new preamp for home theater only.

Which Meridian do you have? There is a new HD621 which gets HDMI-mediated HD into many of them.

You can save a lot of money going with an Integra DHC-9.9, retail is $1,800.
It is a top notch Surround Processor.

For even more savings with also a quality preamp, you can check the Integra DTC-9.8.

Also the Onkyo PR-SC886P, or even the PR-SC885P, which will save you even more money, so that you can put the rest into a better sub or a second sub, or even better speakers (center channel, surrounds, or whatever).

You don't need to spend $3,000 to get a good quality pre/pro.
But if ever you do insist, have a look to the Denon AVP-A1HDci, that could be add for about $unknown or so.

Bob

I'm debating the same thing myself. I have an exceptional, and completely seperate two channell system for serious listening. My pre/pro needs also extend only to home theater. I have given the Integra 9.9/Onkyo Pro 886P a lot of consideration.

My biggest concerns are around the fact that software upgrades are apparently difficult, and recommended through the dealer. And I do not have a local dealer. And also, a dealer who I respect greatly no longer recommends these products at all because of terrible customer service as provided by Onkyo/Integra.


John

The A1HD can truly be had for $3500.00?


John

You can alos click the link in my signature. Another possible processor for 3K is the new NAD T175HD, when it comes out.

Hi John,

I check around and I couldn't find anything. Don't take it wrong.
I might have mistaken for the 5308ci that can be add for $2,500 (from a list price of $5,500).

Regards,

Bob

P.S. Maybe someone have one for sale at close to that price (AVP-A1).

No worries, I only wondered if it had somehow dropped that much in price.


John

Hi John,

If you are talking about the Denon AVR-5308ci, the answer is YES. It is selling at the price that I mentioned at some places. Some people did find it at that price, quite amazing indeed. If you want to know where, only if you are truly interested, I can find out for you.

As for the Denon AVP-A1HDci, I'm not quite sure what price could be the best one for this behemoth. But I'm sure that you can find out by doing some researchs.

Anyway, let me know about your plans, if you have some...

Regards,

Bob

P.S. The Denon AVR-5308ci was $2499 at Best Buy (Magnolia) about a couple weeks ago.

Why would they be selling the 5308 so inexpensively? Was it a demo?

Why spend anything?

http://www.hemagazine.com/node/Dolby...compressed_PCM

Still?

hi,you could upgrade blue ray player and go analog out,all pre ,s at any price down step from 2 channel analog pre amps,if it suits you system set up.

regards victor. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1136036[/url]

Don't know for sure (but from what I understand, it was brand new), but does it really matter? Brand new or Demo model at that price, do you really care? I don't. I bought many demos in the past and never had a single problem, they were actually better, because they were already warm up.

Anyway I'll buy an Onkyo TX-SR876 for $899 in a heart beat, instead of a Denon AVR-5308ci for $2,499. Better value from the 876, IMHO.
Same weight, same Dacs, same power (official measurements), and many features are the same too, the Reon or the Realta (same to me), but the Onkyo is still about 3 times less money.

Why spend more?

Still!

Cheers,

Bob

Although the english is horrible am I correct in interpreting this statement to mean that you believe in the idea that solid state amplifiers and receivers need to "burn in" before they achieve their true sonic signature?

If so, then I believe that over the last few months you have stated as fact:

-There are easily heard differences between DACS
-There are easily heard differences between amplifiers and receivers due to DACS
-Seperates are always better than receivers as they use better parts
-Onkyo is far superior to Marantz, Yamaha, Denon, and other receivers,so much so that those other brands aren't even competitive
-solid state electronics need to burn in

And you haven't offerd a single shred of evidence or data in any post that a single thing you state is true. You can't defend any of the above comments other than to say you are 60 year's old, know a lot about audio/video, and have helped hundreds if not thousands with their system. You cite no studies, tests, experiments, or at least none you have shared with anybody to support your claims and yet:

Your signature states that you are providing "clarity in darkness?"

Wow.

You must be slipping, Doug, as the DW I know would be all over this faster than cats on mice. I guess we have a newer, kinder, Doug!

Yes, despite all the advertising and hype, reality "still" has not changed.

Reality? Someone's opinion based on one test does nothing for reality. The main problem is that people do not or can not upgrade for some reason so they find excuses.

You can get the marantz AV8003 for $2600 retail, but I have seen it as low as $2000. I think it will out perform the Integra personally, and I dont think the price of the Denon is worth it personally.

You confuse me, Doug. Given that you seem to be one of the objectivists on this forum, what problem do you have with a listening test?

As soon as someone posts a listening test that's sounds like it's as good as that one, that proves a panel can clearly tell DTS core from DTS-HD Master Audio, I think most of us will be happy to post both tests.

Up to now, that's the best test we have.

If we could get talk Dolby and DTS ( I have emailed them in the past,) into creating wave files representative of their various codecs all with the same source material, and at the same level and such, we would simply put them on a site, and point people to it.

For example, rip 20 seconds of audio from some music concert video with a very good digital version, encode it to DD 448, DD 640, DTS core 780 (or whatever that number is,) DTS core 1.5 mbs, DTS-HD MA, DD Plus, etc. then decode them all to WAV files, and include the master. Ensure all levels are identical, no dialnorm. Then we could really judge for ourselves by having a friend play back various pairs of tracks.

I think DD and DTS don't want people to have that easy of a way to compare the various codecs, IMO.

To Lhasa-lover,

You can assume all you want, but you'll have to argue with only yourself.
Your interpretations just bring you closer to the abyss of apocalypse.

I don't but it is one test and not an answer.


Possible but the differences between codecs is obvious and measureable, on the same note do you think the same way about CD's and 24/96 music matterial?

Not sure I have ever heard 24/96, sorry. That's another aspect of audio I have meant to test one day. Find audio recorded at the highest rate, say 192/24, and then listen to downconverted versions to find out if I can hear a difference.

I agree, there should be numerous DBT for everything.