SSP & Pre/Pros that support HDMI Audio MPCM - Page 35

I have the ICE amps in one of my systems. The unit was built by D-Sonic and I think it sounds fantastic.

Yes they use the ICE class D amps. I have one. It sounds good but different than Class A/B. I think for HT use it is good. I have one of their new Class D multi amps the rmb-1565 as well as the older monster Class A/B rmb-1075. The Class D rotel amp has good detail and overall sounds great but there does not seem to be as full of sound. Even more noticeable in the lower frequencies. They really just sound different, both are good but hard to describe. They still make Class A/B 2ch amps which I have one of the new ones in my stereo setup is that tells you anything. For normal HT use though the Class D amps are good and run cool and are not as huge as Class A/B of same power rating.

I currently have McIntosh amps (MC501) and am upgrading my A/V Processor. I was offered a choice between the new McIntosh A/V processor (MX121) which will be on the market next month and have all the latest specifications or the Classe SSP-800. The Classe will run about 3M more than the McIntosh. Would the McIntosh processor be more compatible with my current McIntosh amps or would the Classe seamlessly fit in and be even better? Thank you for your help.

Whether there will be better synergy between your MC501's and either of the pre-pros that you mentioned can only be determined by your ears in A/B testing which is not the answer you were seeking. There is nothing to categorically state that an amp of one brand would automatically sound better with a pre-pro of the same brand.

While I am close to being a McFan, I am also a realist -- the manual for my MX150 looks nice but leaves a bunch of information out although the piece is outstanding in use (especially its Web interface and Room Perfect EQ) and the C48 and C50 preamps that came out about a year ago are still awaiting a needed firmware update and perhaps their real manuals. The SSP-800 is tested and proven but certainly does not have the same look as your fine amps if that is important to you, and as I recall, the new MX121 will have Audyssey EQ of some sort for EQing the room while the Classe pre-pro has no EQ capability of consequence -- that might be of interest, especially in a pre-pro where subwoofers are likely to be involved.

Since it is unlikely that you cannot audition both with your MC501's in an A/B situation, I guess you will need to make a list of likes and dislikes (capabilities and incapabilities) for each and draw a conclusion from that. I know that the SSP-800 is a fine piece and assume that the MX121 will also be a quality piece but Mc has not been very timely with some firmware patches for several of their more recent pieces lately. OTOH, if the MX121 was based upon the Marantz pre-pro as has been suggested (no proof at all), then needed firmware updates would likely be more forthcoming. [Editorial comment -- as much as I like my Mx150, I would be just as happy had Mc taken the Denon AVP and put a Mc faceplate on it -- remember that D&M holdings owns McIntosh, Denon and Marantz).

You might consider the Classe CT-SSP -- same innerds and capabilities as the SSP-800 but might look a little better with your MC501's -- I actually considered that before purching my MX150.

Good luck

MikeSp

The Classe has an EQ. It's manual and will require a mic, software, etc but it has one.

Hi Kal, I can't seem to find that review based on your link or at the stereophile site.

Help please,

Thanks

Paul

Assuming you're talking about Kal's post that says: "Review of Rotel RSP-1572 in March Stereophile.", I would assume he means March 2012. That means it won't be available online for a while yet.

Indeed! I am now working on the proofs.

Hi there all,

I am a bit of a regular on the room construction forum but new to this side of things. I am building a theatre room in Australia and have installed my 7 speakers in the room. Still yet to construct my two Danley Sub kits... that's a job for after Christmas.

My equipment is as follows:

Sony BDP-CX960 blu ray changer
Emotiva UMC-1 7.1 processor
Emotiva XPA-5 amp
Emotiva UPA-2
Niles Pro 2770 LCR speakers
4 x Emotiva ERD-1 dipole / bipole surrounds

There are lots of other bits but not relevant to this forum.

I am using the Disney World of Wonder calibration disc, which is great. It has a basic speaker ID section and it reads through all of my speakers just fine for L,C,R and the 2 x side surrounds. However, when it reads out the names for the rear surrounds, the voice is heard in the side surrounds and nothing in the rear surrounds.

This would lead me to believe that either my Bluray player is not correctly sending the correct signal to my processor. I know very little about the difference between Bitstream or PCM and hiope that maybe someone out there can tell me what i am doing wrong? I am running HDMI 1.4 cables and both my processor and Blu Ray player have the latest firmware.

How can I get sound from my rear surrounds?

Thanks so much and merry Christmas.

Greg

It would be good to confirm the operation in both PCM and bitstream modes. Normally the sound quality is identical, but when bitstreaming the AV processor has to do all the decoding, so it shifts the burden there. What does the UMC-1 display when playing the 7.1 track, does it say 7.1?

Bitstreaming also prevents any interactive menu or commentary sounds from being heard. That can only be done if the audio is decoded in the player.

This choice is controlled in the player's audio setup menu. When selecting PCM for the HDMI output, make sure that Secondary Audio is turned off, so that the lossless soundtrack will be heard.

Do you have any other 7.1 discs on hand, like Toy Story 3? If so, you can see if the sound comes out the rear speakers, and you can try the calibration tones there to see if they have the same issue.

Thanks Roger,
Will check it out when I get home from work and post the results here.
Appreciate your help.
Greg

Hi there Roger. Thanks very much for your help. Needed to make some changes in the output of the Bluray player. My UMC is now showing 7.1 on such encoded discs and sounds great. Now that the latest firmware is operating I am pretty happy with the UMC1. Threw Toy Story 3 in and the 7ch mix was impressive. Rocky Horror Picture Show less so. Still pretty good for such an old production. Thanks again!

I realize that CES 2012 is just a day away from official launch.......but I was wondering if anyone has heard of an all around Pre/amp Pro that will be a "MUST HAVE". Sort of in the same line as the much anticipated 55" OLED from LG & Samsung but from an audio side of things.

Thanks

Paul

The ADA Cinema Reference IV

The NAD T 187 is now available and was added to the NAD website within the last day or two:

http://nadelectronics.com/products/h...eamp-Processor

MSRP is $3000 if I am not mistaken. Features are the same as the T175HD on the audio side of things. It uses the AM200 dual DSP board with Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction with custom NAD curves, Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ. On the video side it has the VM150 3D HDMI 1.4 module and the VM150x extension module.

^^^

I just saw this here too, linked from High Def Digest:

http://www.ecoustics.com/electronics...ew/706034.html

Strange that it doesn't offer XT32 ...

I am very curious to know how this NAD stacks up to the 80.3/5508 camp.

Anyone have any news on a new Marantz or Onkyo Processor? I like the current Marantz, but would prefer to have XT32. I was holding out for Outlaw, but it's been a long time waiting.

The new Marantz AV8007 (Sep release) will likely have XT32 as will likely the new "reference" line. More info should be out later this summer.

Thank you. Did you see a press release or was this through the grapevine? THe current unit is nice, so Sep will be a good bday gift.

Added Marantz AV7701 to next version.

Didn't see a next version for announced units, but the Marantz 8801 needs to be added as well as the Emotiva XMC-1.

Outlaw has canceled the 978, but it's still listed in the announced section.

post #1 definitely needs an update denon avp got the 3D upgrade, plus audyssey xt32 and yep is a 9.3 processor

http://denon.eu/3D-edition/en/

I think I recently added a few things and moved some thins around that were incorrectly added. I may have missed some stuff as well.

I do know that Marantz has 2 new units.

Datasat RS20I
Denon AVP-A1 3D Upgrade
Bryston SP3
Marantz AV7701
Marantz AV8801
Nad T187
Audiolab 8200AP
Onkyo PR-SC5509 (And Integra clones)

1. Anthem AVM 50v 3D
2. Anthem Statement D2v 3D
3. AudioControl Maestro M2e
4. JBL SDP-5
5. McIntosh MX121
6. McIntosh MX151
7. Rotel RSP-1069
8. Sunfire TGP-5
9. Trinnov Audio Amethyst -- Shown at Paris AV show but not much more on Trinnov's web site

Might want to consider adding an additional column for streaming capabilities.
Edited by Operon - 11/14/12 at 10:31am

Parasound P7 is analog only.  No MPCM at all.