You have hit on one of the unknown bargains in used audio today: pre/pros with yesterday's surround decoding schemes. You can pick up an Outlaw 950 for peanuts. They're two generations old and can be picked up for around $250 now.
I own one, and it has a really good line level preamp. In fact, I think its analog line level is of higher quality than its digital surround decoding. It also has a subwoofer output and available bass management in the analog domain. And an AM/FM tuner, and remote control. I've listened to it extensively side-by-side and sequentially against a VSP Labs Straightwire II preamp, and I can't really hear or otherwise sense any drop in speed, detail, or musicality compared to the Straightwire.
As you said, there are Anthems and other surround pre/pros built to a very high standard, and their wonderful line stages are languishing on the used gear shelves because they don't have 7.1 channels and/or Dolby Digital ES, TrueHD, or DTS HD Master Audio.
Also, since they were built for decoding DVDs, they usually have 24/96 DACs and (many) can upconvert CD digital input to 24/48 or 24/96. That castoff pre/pro may come with a better DAC than the one in your CD player.
I know of only one downside to this approach: the 5- and 7-channel pre/pros are much larger physically than a modern 2-channel line stage--maybe 2-3" higher and 6" deeper. They'll usually still fit on a standard rack; you just won't have as much room to reach around in the back when changing connections.
I own one, and it has a really good line level preamp. In fact, I think its analog line level is of higher quality than its digital surround decoding. It also has a subwoofer output and available bass management in the analog domain. And an AM/FM tuner, and remote control. I've listened to it extensively side-by-side and sequentially against a VSP Labs Straightwire II preamp, and I can't really hear or otherwise sense any drop in speed, detail, or musicality compared to the Straightwire.
As you said, there are Anthems and other surround pre/pros built to a very high standard, and their wonderful line stages are languishing on the used gear shelves because they don't have 7.1 channels and/or Dolby Digital ES, TrueHD, or DTS HD Master Audio.
Also, since they were built for decoding DVDs, they usually have 24/96 DACs and (many) can upconvert CD digital input to 24/48 or 24/96. That castoff pre/pro may come with a better DAC than the one in your CD player.
I know of only one downside to this approach: the 5- and 7-channel pre/pros are much larger physically than a modern 2-channel line stage--maybe 2-3" higher and 6" deeper. They'll usually still fit on a standard rack; you just won't have as much room to reach around in the back when changing connections.