2.1 disability...


I am currently upgrading my system and am trying to do it slowly for financial reasons. For now, I am using a modified Pioneer 47ai universal player into an Audio Refinement Pre2DSP. I have a powered sub within my 5.1 speaker setup. For some reason, in order to listen to a 2 channel recording and add the sub (2.1) I must press a tape monitor button under the chassis in the preamp. This degrades the sound to some extent and I was wondering is anyone who still owns one of these dinosaurs can tell me a way around it? I have the universal also hooked up in analog 5.1 into the pre, as well as the 2 channel outs as this seemed to be the only way it would work. Should I just buy a new processor and be done with it? Basically I understand that 2 channel means 2 channel and I am asking the pre to add the sub to the 2 channel mix. Maybe it is just not capable of doing that? Help me!!
llippman

Showing 4 responses by llippman

Mceljo - I so appreciate you taking the time to help try to answer my question. That's what I love about this community - people are just so generous with their expertise here. You were correct in your analysis on how I have the outputs configured.

Kal - I did not know it was considered a transitional product. Would you, or anyone else for that matter, recommend any processor in particular? I was thinking of one of the Integra pieces like the 80.1 or the 9.9? I wanted to spend around $1,000 for a used piece here on Audiogon. I was planning on using the device for audio only and sending video via HDMI directly to the new TV I am getting in about 2 weeks - the new Panasonic 65" VT30 plasma (I'm excited about that !!).

Again - thank you so much for your time and consideration in helping me out.
Everyone is so helpful - thank you again for trying...

I am using all of the 5.1 analog outs from the Pioneer universal (soon to be Oppo nuforce xtreme)and am ALSO using the 2 channel analog outs both going to the audio refinement pre2dsp (essentially 8 separate interconnects coming out of the universal). My speaker setup is all Reimer speaker systems. I have Tetons for the fronts and McColloughs for the center and rears. The sub is also a Reimer sub but is a powered sub. Not quite sure what the high level input would be... I believe there is only one RCA input on the rear of the sub but I'll check.
Sand stone - I am ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY!!!!
No one and I mean no one has been able to figure out a solution to this and I have had this setup for close to ten years!! I have friends who are really good at this stuff and you have done it my friend - WOW!! I can't thank you enough - really man - thanks so much!!

I assume this also means at this point, if I want to keep my processor at this point, I need to get the Oppo 95 as it has the separate 2 channel outs besides the 5.1 analog outs just like my current Pioneer. The 93 only has the 5.1 outs so that would not work in this configuration that you have figured out, right?

It also means a lot to me that you appreciate my speaker setup - if you are ever on Long Island come check them out. Lots of people do and most are pretty blown away I must say - they really sound amazing - you can throw absolutely anything at them and they still have tons of room to breath - you would dig them.

To all of you, I so appreciate your willingness to help me with this. This is truly an amazing community of people.

With much gratitude,
Larry
That is all really informative and maybe something to consider for the future. Right now it is boiling down to finances as it is for most people. The thing is I am getting the new (and not even really out yet) Panasonic 65" VT30 plasma - the highest rated TV available on the planet which clocks in at close to 5 grand. Add the fact that I am finally catching up to technology and getting a good blu ray player and you have a pretty big nut money wise. Any and everything else would have to wait for awhile. That is why this solution you gave me really helped as I now don't have to run out and also get a new pre pro as well right away.

The audio refinement is indeed a true sleeper and is made by YBA. It does not really have many bells and whistles but is really good at passing a signal and not degrading it. As far as amps are concerned I have two Adcom amps which were modded by Stan Warren up in Oregon: one is a two channel and one is a three channel. There really are no other outputs other than the ones I am using now to use them with the pre2dsp so I don't know if I could even actually use a separate 2 channel pre and make it work properly in all applications - limited connectability issues...

The Reimers are a work of art - I could not even describe to you in words how amazing they sound. They are incredibly efficient and they all use Dayton drivers and ribbon tweeters. The Tetons are pretty massive each with 2 woofers, on top and bottom, two mids and the ribbon tweeter. When I take the grills off everything and sit there it looks like the Grateful Dead's old wall of sound! As far as background on them I have a friend who was a local 'dealer' so to speak for them through Rick Reimer. We had worked out a deal together at the time that I could get them significantly less expensive if I agreed to demo them for other customers at my place. So I use to have people come from NY, NJ, PA and CT and bring their own discs of choice and listen to them. It was fun to see their faces when you showed them all the different applications - 2 channel in redbook, SACD and then surround for DVD Audio and SACD and DVDs... The Reimers just shrug off anything you throw at them and look for more. As far as I know Rick is not making them anymore in the past few years (I could be wrong? but I don't think so...)so I guess they really sort of are collectors items at this point. I will never own another set of speakers if I can help it. They truly are that good.

In reference to the 95, I was only getting a 93 because I was planning on buying the 93 Oppo Nuforce Extreme which is supposedly so good that Oppo decided to scrap an extreme 95 as they didn't feel it would be cost effective since the 93 extreme is so amazing sounding. At least that is what I heard... The 95 is supposed to be mind blowing if you use it in XLR but with my Audio Refinement that is not a possibility.

If the settings could be made to work on that 93 extreme like you said it would and the sub would indeed pass through I may actually stick to that original choice.

Hope we can hang someday and listen to music up east!

In friendship,
Larry
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