pre-pro questions - dhc 80.1 vs XMC vs anything with similar features

[soundofrockets]

i guess the upgrade bug is back........have been using the denon 3808i for quite sometime.........was thinking about the the integra dhc 80.1 or the XMC........is anything else in the horizon or in the near future...........

[phipp01]

Denon 4311 maybe? I think its coming in September. Who knows if the XMC will ever see the light of day after the UMC fiasco.

[BinaryLinguist]

There is a new Marantz pre/pro coming in October. All the bells and whistles and relatively affordable at 1500. I think the model is the 7005.

[soundofrockets]

thanks for the input........looking for multichannel audio, balanced and unbalanced out put, of course hdmi 1.4, 3D (why not).......multi zone capable......is it too much to ask ??

[phipp01]

thanks for the input........looking for multichannel audio, balanced and unbalanced out put, of course hdmi 1.4, 3D (why not).......multi zone capable......is it too much to ask ??

Scratch the XMC off the list then cause AFAIK it will only be HDMI 1.3. Dont know if the Denon 4311 or the new Marantz will have balanced outs. But I do agree with getting a new pre/pro with the HDMI 1.4, who knows if 3D will stick around but its better to be safe than sorry IMO

[BinaryLinguist]

The Marantz AV7005 will have HDMI 1.4a for 3D and balanced outs as well. It's really looking like a nice unit.

[soundofrockets]

seems like marantz has lots of promise.......never owned any marantz products.........is the integra coming up with anything new after dhc 80.1 ??

[dguarnaccia]

That Marantz does look very interesting. I've been wanting to go full separates for a while now. One question that I had for you folks is the importance of a high quality DAC inside these receivers. How good are the DAC's in these modern pre-pro's and is there a benefit to spending a lot more to get a pre-pro with better D to A conversion. Or can you split that part out and loop out of the reciever to an external unit like a Theta, or something similar? Is that something that is even worth doing, or is it diminishing returns at that point. Trying to decide which way to go on that, and i'd think that the DAC is a crucial point in the whole SQ equation.

Anyone have any thoughts on that? Something to keep us busy while we wait for more 18.2 and pro10 review to roll in (yea, I'm looking at you DOJ :boxer: )