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Is an Integra DTC-9.8 pre/pro a good step up over a Denon receiver?

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I was at a Barrett's Home Theater store and happened to find an open-box Integra DTC 9.8 available. It was in like-new condition (a customer had it only for a few days) and although I wouldn't normally consider 10% off a good deal, this piece is apparently very hard to find in stock anywhere. So I purchased it. I have the option of returning it, which made the decision easier.

Does anyone have experience with this Integra pre/pro? I have a Denon 5800 receiver and want to upgrade for hdmi switching capability and the new HD audio formats. It's either this Integra and a good used 5/7 channel amplifier (such as NAD M25 or Rotel 1095) or a new Denon receiver. The Denon 5308 is available for around $4500, but the Integra and a used multichannel amp would be significantly cheaper. Would you think I can get better performance from the Denon 5308 or from the Integra DTC-9.8 and a Rotel 1095 or NAD M25?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Follow Ups:

check for a possible lossless audio problem - Joe Murphy Jr 22:29:13 03/28/08 (6)
It seems Onkyo and Yamaha are using a defective DTS-HD MA decoder in their processors. If you want to or eventually will have a Blu-ray player streaming the lossless audio codecs to this processor, make sure this model does not have the defective decoder in it. Denon, Pioneer and Sony use a different decoder and this problem is not applicable to their processors.

Below is a link to a thread describing the
- problem (Open in New Window)
- It appears this problem has been fixed with a firmware update. - Dalton 19:18:55 04/12/08 (0)
  I just updated the firmware on my Integra, but have yet to reincorporate it into my system. I did notice the DTS noise problem when playing the Eagles HD-DVD on a Toshiba XA-2. It scared the hell out of me when it happened, as I was playing it loud. So the problem was definitely native to the Integra DTC-9.8.
  
  They don't make upgrading these things easy. The DSP upgrade had to be done via a .wav file burned to a CD and played specifically through the toslink input 1. Took me a while to actually find an old optical cable (Does anyone still use those?). The main system upgrade had to be done via an RS232 link. And doing the upgrades caused the processor to default to factory settings - meaning I'll have to spend a couple hours resetting and calibrating it again. That's why I'm not looking forward to tearing apart my system again to put it back in.
  
  Hopefully the updates to the DSP and main system firmware will solve the "DTS noise bomb" (as it is being called) as well as the significant audio lag when changing sources. Otherwise, it goes back to the store and I wait for someone to finally get HDMI audio right for a change.
- I have both the 9.8 and BD-30--No DTS-related issues (nt) - Real 10:58:55 03/29/08 (4)
  .
  - yours is affected - Joe Murphy Jr 16:31:58 03/29/08 (3)
    The Integra 9.8 is using the same TI chip that the other receivers/processors are using. There is an Integra thread at AVS Forum: you might want to read it. And in my post, there is a link to the discs that are confirmed to exhibit more "bang for your buck" (check the time codes) when DTS-HD Master Audio is bitstreamed from any Blu-ray or HD DVD player to this TI chip.
    
    Onkyo Germany has put out a firmware update for the European models and the problem, so far, seems to have been fixed. Onkyo USA should be doing the same for their customers.
    - RE: yours is affected - Real 18:08:25 03/29/08 (2)
      Maybe so. However, of those on the list I only have (and have played without incident) "Close Encounters".
      - Do you have your player decode the DTS HD MA? Or do you send the bitstream to the Integra for decoding? NT - Jazz Inmate 00:27:11 03/30/08 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: yours is affected posted by Real on March 29, 2008 at 18:08:25
        
        -------------
        Call it, friendo.
        
        RE: Do you have your player decode the DTS HD MA? Or do you send the bitstream to the Integra for decoding? NT - Real 08:38:35 03/30/08 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Do you have your player decode the DTS HD MA? Or do you send the bitstream to the Integra for decoding? NT posted by Jazz Inmate on March 30, 2008 at 00:27:11
        
        The BD-30 does not have any internal decoders, and with the 9.8 one does not need them. I bitstream from the BD-30 to the 9.8. The only source connections to the 9.8 are HDMI. This is where the piece shines. The analog inputs are to be avoided (at least in my system). I confirmed this with my vinyl setup (LP12 to Linto to 9.8).
        
        BTW, my 555ES and Denon 2900 are now retired (may be used in a second system in the future). Based on Kal's review and other postings at AVR, I am now using the Oppo 980 for SACD, DVD-A, DVD, and CD. Like it a lot.
If you have any intention of using HDMI, the Integra is a very practical choice NT - Jazz Inmate 22:15:27 03/28/08 (0)
-------------
Call it, friendo.
RE: Is an Integra DTC-9.8 pre/pro a good step up over a Denon receiver? - Kal Rubinson 15:12:00 03/28/08 (2)
Tip-top digital processor. Analog inputs leave something to be desired.

Kal
- http://stereophile.com/musicintheround/108mitr/ (Open in New Window)
- Thanks Kal... - Dalton 16:39:29 03/28/08 (1)
  I was afraid of that. I will need the analog 5.1 input to play SACD and DVD-A from my Denon DVD-5910. Do you believe the Integra's analog inputs are noticeably inferior to the Denon 5800?
  
  If so, it looks like the Denon AVR-5308 (which has Denon Link for SACD), along with a separate 2 channel amp for the fronts is looking like it might be the better answer for me.
  - RE: Thanks Kal... - Real 11:02:48 03/29/08 (0)
    Many analog pre's have HT pass-through. With the 9.8, that is the route I took for vinyl. To my ears, all digital sources over HDMI to the 9.8 sound great.

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