Best Pre-Pro especially considering 2 channel

Ive had the Integra Research RDC-7 for two years, and Im still in love !

After listening to the Sunfire, B&K Reference 50, Adcom and Bryston 1.7, It was the Bryston by a mile. If you want good sound and don't need the TV switching it is the perfect unit-Simple and straight forward and quiet. Beware the B&K Ref 50. The units themselves have a very pronounced hum-I saw three samples. B&K couldn"t remedy hum. But worse, the sound from the speakers has a audible whine from the DSP's. At quiet passages it will drive you wild.

I was under the impression that the Bryston does not have the ability to configure 2 channel sound without the subwoofer. In other words, if you prefer to listen to 2 channel with large speakers without the "assistance" of the subwoofer in the system, this is not an option. It is possible that this has changed in the Bryston but I would verify this if this is an issue.

The local dealer in my area sent the Bryston back because it did not have this feature.

No offense, but who buys bryston preamps these days?

Thought to ponder...

I've owned the Soundstage, Sunfire TGII, Bryston SP-1, and Anthem AVM-20, which were all terrific sounding two-channel units in their own ways and ranked in the order listed. But the best sounding two channel I ever got out of a pre/pro was with the EAD Ovation Plus. It doesn't feature analog bypass or component video switching, but I thought I'd give it a nod anyway...

Good luck in your search...

P.S. You might want to check out the Cary Audio pre/pros as well...