caphill
Responses from caphill
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @auxinput Yes you’re correct. The McIntosh MX122 was based on the Marantz AV8802. They only shared the same hdmi audio video boards, DSP, firmware, GUI, OSD. McIntosh built their own power supplies, DAC, analog audio stages, etc, etc. But the MX12... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @erik_squires Yes the Bryston SP3 will be a great choice if your priority is stereo listening. | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @corvette01 The McIntosh MX119 is a very old processor and was based on Marantz older processor (can’t remember model # but I think it’s the AV8003 or even older). The McIntosh MX119 is pretty much very similar as an older Marantz processor with M... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @doctock993 For your needs it seems like the Classe Sigma SSP would be your best bet. It has excellent stereo performance and very good HT or multi-channels as well. Unless if you want to go different route by acquiring a separate dedicated high e... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @erik_squires The Bryston SP3 lacks support of the latest most current formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Auro 3D, 4K video pass through, etc. that's why its resale value plummets in an after market. The same with the Classe SSP 800. That's the m... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @soix Yes I totally agree with your points. Having a good quality dedicated stereo preamp and a cheap AVR or a cheap pre pro will make more sense since the HT formats keeps on changing constantly. But not everyone would want two separate units : o... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @btw22 +1. Actually the GUI on the Classe SSP 800 is not any better. The new Sigma SSP Mk2 does Atmos & DTS-X, 4K video pass through but not HDR compatible and the new retail price now is $6k. The Lyngdorf MP-50 is better IMO especially for HT... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @auxinput The SSP 800 stereo performance or when used as a stereo analog preamp is superb especially coming from an AV pre pro but the Sigma SSP is slightly better but not by much. The difference was subtle. They sounded similar but the Sigma SSP ... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @Erik_squires Nope. The Classe SSP 800 & Sigma SSP do not convert their analog inputs to digital. There’s an analog bypass feature that you need to choose. It will however convert it to digital if you choose to use their crossover and use the ... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @auxinput I wasn’t implying that the more expensive = the better. Of course does not always work that way. For example, the Classe Sigma SSP stereo performance is actually better than the much more expensive Classe SSP 800 according to many people... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? I second Soix advise and it’s very true on lower end pre pros from Marantz, Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo/Integra, Anthem. These pre pros two-channel performances for stereo music playbacks are compromised and these pre pros are meant to be used for HT. th... | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @bwguy Are you using the Classe Sigma SSP? | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? @bwguy Yes, there's compression with airplay which degrades sound quality regatdless of which device it is. I would never use airplay. | |
| Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ? I would get a used Classe Sigma SSP over a used Krell Foundation. Krell as a company isn't the same anymore since Dan D'Agostino's departure from the company in 2009. The Classe Sigma SSP sounds better than the Krell Foundation especially in two-... | |
| Ayre Parasound Pass : where are you? Classe D amps have come a long way and have gone through significant improvements sonically compared to early class D designs from back in the day. Overall performance wise I myself still prefer analog (class A or AB) amps or tubes indeed, but now... |