johnson MET ($7500, $2500 refurb: tube unit)
Bel Canto Pre 6 ($3800)
McIntosh MAP-1 ($3500)
McCormack MP-1 ($2500)
Parasound Halo P7 ($2000)
Margules Daleth ($1500)
All these are high-end. Some have built in phono; some not. All eschew
video signal processing but handle multi-channel audio. All have built in
matrix, mostly analog. All put the emphasis on musical sound quality. This
is normally not a problem as you can take a video feed directly from the
cable box and/or Blu-Ray/DVD player directly to the TV's multiple inputs, or
to a switcher (HDMI, DVI, Component).
Yeah, I found buying a dedicated "Home Theater Surround Receiver" to be a far
better value.
Absolutely. Given the typical video surround-sound experience and all
the compromises involved in getting there, there is no particular
reason not to have a dedicated inexpensive system.
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA
[ excess quoting snipped -- dsr ]
>> Yeah, I found buying a dedicated "Home Theater Surround Receiver" to be
>> a far better value.
>
> Absolutely. Given the typical video surround-sound experience and all
> the compromises involved in getting there, there is no particular
> reason not to have a dedicated inexpensive system.
>
> Peter Wieck
> Melrose Park, PA
>
Unless you live in an apartment! :-)
But more seriously, good surround sound is good surround sound. SACD and
DVD-A sound exceptional on a good surround system designed for music. So
do many music videos. And with Blue-Ray now spawning a host of musical
videos (opera, pop concerts, rock concerts, can orchestral and chamber music
be far behind) there is no reason to have two separate systems.
On the other hand, I have heard name-brand, fairly expensive mid-fi
receivers that strangle the quality of sound that emerges from SACD and
DVD-A disks. Give me liberty, or.....but don't give me an AV receiver.
For solid state: a MC pre.
1st try a used Bel Canto Pre6 (which I have) from www.audiogon.com
(when they show up), or a Parasound P7 from www.audioadvisor.com
as an open-box/demo/factory-refurb (different price points; call up AA
on their free 800 number and ask that they call back when they have
in a factory-refurb).
With AA whatever Parasound you buy comes with a *full* warranty,
whereas via used audiogon it does not.
For tubes I don't have a clue, but it will be much more expensive than
my above two suggestions, not to mention more of a hassle overall.
Cheers
Bryston and ML appeal to different folks but I am pretty sure that the
ML No40 (or, perhaps, the new No502) would be closer to your tastes.
You might also consider the Cary 11A, the Classe SSP800, the Arcam
AV888 or, as some suggest, the AVP-A1HDCI(A).
Kal