2. home-theater
  3. 1349987423

Requesting Thoughts and Ideas

Have been off Audiogon for quite some time and need some help/suggestions on updating my home theater system. Over the last few months I have read everything possible on the newest options available for a pre-processor and blue ray player. At this moment this is my two areas that need immediate updates.

My current system:

Classe SSP 60 pre-processor
Nuforce Ref 8B amps
Sonus Faber Grand Piano Homes, Solo & Wall speakers
Samsung BDP 2550 Blu Ray Player
Dual Velodyne FSR 12 Subs
Sony 55 inch rear projection TV

System is 5.1 with no thoughts of adding any other speakers. Usage is 95% home theater.

Room is 16 X 16 that has been treated with GIK panels recommended by manufacturer.Room has an opening to the kitchen that will either be treated with heavy drapes or acoustical accordion doors.

The Classe pre processor has been a flawless unit but lacks HDMI as well the latest codecs, Audyssey XT 32 or similar room correction and 3D capabilities.

The upgrade on the Blu Ray player will probably be the new OPPO 103 at this point which seems like a no brainer.

So I need some help on defining the best options on the pre processor upgrade first and foremost. It is not in the budget to upgrade to the Classe SSP 800. From what I have read here are some affordable choices:

Integra 80.3 /Onkyo 5509
Marantz 7005 or latest with XT32
Denon 4311CI receiver
Anthem 700 series receiver

In any case will use the Nuforce amps to drive the system.Also contemplating either upgrading the amps to V3 status or moving in another direction like the 5 channel Butler amps since Sonus Faber speakers do well with tube amps.

Last upgrade will be to an 80 inch TV but not many choices at the moment.

Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
hiflyer

Showing 3 responses by martykl

martykl
3,578 posts
 
A while back, I bought the Onkyo for use in a 2 channel system (music only) that includes subwoofers.

Before that purchase, I spent about a year auditioning the options:

Onkyo, Integra, and Denon pre-pros (XT32), as well as Marantz and Anthem (room correction, but not XT32) and several traditional high end models from McIntosh, Meridian and Classe, among others. I tried to find a 2 channel HK 990 for audition, but failed.

My take away was "Find the least expensive XT32 equipped model and call it a day." Hence, the Onkyo.

I know that others will disagree, but IMO, XT32 pretty much dominates the listening experience (in a stunningly good way) when there are subwoofers involved.

Caveat: If you're using analog sources, the equation may change.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
In order to get the SMS-1 to perform optimally, set-up is a GIANT pain in the ass. The "auto-correct" function is inexplicably crude and manual adjustment is 1000% better. Unfortunately, it's also a time consuming process of trial and error for many of the settings.

However, once it's dialed in, the SMS-1 sounds pretty damn good, although you may wish to bypass the high cut function which is both inflexible (fixed at 6db/octave, 80hz) and possibly audible thru your main speakers (YMMV on that one). I ended up using an NHT outboard crossover ahead of the SMS-1 to take that unit out of the main signal path, but some might conclude that this is overkill - hence the YMMV, above.

Been there, moved on to Audyssey.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Sorry - my previous post should have read "bypass the low cut function". This reference was to the portion of the SMS x-over that filters the bass out of the main speakers. The SMS-1 high cut (filters out the top end of the sub's response) is enormously flexible, doesn't impact the main signal path, and is integral to the unit's performance.

Marty
More to discover