Pre/Pro suggestions?

As best I can tell, all three are excellent. My impression is that the room equalization software used by Anthem is somewhat more awkward to use than Audyssey because it requires the use of a computer. (Although the extra-cost Pro version of Audyssey requires a computer, too). Note also that the Onkyo PR-SC5509 is functionally identical to the Integra DHC-80.3 at a somewhat lower price.

Just a little confused...are you looking for a preamp/processor or a receiver? Do you have a separate power amp?

Over the past 12 yrs I've owned the following pre/pros like: Sherwood P965(SNAP), Rotel RSP-1066(no room correction), and Marantz AV7005(Audyssey MultEQ XT), and receivers like the Denon AVR3300(no room correction), Pioneer Elite VSX-92TXH(MCACC) and now Anthem MRX300(ARC).

ARC is a bit different than Audyssey, MCACC ,YPAO etc... because you load the ARC software on your laptop and connect the mic to the laptop or PC and then the laptop is connected to the receiver. While the others use the receiver to do all the measurements ARC's uses your laptop to do all the measurements and then after you are satisfied with your graphs you upload the result to the receiver. You can also make changes to the results as many times as you like and see the results in the graphs on your laptop and then just upload them without running the measurements again. Of all the ones I've owned the Sherwood P965 and the Anthem MRX300 are the best sounding units I've used as a pre/pro in my room with my amps and speakers.

To my ears ARC is the most impressive room correction I've heard in my room with my gear. After having ARC I can't see myself buying anything again without it. I didn't know much about ARC before buying the MRX300, because it was previously only offered in Anthem's expensive pre/pros, so I just never read about it because it was in units out of my price range, but now I'm completely sold on it.
Edited by Legairre - 1/29/13 at 10:24pm

I currently have a Marantz AV8003 driving a (5 channel) Marantz MM9000. Their new AV8801 is tempting, but has a list price of about $3600.
The receivers he mentions all have preamp outputs, so they can be used as pre/pros, driving external amps

Do you want serious audio quality, or more of the bells and whistles?

Kind of like "do you walk to school, or carry your lunch?"