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The Best New HT Processor

I have considered the Krell Foundation, even more, the Bryston SP3, and the CARY Audio CINEMA 7B. I know there are other good choices out there?

The Bryston SP3 has to be my favourite now, as it has two balanced inputs, and I need two.

I would like to get to the point where I have one box, unlike the past, having several preamplifiers doing multichannel sound.

My price limit is ten grand, and I believe my sell off price will come close to this?

The idea of buying something like this used feels uncomfortable, as it seems, spending over a few grand on anything as potentially finicky as a processor, leaves me feeling lost for personal contact, if I had a problem?

Audio Research is my stereo preamplifier and an older Showcase Krell. One piece of head gear, my Esotreic runs to the ARC, as well my Accuphase, which I really do not want to sell. The Esoteric, being the DV 50S model, it enters the Krell for digital processing and straight analogue for any multichannel SACDs I have.

I have added an Oppo 105D, for Blu-ray, and it would be ideal to have three balanced inputs, yet that is not likely, and it seems the best processors should be able to do as well as the Oppo over HDMI, as it is, whether DTS HD Master is worth having, I do not know?

I am either going to keep the Krell I have or take the plunge and go for a something where I can HDMI the Oppo, use the audio inputs for the Esoteric and the second balanced for the Accuphase, which is a CD player.
128x128ladycharnet
statman's avatar
statman
285 posts
 
I own the Classe SSP-800, as a matter of fact I have owned it for quite awhile. Guess what, it's not obsolete! It still sounds great on 2 channel or multi channel. No handshake issues at all. I sold my Audio Research LS25 MKII and have no regrets at all. If I were in the market to buy a processor I would buy either a Bryston or the Classe units.
ladycharnet's avatar
ladycharnet OP
59 posts
 
yes, I think the Bryston SP3 is the best choice. No doubt the Classe SSP 800 is also very good; I have liked Classe gear for years, and still have a Classe SSP 25, which can best the sound of most SS pre-amps.

Also, I made an error; I meant the Cary 12B, not a model 7, which I doubt exists; as a processor, but as an amp; I know there is a model, 6, 8 and a few different model 11. I heard the Cary was very good, and did not command the outlay of cash the Bryston commands.

I saw the Bryston here for $5600 and one went ion ebay for $5200, and being such a high cost, I would rather buy new, as nine grand to a place I can go back to for faults and service is worth the expense when one is laying over 4 grand, give or take, for a private party, or store located miles way leaves me feeling anxious.

Also I have a B&K 50 which used two balance connections, although my ARC has that, there is a big difference in sale value, and my speakers are not what i once had, yet still decent.
I think for now I am goung to keep the Krell.
ladycharnet's avatar
ladycharnet OP
59 posts
 
I agree with you about the more constant changes with digital formats, yet it would not bother me much, since my health is poor and I am now several years past Medicare age.

It would be nice if there where a box one could buy, which had about ten HDMI inputs and had the amount of RCA audio outputs one may need, in my case, eight, which one should connect to a input in processor, and when it was outdated, just buy this, or have it upgraded?

I do agree, the DTS HD master has better sound and use the off my older Denon receiver, with little Acurus 100.3 amplifier on centre and surrounds. The system shows a big difference in sound with exit in analogue in, but it does not have the near big theatre sound I have with the big system.
ladycharnet's avatar
ladycharnet OP
59 posts
 
Thanks for all the response. Right now, i am leaning more towards the krell. I have decided to keep the ARC and do what Dbphd suggested, and run my audio players to the ARC and have one decent fully balanced processor, and the Krell seems to be coming down in price.

If I am correct, if one uses the HDMI from the Oppo to the Krell, all the analogue will be balanced, same as my stereo?

I have considered purchasing an ATI 2005, or if I may find a deal on a used Outlaw 7500.

On codex's, I doubt i will ever use more than one HDMI, or go beyond HD Master, as I am not interested in cable TV, or DVRs. If anything, I might add one device just to stream Netflix if they have good movie selection?
goldprintaudio's avatar
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goldprintaudio
502 posts
 
The Krell Foundation is pretty impressive. I've sold several of them.

Great sound on 2 channel as well as HT, which is not always the case with pre/pro's.

**Krell dealer disclaimer**
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