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Suggestions for an affordable pre/pro

My Adcom GTP-400 stereo preamp finally gave up the ghost a few weeks ago and it's time to finally delve into home theater. I don't want and can't afford audiophile components, just something on a quality par with my trusty old Adcom GFA-555 power amp. I'm not willing to completely sacrifice 2-channel listening just to get into HT. I bought a GFA-2535 power amp for the center and rears. I have no need for phono input. I would like to get good, basic 5.1 discrete theater sound for movies, and from what I understand, plain old Dolby Digital and DTS will do that for me.

My thinking was that since I don't want leading-edge surround codecs that I should look at older pre/pros of a quality that I couldn't afford if they were new. I had been using a cheapo 10 year old Pioneer ProLogic receiver for the center and rears for an approximation of surround sound, but that was matrixed and the 70 paper watts it put out was totally out of balance with my GFA-555 and my Sunfire sub. My goal is to have the same kind of sound quality for both 2 channel and 5.1 that I'm used to getting on 2 channel from my old setup. And I have to do it for $300 - $500.

Some ones that I've considered so far are:
- B&K Reference 30 - (known for clicking and popping noises during use, or distorting after getting hot?)
- NAD T 163 (known for hissing problems?)
- Integra DTC-9.4 (possible to find one at this price point?)
- Outlaw 950; 970-(buggy? QC problems?); 990 (price?)
- Rotel RSP 976 (funky remote and bad OSD? Will I regret lack of bass management?)
- Anthem AVM 2 (one for sale here that I can almost afford. Any known issues with them?)
- Marantz AV9000 (opinions?)
jwf512
flrnlamb
508 posts
 
Hum. Don't know why the last post posted 2x's. Oh well.
Actually (and I've owned the Act 3,Upgraded Act 3, Aragon Soundstage, Krell HTS 5.1, Macintosh MX130 THX, Classe SSP25, and others), even though I've had and experienced "more refined" pre'pro's than the modest Acurus Act 3, I WOULDN'T HESITATE TO GET ANTHER ONE FOR A SYSTEM (OR FRIENDS) IN A HEART BEAT!!! It's just a darn good, amazing little 5.1 DD/DTS pre/pro! Clean, clear, uncolored, SUPER DYNAMIC, good soundstage, etc!!! (of course, digital connection is the only way to go on that unit, as it's all digital).
Hope that helps. Heck, I'm excited about that little unit right now, just thinking about it! (and that say's something).
(Also, why did I sell them before, if they were so darn good, you ask? Well because I got offered more for them than I paid! -money making comes first, ya know. Also, I had to try others to compare. So I traded)
slbenz
39 posts
 
Used to have an Outlaw Model 990 that I sold and replaced it with a Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVi receiver that I use as a preamp/processor. Purchased mine a couple of months ago from Hi-Fi Heaven for $500 new. They had quite a few available in stock. You could use the built-in amps (140w/channel) that would have a better chance to keep up with your other components. Good luck with your search.
jwf512 OP
1 posts
 
Thank you all for your responses. There's no substitute for the experience of guys with good ears.

Bdgregory, I wasn't even aware that the Lexicon included a preamp until you suggested it. It's an intriguing possibility if I'm up to the setup and tweaking it would probably require. Lokie & Slbenz, I was starting to lean in the direction of an AVR until I won that eBay auction for the Adcom GFA-2535 power amp... now that I have amplifiers for all channels I think I'll go the pre/pro route. Javachip, thanks for giving props to my GFA-555 two-channel. It certainly is audiophile equipment to me. In fact, it's what introduced me to how good music can sound with adequate headroom. Kkm & Flrnlamb, you suggested the Acurus Act 3, which I hadn't considered because I wasn't aware of it. Based on your descriptions of it, that may be just the piece I'm looking for.
What's the story with Aragon Soundstage? I couldn't find as much information on it as I did on the others. Was it a short-lived product?
flrnlamb
508 posts
 
what do you mean, what's the question on the Soundstage? It's a nice enough unit. Good resolution and details, good body and refinement (much more detail than the classe SSp25...much less digital sounding than Lexicon stuff) But it was not quite as dynamic as the Act 3! That's why I went with my ACT 3's. The SS was smoother, and a tad more refined mid/high, with much better signal to noise than the act 3, yes (but the act 3 was liveable in the "speaker his" department, that I never noticed it at normal listening distances mostly (basically, my room wasn't DEAD QUIET). But the Act 3 was more neutral in coloration (slightly cool sounding, with a bit of a a dry grain on top, comparatively). But, mated with the right combo, it was simply terrific for the money! (sytem matching is always key with gear! - so remember.
For $300-400 range, you're simply going to be hard pressed to beat the act 3 for DD/DTS digital movie sound for the money, for certain! PCM digital connection is also pretty decent and musical, with excellent dynamics and good clarity. Better dac's are indeed better rez and body on a good speaker system, yes. But it's all tradeoffs. And basically, I just liked the ACT3 as an affordable unit, personally.
The only reason I let the very rare factory upgraded Act 3 go, is I wasn't using a system for a long time. I also wanted to see what newer technology was going to come up with for DSP room correction, DD HD/DTS Master, and such. Otherwise, that unit was simply a world beater for dd/dts, 24 bit music, and direct analog sources!!
Good luck
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