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Vid pre/pro with 2-chan pre or hi-end vid pre/pro

I am new to hi end audio. I am a 80/20 music/video guy. I have currently a denon receiver with a Naim CDX and vienna acoustic beethoven speakers. I am looking to upgrade my pre and amplification. I am a bit stymied because I really like the video switching of the denon to service my Tivo, dvd and vcr ( I have two video outputs one to the tv and one to a repeater for the Tivo that I can watch in another room) but I want the sound of Naim/Linn etc... I have also looked at a Classe video pre/processor in tandem with traditional seperate amps, that would take the place of the denon. Or looking at buying a Naim (or Linn) pre and amp and routing the two channel from the dennon to an input on the Naim pre thereby using the Naim for 2-channel and the denon for the 5 channel video. It would be a kluge as the Naim pre doesn't have a theater pass through. One would have to match the volume on the Naim to the other channels of the denon and controling the volume with the denon when listening to 5 channel. For 2-channel of course the denon would be turned off. I have a friend who is selling his NAC 82 and two hi-caps, (~ 3000.00) then I would have to find a NAP 250 to make that happen. If I bought the hi-end Classe pre/pro and amps, I would have to spend about 5K (used). About a wash cost wise. There are also a couple of Linn Klouts amps around for about 2200.00 then I could find a Linn pre and kluge it together like the Naim above.

Don't know if you can share any light on this confused man or not. :)...
paulcfr

Showing 1 response by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I've been there, fighting to be happy musically with a high end pre/pro. I gave up and I'm much happier. I bought a stereo preamp with a SSP (Surround Sound Processor) Loop, and haven't looked back. Many high end designers to choose from: Cary, Classe, Ayre, Jeff Rowland, BAT, just to name a few. I then got a nice Denon receiver for HT duty. I take the FR & FL preamp outputs of the Denon and feed the SSP input of my BAT preamp. The Denon amp only drives the surrounds. I find that I'm visually distracted during movies, and I don't notice any sonic degradation when going from my high end pre/pro's (Proceed, Classe, Anthem,etc) to the Denon. However there is a world of difference on music through the BAT.
I'm not familiar with the Naim and Linn lines, since you seem open to Classe for HT, why not look for a Classe CP-60 used. It's much better on 2 channel than their SSP-30, and has a easy to use SSP Loop. Then grab a CA-200 w/ a CAV-75 (6 channels of 75 wpc or 3 channels of 150 wpc). These 3 pieces would work great and you should be at around $4K. You can still use your Denon reciever for HT.

BTW, the Classe gear mates well with the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven. I know because I used this combination with the Beethovens. Time moves on, systems change, I now have the VA Strauss with other gear, but I have very good memeories of my time together with the Classe gear and the Beethovens.

Cheers,
John

John
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