Looking at your virtual system, I see that you and I apparently have 'opposite' equipment - my EAD TM8800Pro processor and Sim W-5LE amp to your Sim processor and EAD amplification.
I have previously owned a Sim Titan amp, EAD TM8000Pro and EAD TM8800(non-Pro) processors, so I also went through alot of the 'EAD vs. Sim' research.
Ist - in case you didn't know - the Attraction 7.1 utilizes the previous-generation EAD 8000-series mainboard, but was voiced by Sim and was supposedly better-sounding then an equivalent 8000. In that comparison, the easy choice for 2-channel sound would be the 7.1. But, your Attraction 5.1 uses an even earlier version of the EAD chipset and firmware.
And, the 8800-series uses a new mainboard design that is not shared with any Sim products, so the choice here is not as clear. 2 separate dealers that each sell BOTH Sim and EAD have told me that the 8800Pro is just a hair more transparent then the Attraction 7.1 - that's about it.
I can attest to the EAD's transparency, as I have compared the sound of my Esoteric CD player run directly to a VAC Renaissance tube preamp to the same player connected through the EAD to the VAC using identical balanced inputs. Assuming equivalent levels were set, an A/B comparo proved that the EAD is extremely transparent - basically unnoticeable - when using balanced cabling.
Finally, the 8800 does have Dolby ProLogic II and a faster processor, which I found to be FAR better for HT sonics then standard DPL of the earlier designs that I owned - enough to justify the upgrade.
Hope that helps.
I have previously owned a Sim Titan amp, EAD TM8000Pro and EAD TM8800(non-Pro) processors, so I also went through alot of the 'EAD vs. Sim' research.
Ist - in case you didn't know - the Attraction 7.1 utilizes the previous-generation EAD 8000-series mainboard, but was voiced by Sim and was supposedly better-sounding then an equivalent 8000. In that comparison, the easy choice for 2-channel sound would be the 7.1. But, your Attraction 5.1 uses an even earlier version of the EAD chipset and firmware.
And, the 8800-series uses a new mainboard design that is not shared with any Sim products, so the choice here is not as clear. 2 separate dealers that each sell BOTH Sim and EAD have told me that the 8800Pro is just a hair more transparent then the Attraction 7.1 - that's about it.
I can attest to the EAD's transparency, as I have compared the sound of my Esoteric CD player run directly to a VAC Renaissance tube preamp to the same player connected through the EAD to the VAC using identical balanced inputs. Assuming equivalent levels were set, an A/B comparo proved that the EAD is extremely transparent - basically unnoticeable - when using balanced cabling.
Finally, the 8800 does have Dolby ProLogic II and a faster processor, which I found to be FAR better for HT sonics then standard DPL of the earlier designs that I owned - enough to justify the upgrade.
Hope that helps.