What processor competes with best preamp?

I own a Primare P30 pre/pro to go with my 2-channel system. I've compared it side-by-side to the fairly highly rated Ayre k3-x pre-amp. The P30 was much more transparent and detailed than the k3-x. The k3-x was a bit more musical and sweet sounding but I believe the K3-X had much coloration that resulted in that sweet sound. For whatever it's worth, the K3 was rated Class A by Stereophile about a year ago. The K3-X is an upgraded and sonically superior version of the original K3 again according to Stereophile mag.

The P30 has a by-pass mode that provides 100% analog for 2-channel music. I've also compared the P30 in-home to the Conrad-Johnson PV-14 pre-amp and Electropaniet's pre-amp. There was no comparison. The P30 was clearly superior sonically.

Primare is a little-known Swedish company and the unit retails for about $4k. The P30 is among the cheaper components in my system (my 2-ch. amp retails for $7k, my speakers for $8,700, and my 2-ch. SACD/CD player for $5k) and I have been extremely satisfied with it's performance.

-John (IMO)

About 2 years ago, I was thinking about going down the home theater path. I stumbled across the Primare P30 and couldn't believe it's sonic qualities with my 2-channel system. I was never that impressed with home theater anyway and I was immensely impressed with my 2-channel. Yes I do have a Sony DVP s9000es for the occassional movie, but it's still 2-channel.

As for not wanting surrounds and and center ch? I've heard some expensive surround systems over $50k and was never impressed with their sound. Not to mention, that purchasing more speakers, cables, and amplifiers would not be cost-effective to me. Not to mention having my room filled with this eyesore.

Bottom line is that I am a firm believer that if you aquire the appropriate 2-channel system and set it up properly, it will sound absolutely wonderful with movies also. It may not give you the complete surround sound some dream of, but if the movies is that good and your 2-channel system is that good, you'll never miss the other channels anyway because your senses are probably already consumed.

IMO -John