I ran into the same issue as you looking for a high performance audio only processor and for the same reasons, but it was too hard to find one I liked since most new models include it regardless, so I just settled for one with the video included but will just bi-pass it.
trouble finding audio only DSP.
I feel like I may be looking at the wrong search.. everything listed under HT> processor seems to have video. and video obsoletes soooo fast. look around, tons of great stuff without HDMI. my needs are dolby dts (5.1 or 7.1) from the cable box/dvd/br coax or toslink . I will feed the pre-out into lots of 2 channel amps (ie: a 60W adcom or rotel is plenty for a center or surround in a living room, right? sure blows away any sub $1500 receiver's 700W at .9%THD spec'd output.
seems like 5 or 6 years ago, someone made 1 or 2u (without the opamps, no need for bulky heatsinks, caps and transformers) sony, yamaha, technics, marantz.... now they make 1000W receivers, for $199...hmmm.
can anyone help me find a comparable brand to NAD/Adcom/rotel/arcam/mcintosh/lexicon... that will be reliable and do sound only. I only have two video sources...the bluray player can do network/dvd/bluray, and the cable/satellite box, the TV can handle 3. I do not need video switch,
I would like to thank the responders to my last post, who pointed out that the HDMI from my TV back to audio processor would likely be 2ch... bummer b/c it lip synced nicely (coax to DAC out to 2ch was ahead of TV ...)
but the overall recommendation was buy a receiver and use its pre outs... denon, onkyo, pioneer. I already have the equiv- a marantz SR7400. A/B this with a circa 1985 NAD (or rotel, adcom) rated 40W- 60W amp and you know my issue. not to mention, it is twice the size and runs hot.
I gave up trying to use my stereo system for HT because of the layout of my Living room (fireplace is center, B&W 2ch towers flank the mantle, but 42" TV is a corner) instead, I plan to use bookshelf with 8" drivers for L&R and a nice center, and share a powered sub between systems.
I just need a surround processor... and everything here seems to be video.
Thanks for your opinions,
seems like 5 or 6 years ago, someone made 1 or 2u (without the opamps, no need for bulky heatsinks, caps and transformers) sony, yamaha, technics, marantz.... now they make 1000W receivers, for $199...hmmm.
can anyone help me find a comparable brand to NAD/Adcom/rotel/arcam/mcintosh/lexicon... that will be reliable and do sound only. I only have two video sources...the bluray player can do network/dvd/bluray, and the cable/satellite box, the TV can handle 3. I do not need video switch,
I would like to thank the responders to my last post, who pointed out that the HDMI from my TV back to audio processor would likely be 2ch... bummer b/c it lip synced nicely (coax to DAC out to 2ch was ahead of TV ...)
but the overall recommendation was buy a receiver and use its pre outs... denon, onkyo, pioneer. I already have the equiv- a marantz SR7400. A/B this with a circa 1985 NAD (or rotel, adcom) rated 40W- 60W amp and you know my issue. not to mention, it is twice the size and runs hot.
I gave up trying to use my stereo system for HT because of the layout of my Living room (fireplace is center, B&W 2ch towers flank the mantle, but 42" TV is a corner) instead, I plan to use bookshelf with 8" drivers for L&R and a nice center, and share a powered sub between systems.
I just need a surround processor... and everything here seems to be video.
Thanks for your opinions,