Pre/Pro choices.
 

I am considering all the different pre/pro's out there. Krell, Simaudio, Classe, Meridian, Mark Levinson, McIntosh, Cary.... what else am I missing, what else should I consider?

Serge...Doug Schneider, Editor at Soundstage.com, had a piece on the Anthem Statement D2V, which looks like the real deal. Here's a link to his editorial: SoundStage! Editorial - Anthem’s Statement D2v Preamplifier-Processor: A Bridge Between the Worlds (10/2009). Within his feature, there is a link to a review done by Jeff Fritz of Ultra Audio of the D2, the predecessor to the D2V, but it goes in-depth on Anthem's Room Correction software, which may also be of interest to you.

Here is a link to the web site: Anthem Statement D2v

Enjoy :thumbsup:

Other brands to think about:

1. Aracam's FMJ AV888: Find out more about the FMJ and Solo product ranges

http://www.arcam.co.uk/ugc-1/product/110/50_large.jpg http://www.arcam.co.uk/ugc-1/product/110/52_large.jpg

2. Lexicon's MC-12 HD: Lexicon MC-12 HD Music and Cinema Processor

http://www.lexicon.com/image_library...D_Front_lo.jpg http://www.lexicon.com/image_library...HD_Rear_lo.jpg

And finally, a bit more downmarket, ofcourse, you have Rotel, NAD, Marantz, Denon, and Onkyo.

I really like my MX120 and you can get NOS deals on them.

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/images/p...etheater-l.jpg

Something that will support all the latest formats.

What about Denon or Marantz's flagship?

Serge,
I think you've got the bases covered, and got a lot of auditioning to do! Forgive me since I'm sure you've said so before, but what's the ratio of listening / movie watching you expect in the HT room, and how do you think that may sway a decision?

The Denon AVP-A1UDCI. It does all the new hi-def codecs, is fully balanced and has Audyssey room correction. I suggest you at least consider it.

I am trying to balance things out in the HT. Speakers are obviously important, so is the amplification, so is the pre/pro as are the sources and projector/screen. If I don't reach an equilibrium of performance across the board, some of the potential will be wasted. No sense of investing in serious gear if the speakers are not up to par, no sense of investing in great speakers if the gear is not up to par. On the one hand, paying $30k for a Krell Evo 707 may not be the wisest investment either since it is one of the components that will experience the threat of ever evolving technology out of all of them even if it is some what up-dateable, on the other, going with a budget pre/pro will rob the whole system of reaching it's peak performance. Hence my careful approach to this dilemma. :scratch2: Everything else can serve a relatively long life in the theater, the speakers, the amps, cabling, maybe the source would have to change eventually. As it stands, the Krell Evo 707 doesn't even have any room correction software which already puts it at a possible disadvantage even if it is a stellar performer in both surround and 2 channel modes.

Thanks for the advice so far, keep them coming!

I would go for the Denon pre/pro. Street price is about $4500 new. It should last awhile.