Advice for slightly used Pre/Pro (1 Viewer)

[Mike Burkstrand]

Hi All,

I will be setting up a new Home Theater early next year (depending on my stock options!) and want to get into separates for my pre/pro and power Amps. I currently have a Marantz Sr-5000, but after listening to some separates, the Marantz sounds pretty flat. My requirements for a pre/pro include:
5.1
THX (not necessarily Ultra)
DDS/Prologic

I would like to purchase a used pre/pro, and don't necessarily need 6.1/7.1, and all of the new features available. I would like to spend no more than $2,500. Names I have looked at are Lexicon, Anthem, EAD, etc, but don't know what some of their previous machines were named. The Anthem AV20 looks very nice, but expensive at $3,500. Any recommendations or suggestions on where to start?

Thanks in advance for your help/suggestions.

Mike

 

[Shara]

Outlaw 950+multi channel amp will do well for home theater.
You can later add 2 channel pre for improved stereo quality. spend your money on high quality speakers, amp, and source.

 

[Gregg_M]

You should probably look at rotel seperates as well. I just went from a marantz sr7000 to a Rotel 1066 and rmb1075 and the sound is night and day.

Gregg

 

[Rob Rodier]

Your post reads $2500 for the pre/pro only. Is that right? Or are you looking to get amps with that as well?
If you have a seperate budget for power amplifiers and have $2500 for the pre/pro than I would look very hard at Proceed. The PAV/PDSD or AVP (in that order) are both excellent choices and can be had in the 2k range. In terms of sound quality they are un-touchable in comparison to the names you mentioned.
Make sure you do your homework regardless
good luck
-rob

 

[Shara]

I have tried many one box solution PRE/PRO priced from Outlaw 950 to MC-12. I have not found one box unit that will do both 2 channel and processing really well in both
conditions. I have learned that most new PREprocessors do really well in home theater using 6.1 or 7.1 setup.Its the
2 channel stereo quality that's larking in most processors.
I am using separate Audio Research for stereo sound and its great value compare to one box solution.

 

[Mike Burkstrand]

Much appreciated on the replys. Haven't heard much on Proceed, but I will check them out. I would like to use this Pre/Pro for both HT and Music, but I may end up getting a 2 channel pre/pro for music only. I also need to look at AMPS; is there a large difference in AMP quality from $600-$1500? Will I notice a big difference uusing a high qulaity pre/pro vs a low/mid end AMP?

Thanks,
Mike