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I currently have an HDMI-challenged pre/pro used only for satellite box D/A, MC SACD player, and blu-ray player w/5.1 analog outputs all feeding a multichannel ("pure") analog preamp. I feed the HDMI video directly to the display using an HDMI switcher and/or display video switcher. Everyone keeps telling me to replace my "Spagetti wire" system with a new pre/pro to take maximum advantage of Blu-ray video/audio.
Why ? I'm loath to give up the analog MC preamp because it's preamp stage blew away my previous pre/pro preamp stage (and so did a second analog MC preamp I was auditioning at a time). Maybe a good reason why a typical analog volume control rules.
I hear the DACs on pre/pros are "typically better" than that of your typical source players. But why should that have to be the case ?
What makes the analog outputs of your "high end" Classe/McIntosh/Denon/Integra/ etc... "High end" Pre/pros likely better than that of your "high end" (?) 5/7.1 analog output blu-ray players from Pioneer Elite 09/Denon/Lexicon/etc ? I heard this from an equipment manufacturer (amongst others).
Okay, maybe Pre/pros are better able to handle bass management/room correction (if you believe in this)/lip sych) but that's all I can figure.
I'm taking a hard look at the Oppo BDP-83SE as an option for Blu-ray player 5.1 analog outputs. Also the Pioneer Elite 09 and more expensive players. But maybe I don't need the expensive player if I just bought the (more???) expensive pre/pro.
Follow Ups:
I'd have to say you're making a sensible decision. Even though it's not the direction I chose. Get a BDP with good analog outputs, or at least acceptable ones (I'd put the stock Oppo in the acceptable category).
There is no reason you can't have both an analog and an HDMI pre-pro. Any HDMI pre-pro that you might find acceptable is not exactly cheap, and there's not really that much of a selection that are fully up-to-date (Integra are popular). I do not know if there's any HDMI pre-pro that is also good with analog inputs, and fully up-to-date (difficult for smaller higher-end companies, it seems).
For movies, even a fairly middling HDMI AVR with pre outputs can do an excellent job with a fair implementation of Audyssey. I was very surprised with that. Not nearly as good with music, you'll want the better pre-pro (with better Audyssey implementation) for that most likely.
I like the idea that an HDMI pre-pro allows all the connected devices to use the good centralised analog output circuitry, rather than having the good analog output circuitry distributed in each device. This is more a theoretical for me right now, as it is harder to achieve than I thought. That's the problem when coming from a mostly analog system, big and somewhat costly decisions to be made...at this time I'm giving shorter shrift to my HDMI audio sources, waiting for an HDMI pre-pro that's more to my taste.
The product linked to below is due out in January 2010. The cost is $350 and you can read about its capabilities on Octavainc's site. For better sound, if the stock analog stages aren't up to your standards, you could always mod them. However, if you need distance/time alignment capability, it doesn't seem to have those features (at least they're not listed).
While not in the same, umm..ocean as you..my Denon AVR has performed well for several years but when it came time for me to buy a blu-ray player I had to make a decision. I was looking for a player with multi-analog out but the only ones that I found in my budget were plagued with other issues, mostly a very slow load/read time. I ended up buying a Sony 360 and for now at least using the optical out for audio (to the AVR) and HDMI for the video (to TV).
I know I'm not getting the uncompressed audio that blu-ray is capable of but it seems that everything HT related is going full digital anyway. In time I will replace my AVR with one that has full HDMI capability but until then I'm enjoying what I have.
Baba-Booey to you all!
as long as you can set up effective bass management (if needed), level and distance settings for your installation. Analog preamps generally cannot and most player are somewhat limited in those tools.
Kal
The Oppo BDP 83 has speaker distance adjustments.
No speaker can be set to be farther from the listener than the main L/Rs. Both my center and my sub are farther away.
Kal
Is distance relative to full-range speakers really that important for a subwoofer(s) ?
any use of a sub EQ (such as the ones in the jl and new Paradigm subs or a standalone one such as the SVS) will add significantly to the effective distance because of the latency of the DSP.
Kal
both at different distances in different parts of the room. There is an alleged one time "auto-calibration" ritual using a microphone to help the subs figure out automatically what each is supposed to do as the subs self-generate test tones. How does a preamp/processor know how to handle this ?
Problem should get even more intesting when(/if?) the recommended four (4) subs are implemented.
This is a complicated issue. There are a few interesting approaches.
One is the SVS-EQ1/Audyssey SubEQ approach in which the subEQ takes care of the differential in delays of a pair and the bass management in the processor deals with the net performance of the pair.
There is another from JBL which handles up to 4 subs and EQs them.
Kal
Especially important. You notice the delay (=distance) much more easily with LF signals.
I forgot about this issue with the Oppo (say) BM...and it isn't going to be changed soon either since it originates with a (non-custom) chip maker. I don't use the mch analog outputs anyway.
but I guess most folks don't have this luxury. Level matching can be accomplished with preamp (e.g. boost/cut back sub output as needed).
... but I don't have a good way to get to 7.1 without spending a whole lot more money (another preamp and more speakers... amps... etc)
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