Sub $1k A/V Processor

[falconcry72]

So I'm looking for an A/V processor in the <$1k range (used is cool). Needs to be up to date on HDMI, Audyssey, etc. Balanced outputs are a big plus. I would also consider going with a full-blown receiver, but it seems that most receivers don't have balanced outputs.

Amp is a Rotel RMB-1095. Speakers are LSiM's.

So far, the Marantz AV-7005 looks good, but I've been living in the 2-channel world for a long time, so I have some catching up to do on processors.

Less expensive recommendations in the $500 range are VERY welcome.

I am currently using an Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver, which is decent, so it's important that the new piece sound substantially better, or else it's not worth upgrading.

[Erik Tracy]

So you want a 'new' pre/pro with balanced outputs for less that $500?

You may have to consider used if you want it to be worthy of having in your home if you expect any type of audio quality to do justice to the LSiMs.

[nwohlford]

If up-to-date HDMI means 3D, then the AV7005 is probably the cheapest good option with balanced outputs. If you drop balanced outputs, there are options like the Integra DHC 40.2 and the internet direct brands. If you drop 3D, then the prior generation of Integra/Onkyo's such as DHC 80.1 and PR SC5007 are in play. (If up-to-date HDMI means 4K video, then it would be above $1000 unless you do the internet direct brands without balanced outs.)

[falconcry72]

So you want a 'new' pre/pro with balanced outputs for less that $500?

You may have to consider used if you want it to be worthy of having in your home if you expect any type of audio quality to do justice to the LSiMs.

Did you even read my post?! I said used is cool, and I also said I'm looking for under $1k, not under $500.

[falconcry72]

If up-to-date HDMI means 3D, then the AV7005 is probably the cheapest good option with balanced outputs. If you drop balanced outputs, there are options like the Integra DHC 40.2 and the internet direct brands. If you drop 3D, then the prior generation of Integra/Onkyo's such as DHC 80.1 and PR SC5007 are in play. (If up-to-date HDMI means 4K video, then it would be above $1000 unless you do the internet direct brands without balanced outs.)

Don't care about 4k at all. I might drop 3D for an increase in sound quality.

[nwohlford]

Don't care about 4k at all. I might drop 3D for an increase in sound quality.

I have the Marantz SR7005 and have been extremely impressed with the sound quality (right now I just use it as a pre/pro). Someone down the street from me has the AV7005 with an all Maggie HT, and it sounded great for both music and home theater. The only thing I really find as a negative for the SR7005 is that it did not do a great job EQing my sub. I have wondered if Audyssey XT32 would do better, but I think the cheapest processors with XT32 would be the DHC 80.2 and PR SC5008 and both those I believe still sell for above $1000.

[falconcry72]

I have the Marantz SR7005 and have been extremely impressed with the sound quality (right now I just use it as a pre/pro). Someone down the street from me has the AV7005 with an all Maggie HT, and it sounded great for both music and home theater. The only thing I really find as a negative for the SR7005 is that it did not do a great job EQing my sub. I have wondered if Audyssey XT32 would do better, but I think the cheapest processors with XT32 would be the DHC 80.2 and PR SC5008 and both those I believe still sell for above $1000.

Are the balanced outputs the only difference between the SR and the AV? If so, I'd probably go SR to have amps for extra rear channels down the road.

[nwohlford]

Are the balanced outputs the only difference between the SR and the AV? If so, I'd probably go SR to have amps for extra rear channels down the road.

All of the components are the same. Marantz does say that not having the power amps in the AV does mean a cleaner signal path and better isolation. I have never heard the two in the same room, so I have no idea how audible any difference would be. I have been really impressed with SR when using it for two channel music.

[ViperZ]

Technically AV7005 is not up to date with Audyssey, as it has MultiEQ XT, not XT32. I also have Onkyo TX-SR805 (with Rotel RMB-1075), and will probably upgrade to Denon 4311, but it doesn't have balanced inputs like you want. If you don't care about XT32, then AV7005 and Integra DHC-40.2 go head to head in competition (40.2 doesn't have balanced, but 80.1 and 80.2 do).

[falconcry72]

Technically AV7005 is not up to date with Audyssey, as it has MultiEQ XT, not XT32. I also have Onkyo TX-SR805 (with Rotel RMB-1075), and will probably upgrade to Denon 4311, but it doesn't have balanced inputs like you want. If you don't care about XT32, then AV7005 and Integra DHC-40.2 go head to head in competition (40.2 doesn't have balanced, but 80.1 and 80.2 do).

Yea I'm also looking at the 4311. Interesting we have the same receiver/amp setup!

What's going to SOUND better... the balanced outputs of the AV7005, or the XT32 of the 4311???

[tonyb]

Not so sure a sub 1000 buck processor will do any better than your 805. Look for a used Cary cinema 11a, the 12 is too much coin. Also the Anthem PFB is selling in the FM would be a nice step up in SQ but a tad over your budget.

[cnh]

I hear that Anthem is powered by one of Tony Stark's ARC reactors so you can probably play it as loudly as you wish, especially AC/DC songs!

cnh

[polkfarmboy]

Not so sure a sub 1000 buck processor will do any better than your 805. Look for a used Cary cinema 11a, the 12 is too much coin. Also the Anthem PFB is selling in the FM would be a nice step up in SQ but a tad over your budget.

Thanks for the plug Tony

The Anthem may be a little out of your budget but its an audio only pre but most bluray players come out and render the video section of these pre's obsolete. If you wanted to try it then your welcome to a demo but shipping would be a pain. Another option would be to try an anthem mrx receiver with up to date hdmi and ARC. I had one andloved it and on my polks it sounded similar to the avm40 but lost that extra special touch when played through the Martin Logans

[Emlyn]

Ben, I have an AV8003 I'm not using. Not the very latest in HDMI processing (version 1.3 instead of 1.4), but pretty good sounding. Nice analog section with balanced inputs and outputs. Looks like these go for around $800 on Ebay.

[Erik Tracy]

Not so sure a sub 1000 buck processor will do any better than your 805. Look for a used Cary cinema 11a, the 12 is too much coin. Also the Anthem PFB is selling in the FM would be a nice step up in SQ but a tad over your budget.

This

[falconcry72]

Ben, I have an AV8003 I'm not using. Not the very latest in HDMI processing (version 1.3 instead of 1.4), but pretty good sounding. Nice analog section with balanced inputs and outputs. Looks like these go for around $800 on Ebay.

Hey Mark! Very interesting, let me do a little research...

[polkfarmboy]

Something to consider is that audyssey does not work with DTS Master Audio or Dolby True Hd on the Marantz 8003 Preamp

[ViperZ]

Hey Mark! Very interesting, let me do a little research...

IMHO, grab 8003 and run with it, you won't be disappointed. Unless you have dual subs (like me), you don't really need XT32 and will benefit more from balanced outputs. 8003 is the same generation as 7005, just higher model with more features.

[Polkie2009]

The Marantz 8003 has Audyssey MultiEQ and it won't work with Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA ??

[falconcry72]

IMHO, grab 8003 and run with it, you won't be disappointed. Unless you have dual subs (like me), you don't really need XT32 and will benefit more from balanced outputs. 8003 is the same generation as 7005, just higher model with more features.

No, the 8003 is older than the 7005. It uses HDMI 1.3 instead of 1.4 (no 3D), and MultiEQ instead of MultiEQ XT. The 7005 also has better video processing.

Nonetheless, the 8003 might be a good choice for me (value), given that I don't do 3D...

[polkfarmboy]

The Marantz 8003 has Audyssey MultiEQ and it won't work with Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD MA ??

Thats what Chris Kyriakakis said from the audyssey webpage

[ViperZ]

No, the 8003 is older than the 7005. It uses HDMI 1.3 instead of 1.4 (no 3D), and MultiEQ instead of MultiEQ XT. The 7005 also has better video processing.

Nonetheless, the 8003 might be a good choice for me (value), given that I don't do 3D...

Hm, thanks for correcting me on this one! When I was looking at 7005 last year, they were still selling 8003, so I assumed they were from the same generation, even though one was 05, the other was 03. Good to know!

[Denzel]

I use the Integra 40.2 in my HT rig. It does everything I need it to do for a reasonable price. No balanced outs though. The 80.3 has the balanced outs plus a whole slew of other processing advances, but also breaks the $1k price point by quite a margin.

[ViperZ]

Thats what Chris Kyriakakis said from the audyssey webpage

Marantz 8003 should support DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD just fine. Don't need Audyssey for that.
http://www.hometheater.com/content/m...8003-amplifier

[leroyjr1]

So I'm looking for an A/V processor in the <$1k range (used is cool). Needs to be up to date on HDMI, Audyssey, etc. Balanced outputs are a big plus. I would also consider going with a full-blown receiver, but it seems that most receivers don't have balanced outputs.

Amp is a Rotel RMB-1095. Speakers are LSiM's.

So far, the Marantz AV-7005 looks good, but I've been living in the 2-channel world for a long time, so I have some catching up to do on processors.

Less expensive recommendations in the $500 range are VERY welcome.

I am currently using an Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver, which is decent, so it's important that the new piece sound substantially better, or else it's not worth upgrading.

What center are you using?

[polkfarmboy]

Marantz 8003 should support DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD just fine. Don't need Audyssey for that.
http://www.hometheater.com/content/m...8003-amplifier

I did not say the 8003 does not support the formats

The HD codecs require very large amounts of processing. Rather than upgrading the processing chip, some AVR makers decide to turn off Audyssey for those codecs and use the available processing power for the decoding.

[falconcry72]

I did not say the 8003 does not support the formats

The HD codecs require very large amounts of processing. Rather than upgrading the processing chip, some AVR makers decide to turn off Audyssey for those codecs and use the available processing power for the decoding.

Correct. The 8003 can decode the lossless formats, but it can't apply Audyssey EQ'ing to them.

[falconcry72]

What center are you using?

Just got a 705 last week. I had a 706 before, but had to return it due to damage. The 706 is better, but the 705 is great too... and it fits in my cabinet!

[falconcry72]

Looks like I'm going to give the 8003 a whirl! It should tide me over plenty well until used prices come down on the newer units.

Good lookin' out, Mark!

[leroyjr1]

Just got a 705 last week. I had a 706 before, but had to return it due to damage. The 706 is better, but the 705 is great too... and it fits in my cabinet!

Wow, that must be one big cabinet to fit a 705 tower. Nice system you put together.