Proceed PAV/PDSD HT Processors Good?


These two home theater components retail for over $11,000 new and it is currently selling at bargain prices ($1200-$1300). It can do DD, DTS, THX, Stereo, Mono in 5.1 setting. I wonder if I am missing out on any latest and greatest features? Any thoughts on this?

ldk
cybercargoa037

Showing 3 responses by dbphd

Rereading this series of posts has reconfirmed my thinking re the PAV/PDSD for a system that does both stereo music as well as surround HT. The main changes to my system since my '05 post is a Sony VPL-50 "Pearl" front projector with 100" 1.3 gain screen has been substituted for the 36 XBR, and a DVDO Edge HDMI switcher and video processor and a Velodyne SMS-1 bass manager (room correction below 80 Hz) have been added. A Sony PS3-80 does Blu-ray and DVD, as well as SACDs for surround music, but I haven't become addicted to that yet. I am a very happy camper!

My PAV needed a repair following a power surge that knocked out its power supply. The local repair shop also replaced a number of leaking capacitors. During the repair, I borrowed my cousin's Lexicon MC-1. The MC-1 did a splendid job of routing surround sound (as does the PDSD), but I was surprised by how superior the returned PAV is for stereo -- I expected them to be similar sounding if a bit different. To be fair, the MC-1 may well need leaking caps replaced, given its age and years without use. The MC-1 I used lacked the open transparency I so enjoy with the PAV/PDSD.

db
Of course it depends on what kind of video cables you plan to input and output. I'm using a DVDO Edge video processor and switcher that accepts various kinds of inputs, but only outputs HDMI. AVS had a group buy on the Edge, and I've been very pleased with it -- a single button lets me switch both audio and video between my DirecTV HD-DVR and PS3-80. If your video display accepts HDMI, I can recommend the DVDO Edge.

db
I replaced my Proceed PAV/PDSD with a Cary Cinema 11a for the lossless codecs and HDMI connectivity. I now have an Oppo BDP-105 that has an HDMI port for the HD-DVR and an asynchronous USB port for the Mac Mini. I use the balanced stereo and unbalanced 7.1 analog outputs from the Oppo, and the Cary inputs are set to bypass. I'm wondering about reinstalling the PAV/PDSD in the same configuration to replace the Cary. I don't care about the rear channels, 6 & 7, the Oppo processes the lossless codecs, and I don't use the HDMI inputs of the Cary. I assume that providing the tether to the PAV is in place, the PDSD will accept unbalanced analog from the Oppo; I think balanced stereo could go through the PAV.

db