Video Asylum

Posted by Hemant on March 20, 2000 at 12:17:56:

In Reply to: Having trouble integrating Dolby Digital into a top analog system posted by John C.-Aussie on March 18, 2000 at 12:38:15:

It all depends on where you want to spend/save money.

I have a hybrid system also with an Alchemist Kraken driving my mains (JM Lab Spectral 913.1) and a Marantz DP 870/SR 870 HT system providing the left and right input into the Alchemist and driving the centre, sub, and rear speakers.

I am quite happy with this because the amount of information in the left and right speakers for HT is limited and often mostly sounds as opposed to music where fidelity and tranparancy are a must.

I suspect you would hear a difference with a better decoder. Before forking out big bucks for a Lexicon or Theta, you may want to try a Marantz DP 870 (on ebay for low $200's) or the Sony ES (can't remember the model number).

Good luck