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In Reply to: RE: Integra DTC-9.8 - Blech! posted by MDavis on April 19, 2008 at 15:57:01
... that the analog inputs leave lots to be desired. Unfortunately, that was only after I purchased it. His was the only comment specific to the 5.1 analog input performance that I have read.I don't know how you jump to the conclusion that I called it a "piece of junk". I didn't mean the comments as some sort of personal attack. My complaint was very specific to SACD performance through the analog input, based on my experience with another option. If it works for you in your system, that's great. I'm simply reporting my personal findings which I certainly would have found useful in making a purchase decision had I read them from someone else. I'm just laying this out there as another data point for anyone else who might be considering the Integra DTC-9.8. I don't see what's wrong with that.
Thinking perhaps I was being psychologically biased against the Integra by Kal's comments, I spent a week with the Integra in my system trying to get satisfactory results with SACD playback. I reluctantly come to agree with Kal's assessment. Even my Denon AVR-5800 performs better. Not too surprising I guess, as this was Denon's top of the line receiver a few years back.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Integra DTC-9.8 isn't a great option in a dedicated home theater system. With either my Blu Ray or HD DVD player through the hdmi inputs, I was getting excellent hi-res audio results - very comparable to using the players' analog outputs into the old Denon. I could have easily lived with it in a pure home theater setup.
But I can't sacrifice the SACD performance to gain a little switching convenience and I'm certainly not willing to pay extra for it. So as I said in the last line of my original post, I can't recommend it for a combined home theater and multichannel music system.
Edits: 04/19/08 04/19/08 04/19/08Follow Ups:
That's not the kind of spaghetti you can eat, you know. The PS3 decoding SACD and outputting 24-bit PCM via HDMI to the Integra set on "Direct" sounds impressive on Mch SACDs. HDMI was designed so you don't have to run RGB + optical + 5.1 sets of interconnects. Why not take advantage of it? You have a great pre/pro that lets you do exactly that. Analog is for two-channel.
-------------Call it, friendo.
Also plays DVD-As and no games!
Kal
I appreciate the thought, but it won't help me.I am not going to buy a new SACD player to accommodate the Integra. Unless I missed something in the manual, the Denon DVD-5910 will not output either DSD or DSD decoded to hi-res multichannel PCM through hdmi. It would be easier (and much cheaper) for me to get a new Denon AVR-5308 and get the Denon Link capability along with the hdmi in/outs.
The PS3 makes the most sense.
-------------Call it, friendo.
That's really why I wanted the Integra to work. I need either hdmi capability or 3 sets of 5.1 analog inputs. The Denon AVR-5800 only has two, which means living with low-res Dolby or DTS sound from either HD-DVD or Blu-ray.
I think I may be waiting a few months to hopefully get a good deal on a used Denon AVR-5308. At a $4500 street price, that's a little more than I want to spend. Plus, if I wait everyone else can work out the inevitable processing bugs. I had to spend a couple hours updating the Integra to the newest firmware to take care of the DTS bomb and the long mute lag when changing sources.
The Integra also has a number of minor issues that added up in the "return to store" column. The display can not be turned off, only dimmed. This was distracting since the unit sat directly under my screen. And you can't use both hdmi outputs simultaneously, which makes changing setting cumbersome when watching the "wrong" display. Finally despite the firmware upgrade, the Integra is still slow locking on when changing sources or even channels on DirecTV.
But I could have lived with all of those minor issues if the thing actually sounded good with SACD.
Whoa, that's more than I've done. How did you go about upgrading the firmware?
-------------Call it, friendo.
Posts #22 and #23 of the linked thread give details on how to do it.
You'll need a CD player that can play burned CDs through an optical port, an optical digital cable and an RS-232 cable to do both upgrades. Takes care of the so-called "DTS bomb" (which I confirmed I had using the Integra with my Toshiba HD-XA2) and also speeds up the locking-in of hdmi sources when you change selections.
I think these new firmware revisions solve other problems but you'll have to do your own research.
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