Video Asylum

Posted by Bubba (A) on February 06, 2008 at 23:29:49

In Reply to: RE: Is there a HT "recevier" with no amplifiers? posted by Duilawyer on February 06, 2008 at 07:58:53

Cost? Bwahahahahaha! "Simpler" will cost you more, since you're moving from 3-figure "mid-fi" to 4+figure "high end". But there might be something in the middle from NAD or Outlaw Audio.

Now, in the early days of digital surround, some of the "mid-fi" brands sold add-on digital decoders, intended for use with "digital-ready" receivers that had 5.1 analog inputs. Some of these are quite usable as standalone digital preamps, but they do no video switching. The Technics SH-AC500D does DTS as well as Dolby Digital, has 2 coax and 2 optical inputs IIRC, and remote volume and input switching. SGHT gave that processor and its mating receiver a class B rating, which was pretty high praise. The DTS portion of the SH-AC500D doesn't offer all the bass management features of the DD processor, though. It should be compatible with 6.1 and 7.1 since they're really just matrixed out of the standard 5.1 DD/DTS surround. With a few op-amps you can generate the additional channels. SH-AC500D units can be found on eBay for under $200.

Or, go for one of the Pioneer receivers that have preamp outputs.