Quote:
Originally Posted by silversurfer6
Dilettante,
it is an impossible question and I do not know the answer since I have never heard the SSP-800. Just a few points:
1. The Classe should sound better than the AV8805. Everything I have read about this piece is that it sounds as good as the best 2 channels pre.
2. Even if you go for a very high end pro I still dont think you can get the audio quality you get from the classe - even with Trinnov and Datasat which would be silly since the main reason to get them are the 15+ channels. One exception is the Mac MX170 which should sound very good.
3. If you only have the oppo as a source then just send the video directly to the tv/projector. If you have other sources then you really need a new av pro.
4. I really hope classe is working on a new delta av pro. Under the SU umbrella they can do so and they now have access to the latest chips - which no exotic av pro brand has. Think if an av8805 on steroids. Have no info whatsoever on this.
If you are sattisfied with the audio just improve the video with going direct to the display. If you need simplicity and the latest features then the av8805 is perfect but there will be some loss on quality. And if you do change might be better to wait for hdmi2.1 and 8k.
Or I could be wrong. Technology is changing rapidly and the newer chips and DACs in the av8805 could really help it sound as good or better than the ssp800 - difficult but possible.
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For the time being, I only have the Oppo 105 as my only AV source for bluray movie disc & occasional DVD-Audio (high resolution audio disc) music playbacks and the Oppo 105 is connnected via HDMI to my SSP 800 for audio only and the other HDMI out direct to my 1080p TV display for video only. I split the HDMI configuration on the Oppo for audio & video.
Howerver, I will be getting a Sony 4K OLED TV with the flagship Pioneer Elite UDP LX-500 4K UHD bluray player and the Pioneer has dual HDMI outputs, one for audio and the other for video. I can run one HDMI out to my SSP 800 for audio only and the other direct to the 4K display for video only. So this won't be an issue.
But, I will also be getting those 4K capable movie streaming devices & 4K capable cable TV box/decoder and these devices have only one HDMI output. And the SSP 800 does not support 4K thus cannot pass through 4K video signal. That's why I will have to sell my SSP 800 and look for a new processor that supports 4K withe latest HDR Dolby Vision. I hate to let go of my SSP 800 cause the sound quality is phenomenal for both bluray & DVD-Audio music playbacks. I still have some of those DVD Audio high resolution audio discs from back in the day. Lol.....
Yesterday I was able to get a loan take home demo of the AV8805 from a local dealer here. The unit is already broken in. I set it up in my own home theater system and I hate to say that the AV8805 could not compete with my Classe SSP 800 for both bluray & DVD-Audio music playbacks, especially when used for DVD Audio music playbacks. It lacks musicality, finesse and refinements compared to my SSP 800. However, I was pretty happy with the AV8805 for movies as it performs well for movies although it lacks the last bits of finesse and refinements when compared to my SSP 800 but I can easily live with the AV8805 for movies. It's easier to set up and calibrate using the Audyssey platinum room correction than the SSP 800, which lacks automatic room correction software. But I'm also using this setup for listening to those DVD Audio high resolution audio discs as well. I still have some DVD-Audio high resolution audio discs from back in the day. lol....
The Classe SSP 800 is indeed one of the most musical sounding AV pre pro when used for music playbacks. hands down. especially when used as an analog stereo preamp in analog bypass mode.
Several years ago we were able to AB compare the SSP 800 with the Linn Klimax Kontrol stereo analog preamp ($20k retail at the time). The SSP 800 did retail for $9500 at the time while in production. Source component used at the time was the Linn Klimax DS streamer/DAC ($25k retail) going XLR analog into both the Linn Klimax Kontrol and the Classe SSP 800.
The Linn Klimax Kontrol stereo analog preamp was no doubt better and it was expected however the SSP 800 didn't embarass itself and was quite competitive considering it is an AV pre pro after all. Only in direct comparison with some really high end expensive stereo analog preamps that we could notice deficiencies in SSP 800 when used as a stereo analog preamp.
I was told that the SSP 800 was designed and engineered by Alan Park, who designed and engineered many Linn & Mark Levinson gears (preamps).
Any other options besides the AV8805? Much appreciated.