[Carlos Martinez]

I'm getting tired of integrated receivers for 5.1 or 7.1 HT, and I'm investigating my options for an affordable video & audio 5.1 processor, with HDMI and all.

Separately I will provide the amplification,

What are my options?

So far I know the Emotiva UMC200 and the Outlaw 975, both around $600. Which BTW is also the price of a complete receiver!

So I wonder if there are no more affordable options than that? Are there?

 

[Selden Ball]

Unless you're willing to purchase used equipment, most pre/pros are quite a bit more expensive than the ones you mention. You'll have to decide if their additional features are worth the additional cost.

Preamp/processors tend to be more expensive than the equivalent receiver just because of the savings due to manufacturing large numbers of identical items. Far more AVRs are made than pre/pros. An exception is the 2014 Marantz AV7702 pre/pro, which (in the US) has a list price of $2K, which is identical to the US list price of the equivalent SR7009 receiver. (This a strange anomaly: the SR7009 is significantly cheaper in European markets.)

 

[M Code]

Preamp/processors tend to be more expensive than the equivalent receiver just because of the savings due to manufacturing large numbers of identical items. Far more AVRs are made than pre/pros. An exception is the 2014 Marantz AV7702 pre/pro, which (in the US) has a list price of $2K, which is identical to the US list price of the equivalent SR7009 receiver. (This a strange anomaly: the SR7009 is significantly cheaper in European markets.)

EZ to understand....
A typical North American user is less likely to connect other external audio components such as an amplifier up to his AVR..
Market research shows that < 8% of the North American users connect external audio components to their AVR vs. 23% of the Western Euro users will connect up external components. Additionally, since Marantz Euro distribution is more skewed to AV specialists that have component system expertise, their sale of a component friendly AVR (such as the SR7009) results in higher $ and more system sales including external component audio amplifiers.

Another insight, is to check out some of the Euro audio publications that are sometimes biased...
They do more indepth test reports than our qwikee in/out magazines here in North America..

Just my $0.02...