First pre/pro and hopefully last

I heard the sunfire Theater Grand III got the reviewers choice award from Home & Theater in 2003. I will have to look into Sunfire. I listened to the Arcam AV8, and it sounded very nice in 2 channel. Classe on there web page discontinued the ssp75, so I don't know if I will persue Classe in the pre/pro area. Ken have you heard anything about that? Ead is suppose to have a nice sound, but someone told me if you lose the remote you are unable to control the machine using the face plate. Is that true??? Anyway how often do you lose a remote. I search is on!!!!

I have been considering a 2 channel with a HT pass through. I have heard the Classe has the best analog pass through, but Arcam is very close, and it has a shielded phono area in the unit for audiophiles. Completely separated from the rest of the system. Theta of course is one of the best out there, but $ 15,000 is not in my budget. My budget new or used is $ 5,000. I read a review that compared Classe against Arcam AV8, and Classe nudged out Arcam in 2 channel, but did not have the detail / punch or features of the Arcam. There you are you can't have your cake, and eat it to.lol :) I will sacrifice a little of one to get both without having 2 seperate systems, and without getting overly complicated. Is it possible if you have an analog pass through to get a better DAC then what is in the processor to get better 2 channel music? Just an idea.

Hi All
Update: I have an eVo6 with a Arcam cd23T with ring DAC on the way from fellow Agoner's. I don't need 7.1 for my 20'x12.5' room, so what other Krells are good. One Agoner has the SSP75, and likes it very much, and said 5.1 is all I need. These units do get out dated very quickly, so the other option I am thinking of, is going with a Supratek or VTL 5.5 as my 2 channel preamp with HT bypass. The Heron speakers I have match up best with tube gear, so a tube preamp maybe the best option. Still on the fence. Will keep you updated.

Tim

Tom
I went with a 2 Channel preamp with the pass through option. I just orderd a Supratek Chenin with that option. The system is coming together slowly. Here is how it looks so far:

Preamp - Chenin with remote and pas through
CDP - Arcam CD23T
amp - eVo6
L/R speakers - Heron i

Now for the prepro, cabling, interconects, and deciding if I will monoblock the fronts with something like VTL 450 sig., since Meadowlark speakers match well with tube gear. I will run the eVo6 bridged with the Chenin when it arrives, and see how it sounds. This is my first system, so I don't know the sonic difference between SS and tubes. I know one thing, I can't wait to here it for the first. I will keep you updated on the system as it develops.

Tim

Tom

I have read a lot about Krell and Theta on Audiogon about how well there 2 channel sounds. I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I will let you know what pre/pro I go with when it happens. I can look at more options now that I don't have to worry about 2 channel sonics. I think you hook up the DVD player into the prepro and the prepro into the preamp. CDP will go into the preamp, and the preamp goes to the amp or amps. I am not sure on the SACD player for multichannel. Would you hook the SACD player into the prepro and then use the 2 channel bypass in the preamp. Then you could control all 5 channels with the prepro. Am I right on that or not. The prepro is connected to one amp that controls the CC and surrouonds, and the preamp is connected to the amps that run the L/R. I will figure it out when it all gets here, LOL. :)

Regards Tim