2. home-theater
  3. 153779-116810

Amp and Processor

I apologize in advance for making this post so long.  I'm in a two channel system now with a PS Audio BHK Preamp, BHK Monoblocks, and Focal Sopra 3s.  The right Focal 35 inches from the wall and the left Focal is open ended.  The width of the room is 15 feet.  The Focals are 20 inches from the back wall,  The ceiling is 8 feet high.  I know the speaker placement is not ideal, but I have constraints.  I am using an OPPO 205, PSA Audio Direct Stream DAC and PS Audio Direct Stream Memory Player.  The music is bright and disappointing.  Aside f rom that, I'm thinking of going to a Home Theater system with Focal Sopra 2s, Focal Sopra 1s and a Focal Center speaker.  I will no longer use the PS Audio gear or Focal Sopra 3.  I'm looking for a relatively high end processor and 5.1 channel amplifier.  For the amplifier, I'm thinking of using a Krell Chorus 5200 XD.  I'm stuck on the processor.  I'd love to get the Bryston SP4, but it may  be out of my budget.  I've also looked at Anthem and Marantz.  I still want to hear excellent stereo sound.  Any suggestions?
daj2832

Showing 3 responses by auxinput

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
A comment on the Focal Sopra.  The Focal speakers are very fast responding and require a really good full sounding amp (which it looks like you have).  Focal can easily go bright and harsh in certain configurations.  What cabling are you using (power cord, interconnect, speaker cable)?  If it has anything that is silver or silver-plated, it really should be removed from the Focal setup.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I've kind of stopped responding to millercarbon because EVERY SINGLE POST here that asks about an HT processor and receiver basically gets trashed by millercarbon in the same way. 
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Depending on what wire he has in his system, the Anthem AVM60 might be too fast and too much resolution for the focal.  I have used the Bryston SP3 in my system - uses all discrete Class A analog output stages (just like a high end preamp).  It is very nice, very smooth sound and just about the best and strongest bass I've had out of a HT processor.  However, it was just too laid back in the mids and upper mids for my tastes.  This might match exactly what daj2832 needs because he is complaining that the Focal are too bright and harsh.

That being said, if you are locked onto the Krell Chorus XD amp, the Bryston might not be the best match because the new Krell amps really smooth over the sound and smooth out the high frequencies.  Pairing the Krell XD with Bryston SP3 might be too laid back at this point.  It's difficult to say because system synergy is a weird thing.
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