Suggestions for new AV Pre-Pro

Ronrags,

I didn't want the added complication of separate preamp and processor that Kal recommends, and I was influenced by Michael Framer's review of the 11a in Home Theater. Furthermore, I wanted surround DSD. So I bought an 11a to replace my Proceed PAV/PDSD. The Cary 11a manual recommends not using the room equalization available on the chip they use, and instead rely on tape measure and SPL meter. The 11a has adjustments for frequency equalization that you can do using the bands of noise the 11a can generate. I think those of us who own an 11a do so because of the audio quality despite the bugs.

db

I've been using a Cary Cinema 11a for some time now, and, regardless of what someone told mikeduke, it's been reliable. What he may have meant is that it's buggy, and can transmit pops when a disc starts or ends or an input is switched. Yet the sound has that sense of transparency and openness I demand. In my audition of an Integra 80.1, I found that lacking. But I was not able to do a side-by-side comparison in own my system. As noted earlier, I was most influenced to buy the Cary by Michael Fremer's rave (for its sound) review in Home Theater, and I was able to hear the Cary in my system before I wrote the check to a local private party -- but that is a rare opportunity indeed.

db.

Ronrags,

When I was looking for a pre/pro to replace the Proceed PAV/PDSD our local dealer suggested the SP800 as having the sound quality I was looking for, but I didn't need nor want video processing. I think it has an MSRP around $8K, but then so would the Cary if you bought the Cinema 11a & 11v.

db