Proceed PAV/PDSD HT Processors Good?

I have had a PAV for many years, then bought a PAV/PDSD combination a couple of years ago. I use them with a Proceed Amp 2 and Amp 3 that drive a pair of KEF 104/2 mains, a KEF 200 C center speaker, and a pair of KEF 102/2 surrounds. Frequencies below 80 Hz are shunted to a Velodyne HGS-15 sub. This system is not only impressive for movies and HDTV, but knowledgable listeners think it sounds great for stereo. The sound is open and spacious, with excellent imaging. Build quality is very good.

Main drawback is that these units predate component video. You will need a separate video switcher for component video. I do that now at a 36 XBR, but I expect to need a switcher when I move to front projection.

db

I have seen these go for $650 here!

I still like these units, far better than the AVP they came out with later. You will be missing a 5.1 analog input though unless you plan on rewiring the components any time you wish to use a multichannel source...

That for me is th only down side to these.

Don Thanks for the comment.

I have read these are the best highend stereo and Home Theater system you can buy at the time. I am trying to decide for the same $$$ ($1200-$1300), is there any better Surround Processor out there? How about Lexicon MC-1?

I did some research on PAV/PDSD and it looks like PDSD uses the 20 bit DAC and it has one Burr Brown PCM1702 in every channels. Do you know if it uses the more expensive K-Series PCM1702? See this thread for more info.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1104529280

Thanks

ldk

ldk,

I considered both the Lexicon MC-1 and Krell HT 5.1, and have listened to each. I've read claims that the sound of the PAV/PDSD is superior, but I suspect it's a close call. I do know the spaciousness and imaging I so value with the Proceed stuff evaporated when I tried to switch to Sony's penultimate receiver in the interest of simplicity.

I don't recall any details about the DACs in the Proceed unit, but I'm confident they are high quality. Again, I do know that redbook CDs sound much better when the digital output from my Sony DVP-S9000ES is processed by the PDSD rather than using the analog output from the Sony, wherein the Sony DACs are doing the processing.

db

The shortcomings have been effectively addressed in this thread. I could be wrong, but I do not see the value of these units falling to much farther below where they are now.

In regards to the sound, if 2ch music is going to be something you are going to use than you are not going to do any better than the PAV. The lexicon stuff pales in comparison. (at least the dc-1 did)The PAV is great for high end stereo, (virtually the same as the "Pre") something that a lot of processors claim, but few actually accomplish.

My opinion is that these componenets represent extraordinary value, it just takes the right person and situation to capitalize.

-rob