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the McCoramack MAP-1 or Mcintosh C45 or Bel Canto Pre6 or Audio Research MP1 or the new Parasound P7 or are there any others?What are your impressions? What sources are you using? How about amplifier?
I am reading that this approach can yield very clean sound especially on SACD or DVD-A and in particular if you have 5 equivalent full range speakers. I am wondering how it sounds on DTS or Dolby digital. Any downsides to consider?
Thanks, Al
Follow Ups:
It's all analog and vacuumtubed, using six single-triode 6C4/M8080/MC90/6135s for gain and MOSFETs as output buffers to reduce output impedance. I understand this preamp uses 'the same' technology that the 2-channel CT6 uses, which means 'styrene coupling caps and not the much-more-expensive Teflon-film coupling caps the CT5 and higher c-j preamps use.
Its predecessor in my system was an all-analog Audio Refinement Pre 5* that sounded VERY good, but the MET1 does sound more 'whole'. Harry Pearson in 'The Absolute Sound' wrote that it added 'meat' to the music (compared with the 'bones' out of the SS Meitner stuff he also uses), something I agree with heartily. It's expensive but worth it IMO.
I use the DACs in my 2 discplayers, a Denon DVD-2900 and an older Toshiba Cinema-Series DVD player that I use as a CDP. Of course I use the analog outputs of the 2900, into the 6-channel inputs of the MET1 (which is the rare multichannel preamp with TWO sets of MC inputs), and I use high-quality IC.
The MET1 has NO bass management capability, but it has MC level adjustments to the half-dB including a separate set for its Ambience-Retrieval Mode (ARM) that's usable on 2-channel inputs.
I spend at least as much time listening to multichannel big-orchestra Classical and film music as I do watching movies, and the addition of this preamp improved my system considerably.
* An interesting name for a 6-channel preamp, but what would you expect from the French?
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Tin-eared audiofool and obsessed landscape fotografer.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffreybehr
How do such multi-channel analog preamps handle bass management (or do they?), and do they permit control of cross-over (roll-off) frequencies for surround speakers with limited bass response?Jim
Most do not provide for any bass mangement or crossover control or, for that matter, distance compensation. Individual level adjustments are common.Kal
the Copland CVA 306 if you want a tubed multichannel analog preamp. There are several more as well.
Actually, I have used all of them except, so far, the Parasound and prefer them to the pre/pros. Certainly, that's so for SACD/DVD-A direct from the analog outputs of the players. With regard to DD/DTS, that depends on the decoding in your player. With the exception of using the Meridian 800/861 for DVD-A or DD/DTS, I rather prefer using the player's decoders and an analog preamp.
Thanks Kal, I am leaning towards the MAP-1 and a Marantz DV9600 universal player. Not sure yet on 5 equal speakers (maybe Dynaudio) or amplifier. Would like a Bryston 9BSST but it is out of my budget. Also thinking of not using a subwoofer at all.Al
No matter how big your main (or all) speakers are, you need a subwoofer designed specifically for the LFE. I tried to do without a sub a long time ago playing with the DTS version of the "Haunting" at too high a volume level; fortunately, the amp cried Uncle before multiple 12" woofers in my main speakers were blown.
...in the LFE channel generally are best produced by a good subwoofer--actually 2 subwoofers--designed for those VERY low frequencies. I have a pair of Woofers By Bob (Carver) (10") Dominators and they do VERY well at those things.The bass ends of my main systems...
...are REALLY good at bass thru about 25Hz, but the SWs sound better at reproducing LFEs. I do NOT use them for music.
.* In some contrast, I've been as audiofool for almost 50 years.
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Tin-eared audiofool and obsessed landscape fotografer.
http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffreybehr
I settled on the Meitner to handle Multichannel SACD playback. I still use the Pre/pro for DD/DTS decoding of satellite and DVD sources and run the outputs through the Meitner. I'll be adding a Blu-ray player soon and chomping at the bit to see how DTS HD MA, DD+ et al will work through the players analog outputs directly to the Meitner.
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