Classe SSP 600 for preamp? only 2 channels


Hey, all new in this community and still young so I will probably be doing some experimenting and trading/buying around. appreciate any advice I can get, honestly.
This will be my first item, and I see the SSP 600 got great reviews and I really only need a 2 channel amplifier, but here I like the possibility of expanding surround if I ever chose to. I also know that this item makes a good 2 channel listening source. They only reason I ask is because it's called a processor rather than a preamp, but is it actually a pre/pro?
How do you overcome the HDMI problem? I listened to classe on B&W and loved their sound, so im willing to use a switcher if it means I get to keep the classe sound. but I haven't really heard how it actually connects or seen anybody that has pictures. I prefer to listen to flac through HDMI from my computer which gives me the theater option as well, so maybe this isn't the best route for that.
Thanks for your help!
128x128grantguy

Showing 1 response by grantguy

Thanks a lot for the help! I took your advice GZ and Jeff and considered the alternative of instead just getting a DAC, but I like the idea of "looking forward" as you say. Getting into this community I had no idea so many products were explicitly designed for analog and not digital. I suppose that makes sense - and there's probably many that prefer it that way. However, I am not too strung up on multichannel listening right now.
So i think what you're getting at is recommending something more along the lines of the Nuforce AVP - 18 or the XMC-1 from emotiva? (which is still coming out)? Would i be losing any quality or limiting my options if I go with these choices knowing that a vast majority of my music will be digital? (Either hdmi or usb)
Not sure if you personally have any experience with Emotiva but they seem like they are gaining some repertoire as being a great bang for the buck company, so I might just wait for the XMC-1...
And with any of these new digital pre/pro can you just hook them up normally to any amp? (say even one from 1980?) Or would that not be recommended?
Thanks for the warm welcome and advice.