Yamaha A4A Receiver or specific pre amp?

You looking to maintain the home theater multichannel or shifting to just 2 channel stereo?  What are you trying to achive or make better?

Quickly, if staying in the home theater market, yes, there are many.  Just Google "a/v processor" or "home theater processor" and you will get many choices, although they tend to be much higher in price than the A4A.  Brands like Anthem, Emotiva, Marantz, Rotel are among the bigger names.  You also have options to use the preamp outputs and add off-board amplification.

If looking at 2 channel preamp, then the question is what features and what you are trying to accomplish need defining first.

- Jeff

@rustyd02359 

Sorry, I didn't make the proper connections in my brain last night.  

As I mentioned, there are quite a few dedicated "preamp/processors" out there.  However, new, most are going to run you north of $3000.  They are going to have all or more feature sets, including Dirac, that the Yamaha has.

So, I guess the big question is, what is driving your question.  Assuming that you are using the A4A as the pre/pro with the pre-amp outputs to external amps, or not?  Are you looking to improve the sound quality by switching to a dedicated pre/pro? Do you have a budget in mind?  What amp(s) are you using, and speakers?

-Jeff

np.  Only thing I can suggest, if you haven't already done so, is work with the built in DSP to see if you can adjust out the harshness and sound balance.

Good Luck,

-Jeff