Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ?

@bwguy

I did own the SSP 800 for over 7 years until recently upgraded to the Lyngdorf MP-50 but am still using all Classe Delta series class AB amplifiers in my dedicated home theater room. IMO the Lyngdorf MP-50 is better than the SSP 800 in all areas when used for surrounds (home theater) with Room Perfect properly set up and calibrated. Hands down. Plus I wanted Dolby Atmos & DTS-X. The SSP 800 is outdated and is time to move on.

Now the Sigma SSP is little different. It’s optimized for stereo but its surround performance is still pretty good but its stereo performance for music that stands out. That's the area where the Sigma SSP shines. IMO if it’s only for surround (HT) purposes I think there are better and cheaper options out there than the Sigma SSP. IMO the Anthem AVM60 with its ARC2 outperforms the Sigma SSP for surrounds. And I think the Marantz AV8805/AV8802 are better choices than the Sigma SSP when used for surrounds and will likely outperform the Sigma SSP. The Sigma SSP is good for someone who wants to combine his stereo and multi-channel needs in one single box solution. Its stereo performance for music playbacks are phenomenal coming from an AV pre pro especially for its asking price of $5k and $6k new. The original version of the Sigma SSP nowaday can be had for around $2500 in used markets.
But if it’s for a dedicated home theater setup strictly used for surround movies I wouldn’t get the Sigma SSP. The XLR are limited only for front L/R channels with the remaining channels are only available in single-ended. It lacks room correction.

@auxinput

The USB, spdif, Toslink as well as stereo analog audio input design stages and its signal path implementation & configuration on the Classe Sigma SSP were pretty much copied and pasted directly from the Classe CP 800 stereo preamp/DAC.
If you google Classe CP 800 review and click on any reviews for the Classe CP 800 there are articles that will explain why its USB input sounded better than its other inputs. That way I don’t have to repeat what they said. There’s also a forum thread on Audioficiando I believed that confirmed the findings. I myself also found the difference in sound quality between using their USB input vs other inputs and the difference wasn’t subtle assuming you use a very good quality USB cable. The CP 800 stereo preamp/DAC is built around its USB input and is optimized for use with its USB input with the rest kinda after thought design.
The CP 800 isn’t for someone who’s looking solely for a solid analog stereo preamp. I would go with something else if I want an analog stereo preamp as there are better options out there in a similar price range as the CP 800 ($6k new retail price).

@auxinput @bwguy

Here’s a link to one forum thread re the finding that proved the USB input on the Classe CP 800 stereo preamp/DAC is superior sounding than its other inputs and this also applies to the Sigma SSP as the USB circuit design of the Sigma SSP is lifted directly from the CP 800 and both the Sigma SSP and the CP 800 use same DAC chip sets but the CP 800 uses 2 DAC chips per channel whereas the Sigma SSP uses only 1 DAC chip per channel for its front L/R channels.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.audioaficionado.org/show...

Thank thank you Caphill, you are a wealth of good information.  Would using a music server, such Lumin, give even better 2 channel quality as compared to using a USB connection from my computer?

aux:
I've had a DAC which behaved much better via USB than other inputs. I now own a DAC that behaves similarly.

I think it's very much about implementation of the jitter and re-clocking interfaces as a whole. The DAC which behaved much better via USB had kind of mediocre clocks.

Best,
E

er, I shoudl have clarified : "I now own a DAC with a very good clock which behaves about the same whether from USB or S/PDIF. It also makes Redbook sound much better than my previous DAC.