What processor?


I've decided to go with seperates using a Parasound 5250. What pre/pro with the new lossless formats would match well with the amp? any suggestions and why, thanks.
stramons1

Showing 6 responses by ckorody

I highly recommend the Integra 9.8/9.9 processor.

See my comments on the current thread Integra any good and this link www.stereophile.com/hirezplaye...

In a nutshell: supports all the SOTA standards and is likely to meet all your needs for quite awhile since the industry has not caught up on the software side.

Audyssey EQ is fast, EZ to use and sounds amazing. Can't imagine doing HT without it.

GUI is well thought out and the manual is a model of clarity which is unusual in the genre - especially given the flexibility of the unit.

It is solidly built and impeccably finished in that very special Japanese hi-end receiver way (Integra is Onkyos flagship high end brand.) And my personal bias is that no one handles integrating all this technology like the best Japanese companies - certainly nowhere near the price point.

Most important it works really well. It sounds and video looks very good - nothing I am aware of comes close for the money.
Blazer -

I am sure that the Cary is a fine unit. But there is no comparison in functionality to the Integra. Essentially the only reason to buy the Cary is because you value sound quality above a carefully integrated tool for creating a home theater experience.

Here is my personal hierarchy of HT needs

It must be SOTA so it must support HDMI 1.3 (ideally 1.3b) The current Cary does some form of 1.3 - an older Cary may not as this is a new (2007-8) standard.

The first function of a pre/pro is to serve as the central signal switcher so that you are switching audio and video together in the digital domain.

In this regard, the Cary is also a bit limited. It has two (2) HDMI inputs which I consider to be a significant limitation since any source you buy going forward will most likely be HDMI. The Cary has one HDMI output which may or may not be workable in your situation.

Next you need to make sure that the pre/pro can decode all the newest audio formats which the Cary certainly can.

I agree with Kr4 - given the current state of technology, the video processing is not that important because on the whole there is nothing the pre/pro can do that an HDMI source and HDMI/HD monitor can't do.

BUT The video processing becomes much more important if you have legacy sources like laser disc, VHS and it being Malaysia (dunno) 480 television sources. Then the ability to uprez (scale) in the processor becomes important.

The Cary has zero capabilities in this regard - it is audio only. This also means that you are giving up the option to adjust the video output (if you choose or need to) to optimize the picture on your big Mits.

Finally, given the his and hers collection of gear you two are starting with (and the attendant questions about hyow resolving it really is), I have to ask if a slight improvement in audio is the best way to spend your money to upgrade your HT experience.
Kal is correct - theoretically the decoding should be identical wherever it takes place.

BUT - and this was huge for me - by decoding at the pre/pro you only need one (1) HDMI cable from the BD to the pre. And that cable carries both 7.1 audio and 1080p video

If you decode 7.1 at the BD you then need 10 cables, three component video and 7 audio. Now you are stuck with all the traditional painful choices about how good those cables have to be to preserve that pristine sound you just decoded...

A lot of people could easily spend more on the ten cables then the pre/pro. To say nothing of the mess if you have more then one multichannel source.

To me the elegance of HDMI cabling is a big part of the equation...
Kal - agreed - however Audioblazers questioned was do I decode in my BD player or do I replace my pre/pro so I can use it for decoding.

Given the decision he is trying to make and the fact that one can decode at either end (ie neither solution is "better"), I think that the cabling implications of this decision are important to consider.
I am sure that the Halcro will work fine.

Suggest you look at the Panasonic 30,35,50 and 55 or the Sony S550 for bang for the buck.

Haven't heard the Marantz but they have had an excellent rep for a long time. Looking at the spec sheet the main difference seems to be that the Marantz has an Anchor Bay video processor which is newer then the Reon in the Integra.

FWIW Oppo's highly acclaimed 583 also uses Anchor Bay technology. However as I have discussed elsewhere, unless you have legacy sources like a nonupsampling DVD, a VHS deck or a Laser Disc player you will probably never use the technology.

Other then that, I suspect that the Integra and the Marantz are probably close enough in performance and features that price is a reasonable deciding factor. Put another way its not at all clear to me what makes it worth twice as much as a 9.8

IMHO you would be better served to invest the difference in HDMI sources.
A bit more background on KR4s point -

AudysseyPro software can only be accessed and implemented by a certified Audyssey installer - think of it as an ISF calibration for your sound. Supposedly adds considerably to what one can accomplish with the built in device since it uses a better mike, takes more readings etc. But it is not inexpensive - I think about $350-450. Hope to do it someday just to see. I suspect it will be a long, long time until one of these guys get to Malaysia LOL

To KR4s point, not all Audyssey equipped devices are Pro capable.

This is because Audyssey is a third party technology that is licensed to the OEMs (original equipment manufacturer like Integra). Some buy more of the technology and pay a higher license fee per unit, some buy less. Depends on whether the OEM's strategy is to compete on bells and whistles or on price.

ALSO looking ahead - and sorry this is not the case with the 9.8 - some of the manufacturers are designed their gear so one can upgrade the Audyssey feature set as new capabilities are introduced.