Colin Dunn
Supporting Actor
Does anyone yet offer a pre-pro with support for HDMI 1.3?
I am beginning to map out upgrades to my HT. I'd like to start out getting a Denon DVD-3930CI for DVD/SACD/DVD-A, and a Toshiba HD-XA2 for HD-DVD. Later I would add an OTA HDTV tuner with HDMI output, and possibly a Blu-Ray player once the next generation of Blu-Ray stand-alone players hits the market.
My current pre-pro is a Theta CasaNova. It does not have 5.1 analog inputs, and predates HDMI by several years.
I'd like to replace it with something that has a nice smooth/warm sound quality, flexible bass management, and support for HDMI video switching and the new audio formats that the high-def disc formats offer (multi-channel PCM, TrueHD, etc.).
What are my options - available or coming within the next several months? Maximum budget is $4K. That rules out the ultra-high-end stuff from Theta, Classé, etc.
You'd think that the manufacturers could make these changes more quickly now by designing a good 5.1 / 7.1 analog preamp, and modularizing it so the digital 'engine' can be upgraded periodically. But it seems this hasn't happened, and receivers are ahead of pre-pros in offering these features.
I don't want to use a receiver as a pre-pro. All the money needs to go into making a good pre/pro, rather than into low-quality built-in amps that I won't use.
I am beginning to map out upgrades to my HT. I'd like to start out getting a Denon DVD-3930CI for DVD/SACD/DVD-A, and a Toshiba HD-XA2 for HD-DVD. Later I would add an OTA HDTV tuner with HDMI output, and possibly a Blu-Ray player once the next generation of Blu-Ray stand-alone players hits the market.
My current pre-pro is a Theta CasaNova. It does not have 5.1 analog inputs, and predates HDMI by several years.
I'd like to replace it with something that has a nice smooth/warm sound quality, flexible bass management, and support for HDMI video switching and the new audio formats that the high-def disc formats offer (multi-channel PCM, TrueHD, etc.).
What are my options - available or coming within the next several months? Maximum budget is $4K. That rules out the ultra-high-end stuff from Theta, Classé, etc.
You'd think that the manufacturers could make these changes more quickly now by designing a good 5.1 / 7.1 analog preamp, and modularizing it so the digital 'engine' can be upgraded periodically. But it seems this hasn't happened, and receivers are ahead of pre-pros in offering these features.
I don't want to use a receiver as a pre-pro. All the money needs to go into making a good pre/pro, rather than into low-quality built-in amps that I won't use.