Video Asylum

Posted by Robert Penna on August 11, 1999 at 09:43:34:

In Reply to: Is Sony TA-9000ES good as a stereo pre????? posted by Kev on August 10, 1999 at 09:30:10:

I'm facing similar problems particularly with the sony line. Had my heart set on using one of the ES receivers as a pre-amp e.g. the STR-DA50ES but none of them have preamp outputs. The preamp sections on the Sony's are awesome but the amps suck.

If you want preamp outputs you have to go with the Sony TA-9000ES however as you said it hasn't got 6 channel inputs so I discarded it for the same reasons you are. I refuse to pay that sort of money for a soon to be dinasour.

Sony also have the SDP-EP90ES digital decoder preamp which again shares allot of features and functionality with the TA-9000ES and almost had just what I was looking for except that it only has digital inputs no analog and again its bloody expensive. You cannot connect your video player sound to it.

Sony seem to be very clever at not giving you enough functionality to be able to upgrade their kit so you are forced to purchase their top of the line kit to get the extra power or features and even then they are still tight assed about in/outs.

I've given up for the moment particularly as the range of kit in the U.K. is currently limited. I'm waiting until the competition really starts heating up and prices start comming down...

Alternatively I may buy something really cheap such as a Sherwood and just throw it away later on when I find what I'm really looking for.