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Amp and Processor

I apologize in advance for making this post so long.  I'm in a two channel system now with a PS Audio BHK Preamp, BHK Monoblocks, and Focal Sopra 3s.  The right Focal 35 inches from the wall and the left Focal is open ended.  The width of the room is 15 feet.  The Focals are 20 inches from the back wall,  The ceiling is 8 feet high.  I know the speaker placement is not ideal, but I have constraints.  I am using an OPPO 205, PSA Audio Direct Stream DAC and PS Audio Direct Stream Memory Player.  The music is bright and disappointing.  Aside f rom that, I'm thinking of going to a Home Theater system with Focal Sopra 2s, Focal Sopra 1s and a Focal Center speaker.  I will no longer use the PS Audio gear or Focal Sopra 3.  I'm looking for a relatively high end processor and 5.1 channel amplifier.  For the amplifier, I'm thinking of using a Krell Chorus 5200 XD.  I'm stuck on the processor.  I'd love to get the Bryston SP4, but it may  be out of my budget.  I've also looked at Anthem and Marantz.  I still want to hear excellent stereo sound.  Any suggestions?
daj2832
erik_squires
15,729 posts
 
 You haven't mentioned your room acoustics. They will do a lot for your current system and make the HT experience amazing.

Don't forget the floor space between and behind the speakers. They can add a surprising amount of harshness to the mid and top end. Blankets make cheap test tools here. :)

Buying a high end HT processor is really tricky, because it's heavy on digital engineering resources. There have been several HE manufacturers who got into the space, and a couple of years later were out. Even Theta seems to have abandoned any serious R&D in this area (correct me if I'm wrong).

Anthem and Krell seem to have found the formula to keep up with the latest standards. I'm using an older Anthem 50 and there's nothing wrong with it. It certainly sounds MUCH better than older mass market imports and the Emotivas I had (bleah!!), but I switch to my Luxman integrated for music.

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,063 posts
 
@daj2832,

Grab a used Marantz AV8802A and call it a day. It’s a excellent processor and just as good with stereo sound. 
gillatgh's avatar
gillatgh
381 posts
 
@Millercarbon, don’t mean to burst your bubble but your advice is completely wrong and biased. Speaking from my experience, HT systems set up properly can and do sound superb in an audio friendly environment. Naturally as with all things audio the equipment and synergy matters. Going low budget on the processor/amp/source will disappoint I agree.
A high quality processor will and does equal comparable 2 channel only audio reproduction.
FWIW took me many years, dollars and education to get to my HT and audio nirvana but I got it. My HT is great with both worlds.
There is nothing like a concert DVD playing in 5.1 that puts you at the concert. In the 2ch world this is impossible.  Modern HT is not your Daddys HT anymore it’s much more than that. It’s immersive.
I think you just might not have heard just how good it can be.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I've kind of stopped responding to millercarbon because EVERY SINGLE POST here that asks about an HT processor and receiver basically gets trashed by millercarbon in the same way. 
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
A comment on the Focal Sopra.  The Focal speakers are very fast responding and require a really good full sounding amp (which it looks like you have).  Focal can easily go bright and harsh in certain configurations.  What cabling are you using (power cord, interconnect, speaker cable)?  If it has anything that is silver or silver-plated, it really should be removed from the Focal setup.
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