Pre/Pro now or later?

Have you considered a used Lexicon MC-1?

 

I don't think the MC-1 stands up to newer stuff in terms of 2 channel (analog) sound. Logic 7 is to die for (I almost got one just for this), but Lex'es aren't really known for pure audio quality. In fact, at least 1 reviewer of the new Outlaw rated it better than the MC-1.

If you can go to $3k, the Anthem might be the best choice of what's out now.

But your ears have to be the judge...

 

Mike, I'm sure (well, only a few are certain) that the Outlaw will give you comparable performance in sound reproduction than the Anthem. However, it doesn't come close to matching it for features, upgradability and flexibility.

It really depends on what you are going to use the unit to do. If all you are going to do is hook up a CD player and DVD player to the Processor, get the Outlaw. If you are going to use 2 or more zones, have weird speaker configurations (i.e. the left surrounds are spaced far different from the center of the room than the right surrounds, etc.) or intend to do a lot of video switching in the future, get the Anthem.

Whether it's worth the additional $1300-1700 more than the Outlaw will be up to you, tested on your speakers in your living room.

With that being said, the Anthem is the single most expensive piece of gear I own and the one piece I have absolutely zero buyers remorse in purchasing.

 

Comparing a Adcom GCD-700 fed through a Marantz 7C (original) with newish Sovtek 12AX7WXTs to the same source using a digital coax connection to a DC-1 to mono-blocked Adcom 545iis and both NHT1.3s or Definitive BP8s a friend and I decide the DC-1 was more honest although we preferred the 7C.

Using the Lexicon's cross-over, another amp, and a passive (Citation 7.4) sub-woofer it was no longer a fair comparison with the improved mid-range eclipsing what came from the 7C.

IOW, the worst of the last generation Lexicons didn't suck compared to a classic 2-channel preamp which can fetch $1000. Relatively speaking (it's painful to audition HT preamps with the same speakers "we're not set up for that") few know. The Lexicons are neutral which many people don't prefer - if you want warm, skip it. If you want neutral (I might lean towards a bit of tube smoothness beyond neutral, but avoid listening to high-end gear as much as possible to save the wallet) the situation is interesting.

Mix-in AC-3/DTS on a 7.1 array, and you might get similar or better multi-channel performance from a Meridian. Otherwise, you won't match logic-7.

The MC-1 won't give you analog pass-through (irrelevant because little I'd want is on DVD-A or SACD. YMMV). No DPL-II (probably wins on 5 speakers, falls short on 7). No upgrades. If you choose wrong though, you won't loose a lot of money (audio gear looses 50-75% of it's value in short order and usually levels out afterwards) at least until the MC-12 lite has been arround a while.

You could buy a MC-1, Meridian 565, decide which you preferred and sell the looser.

The B&Ks don't compare.

 

Mike,just to throw one more into the mix.The new Rotel RSP-1066 has all the features and I believe has upgradeable software.I'm going to check it out on Saturday.The only other new one I've heard on the horizon is the Sherwood.(Sept?)

 

I think the Anthem AVM 20 is probably the best up to the Lex mc12.

 

FYI:
Look at this coming out/just out:www.cinepro.com. then click on (new!) All the latest and a great name. Also in the loop are Aragon StageOne and I've seen some new pre/pro from DavisLabs that's supposed to be up there.
Good luck!
MM

 

You may want to consider some prepros from Classe. The SSP35 would fit the bill I think. The SSP75 is out of the price range but maybe a used one? Also, I see lots of EAD processors over at audiogon.com. May be worth a look.