Pharrow, sounds like you have a very good two channel preamp already. Is it possible to just add a good processor? I'm using a CJ-16LS and I also would like to add HT, but would like to keep the preamp i already have.
Preamp/Processor indecision!
It's like pairing food with wine. It all sounds good to me. Here is my set-up thus far: Martin Logan reQuests (f) Logos (c) Aerius (s) Sunfire True Sub, 3 McIntosh 2255 amps, all tied together with MIT gear. Now, I am looking for a pre/pro that will do justice to both music and theater. Weighted a bit to the theater side. These are what I've been considering heavily. B&K Ref 30, Lexicon DC-2, MAC MSD4, Adcom GTP 750, Sony ES9000, Parasound AVP2500 and the Sunfire Theater Grand. I know there are much better out there, but the budget is $2000-3000. Am I missing something? What do you think?
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All of the experience in the world cannot prepair you for this decision. Go with a unit that a reputable stereo reviewersuggests, then tear it apart! I mean to say, find out everything from that manufacturer you can. Call dealers, investigate it thoroughly! It's painstaking sometimes, but in the end "YOU" will have picked everything apart enough to where a clear decision comes to you. Don't be fooled by high prices. It doesn't mean the best unit! After doing this myself, because some units do better with theater, some with 2 channel. I settled for one that had all of the attributes I needed, including price. My choices were between the following. Denon AVP-8000, Parasound AVP2500, and of course the EAD Powermaster ovation. Good Luck!! |
By the way, if your MIT cables are not the high end (shotgun etc.) get rid of them, they do not bring out the electrostatics true measure. Try Kimber Monocle X. I know this from past experience with electrostatics! Contact Scott at [email protected] for Kimber needs! He's great! |
Brandon, the answer is yes. The Levinson 380S has a unity gain feature that allows a processor to be put through. The Levinson still feeds the front left and right but the volume is now being controlled by the processor. Unless your 2 channel preamp has this feature the system will not be balanced since you'll be fiddling with 2 volume controls, one for the 2 channel and one for the processor. I've been using a Marantz processor for a couple of years and it's fair at best. But with a good SSP you get the best of both worlds. |
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