Best SSP - Upgrade from Integra DTC 9.8

I've got the Onkyo version of the 9.8 (exact same except for the name) and I love it. It sound's super with digital sources and the Audissy MultiEQ is amazing. I'm running it throught a NAD M25 to PSB Synchrony 1's and I am very pleased with the sound and video quality.

It's only weakness (for me) is that analogue sounds a bit weak. When I run an LP through the Audissey processor though it sound's fantastic. So the removal of room nodes far outweighs the cost of doing the AD/DA to use the room correction. I'm really surprised by that, but I just spent many happy hours this weekend listening to records and re-discovered some great music - hearing new things and being constantly surprised that I much preferred the room correction. So does my wife.

If I were to upgrade, the only thing I've seen that might be better is the Anthem D2. MUCH more expensive, and I'm not sure it would be better for digital sources.

Love to hear other thoughts and experiences. What's been your issue with the 9.8. I've only had mine for a few months, and it's been very solid. Replaced a NAD M15 that blew up on me.

Ted

Anthem, Sherbourne, Sunfire, B&K, and many more will crush the Integra.

I have been very happy with the Integra in most ways. Went from small TIB with Sony XRB CRT set up to pretty significant investment about 6 months ago.

I am not dealing with analog sound, so I cannot speak to that. As a digital surround unit, the 9.8 with my amp and speakers makes a wonderful sound. The better the recording, the better the sound. SACDs are just wonderful. The video experience has been pretty great as well. And the Audessey has done a marvelous job of upgrading the sound in my room. So I have only recently moved from being very happy to starting to question the component.

Have had some nagging issues with video dropping out that, in fairness, may or may not be caused by the Integra. At this moment I feel it is the problem. Was first related to cable signal. My supplier/installer is wonderful, and they dropped a new 9.8 in. Now I am having similar issue with feed from both PS3 and Denon DVD 3930CI. We are going to try different HDMI cables next week, and also try switching to component, which may work but rubs me wrong. The replacement unit also has the 1.07 firmware as opposed to the 1.08, so we will update that as well.

It is too early to say with certainty that the 9.8 is the problem, but I am trying to understand what the upgrade alternatives look like.

Got a message about Cary and will look at that, but have an open mind. Because of the way my TV is mounted I must feed it via HDMI, and can only run one cable, so there is no alternative but to run it from the processor.

Elvick, I tell ya what though, I've had some expensive pre/pro's that I feel are better than the ones you mentioned. And I still think that what that Audyssey MultEQ offers in something like this Integra is a good "leveling ground" with otherwise better sounding sounding AV pre'pro's! Basically, I'm not convinced that a Krell 7.1 would sound better in most acoustically problematic rooms than an Audyssey Calibrated Integra, to be honest!
I'd like to see more of the better pre's with the Audyssey MulTEQ integrated.
I don't like the idea of their stand-alone processor (keep in mind, I've done enough systems to know what the value of such DSP room correction offers, first hand! - it's huge!), which makes you have to go through a few analog to digital to analog conversions ultimately. That's my beef anyway.
Yeah, I'd like to see companies like Krell, Mcintosh, Theta, and other US companies license the Audyssey MultEQ into their pre/pro's!
But that's just my dream...I like their products in receivers basically - it does wonders