Recommended Components

A

Anthem Statement D2v: $8999 ✩
The latest enhancement of the Statement D2 audio/video processor is the Anthem Room Correction kit (ARC), which includes a calibration microphone and stand and all necessary software and cables. Its versatile controls allow the user to modify the recommended crossovers, insert a variable room-gain bump, and set the upper-frequency limit for corrections. With the ARC’s settings in place, soundstages were wider and more open. “Using the optimized ARC Advanced settings elevated my system’s performance to a new level,” said Kal. The “honest immediacy” of ARC’s v1.2.5 upgrade benefited movies and video, but for music Kal preferred the Audyssey’s “silky smoothness and harmonic integration.” Latest version adds HDMI 1.3 port. (Vol.31 Nos.9 & 11 Read Review Online)

Arcam AV888: $7900
The Arcam AV888 is “one potent machine” with a great assortment of inputs and outputs, including: four optical and three coax digital audio inputs; optical and coax digital outputs; seven R/L analog audio inputs and three R/L analog audio outputs; R/L phono input, 7.1 RCA analog inputs, 7.1 RCA analog outputs with three subwoofer jacks; Sub-D connectors for iPod and RS-232, IR, and trigger jacks; Ethernet and USB jacks. Compared to Kal’s Integra DTC-9.8, the Arcam “provided a richer, more immersive audio experience,” with a wider soundstage, smoother treble, and excellent bass. “Highly recommended.” Current production conforms to HDMI 1.4. (Vol.32 No.11 Read Review Online)

Ayre Acoustics V-6xe: $8500 ✩
The 150Wpc V-6xe, Ayre Acoustics’ only multichannel product, is a modular amplifier available in configurations of three to six channels and containing three independent power supplies. It uses zero-feedback, fully balanced circuits with 16 high-power devices per channel and incorporates the Ayre Conditioner RFI filter. The V-6xe’s impressive transparency and broad soundstage produced voices that sounded “human, glorious, and present,” while its “utterly open and sweet” midrange was matched by “powerfully rich and taut” bass, said Kal. Price is for the three-channel version. Additional channels add $1250 each. (Vol.31 No.9 Read Review Online)

Bryston 9B-SST2: $8095 ✩
The 9B-SST2 power amplifier (called 9B-THX at the time of the review) boasts five channels, 120Wpc into 8 ohms, and is built like pro gear; ie, like a tank. Hand-soldered, double-sided glass-epoxy boards and elaborate grounding scheme front special-grade steel toroidal transformers. According to JA, “the excellent set of measurements indicates solid, reliable engineering.” LG was impressed by this amp’s speed, power, extension, its tightness and definition in the bass, and its “excellent” midrange. Fully the equal of more costly amps, with wide dynamic contrasts and “involving” vocals, and sonically similar to previous Bryston ST amps. THX conformance, a 20-year (!) warranty, and a reasonable price make this beefy, reliable amp an attractive package—a perfect choice, suggests LG, for home-theater and multichannel music systems. KR’s long-term multi-channel reference. (Vol.23 No.9 Read Review Online)

Classé CT-SSP: $9500
With its clean front panel boasting only a small touchscreen and a single knob, the solidly built CT-SSP surround-sound processor has an all-business look and is extremely simple to use while retaining complete control. It offers 10 output channels and multiple subwoofer configurations, and can support up to 20 audio/video source assignments and six different speaker configurations. Inserting the CT-SSP into KR’s Connecticut system resulted in a deeper, wider soundstage, more impressive imaging, and seamless integration of the subwoofer and speaker outputs. “The performance of my system was elevated to a level beyond anything previous,” said Kal. The CT-SSP sounded clean, tight, and powerful in KR’s Manhattan system, with greater low-end weight and impact than the Meridian HD621/861 but a less expansive soundstage. (Vol.33 Nos.7 & 11 Read Review Online)

Integra DHC-80.3 preamp/processor: $2600 $$$
Though similar in appearance to Integra’s DTC-9.8 and its successors, the DHC-80.2 preamplifier-processor adds a host of features, including: HDMI v1.4 (eight inputs, two outputs, Audio Return Channel and 3D), two USB inputs, two subwoofer outputs, a Universal Port for an iPod dock or HDRadio tuner module, network connectivity, and the latest versions of Audyssey MultEQ XT32, Dynamic EQ, and Dynamic Volume. Compared to the DTC-9.8, the DHC-80.2 had a more dynamic, better-balanced sound, with a fuller midrange and improved transparency. “The Integra DHC-80.2 redefines value in a multichannel preamplifier-processor for the serious music lover or home-theater fan,” said KR. Early production samples suffered from an incorrect implementation of Audyssey’s MultEQ Pro room correction software, resulting in a glassy midrange and dull treble; a later firmware update corrected the problem and produced smooth high frequencies and a balanced overall response. Current 80.3 version added new video circuitry and additional features. (Vol.34 Nos.7 & 9 Read Review Online)

Krell Evolution 707: $30,000
The beefy, impressively built Evolution 707 Reference weighs 56 lbs, and is nearly 9" high and over 21" deep. It includes Krell’s Automatic Setup/EQ and provides single-ended, balanced, and CAST connectors for 12 output channels, including seven main channels, four subwoofers, and an additional center-channel. It had a forward, dramatic, and detailed sound with “devastatingly big and tight bass,” said KR. “It is as great-sounding a digital processor as it is an analog preamp,” he concluded. (Vol.33 No.9 Read Review Online)

McIntosh MX150 A/V Controller: $12,000
With arrays of trigger and sensor inputs, IR and power control ports, data inputs/outputs, and RS-232, Ethernet, and USB connectors, the McIntosh MX150 preamplifier-processor is powerfully equipped to interact with and control other components. It offers nine digital audio inputs (four coax, one AES/EBU, four optical), 11 analog audio inputs (eight RCA, two XLR for stereo, one RCA multichannel), phono (moving-magnet only), and legacy video inputs to support almost any need. The MX150 had a smooth overall sound with solid images and a seamless soundstage, while the included RoomPerfect room-correction system tightened and extended the lowest frequencies. “Everything functioned properly, sounded superb, and was a pleasure to use,” praised KR. (Vol.34 No.1 Read Review Online)

McIntosh MC303: $10,000
The three-channel, 300Wpc MC303 amplifier measures 17.75" wide by 12.4" high by 22" deep and weighs 155 lbs. Its large front panel is home to three blue power-level meters, two gold-rimmed knobs for meter illumination and power, and two substantial handles. Driving KR’s B&W 802D loudspeakers, the MC303 delivered “the relaxed spaciousness and transparency of master tapes.” There was a smoothness that extended through the frequency spectrum and seemed to erase the 802Ds’ crossover transitions. The Mac couldn’t quite match the firm bass or natural treble of the Bel Canto Ref1000 Mk.II mono­blocks, however. (Vol.32 No.5 Read Review Online)

Meridian Reference 861: $18,995 ✩
Multimedia controller with video, DSP-based decoding for matrixed and discrete multichannel audio sources. Functions as analog preamplifier-controller, digital and video controller, and A/D–D/A converter. Built-in, reprogrammable decoding of multichannel sources (Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, DTS, Ambisonic, etc.), plus THX and Trifield output from two-channel sources. All inputs digitally processed. Of Trifield’s synthesized front-three-channels output, KR observed, “I came to regard the loss of air and the narrower soundstage as acceptable concomitants of the richer, tighter, better-defined central images. ‘Audiophile air’ began to seem an artifact rather than an enhancement.” DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 music recordings “injected” ambiences whose acoustics superseded his room’s. Multichannel is immersive, but our KR would rather not sit in the middle of a string quartet or orchestra. For two-channel, “equal to the best...beyond significant reproach.” Multichannel, he declared, is the future, and Meridian is ready now. Logical but complicated setup and option procedures entered via PC; heavy dealer involvement is key to getting the best from this ultimate component. But when the 861 is programmed for precise time alignment and amplitude balance among the speakers, and the crossover and bass management adjusted independently for the main, center, and rear channels, “everything seemed just right, and it made for consistently satisfying listening,” he decided.”The TriField DSP is a greatly advantageous feature that deserves more recognition. I felt confident that whatever little silver disc I put into the 800-861, it would sound superb.” Meridian’s new MConfig program replaces pages of configuration options with a drag-and-drop graphic user interface, and offers guided channel-level settings and room-correction setup routines. KR: “The upgraded 861 Reference’s sound was delightfully and characteristically transparent....Still Class A after all these years.” The updates in Version 6 of the 861 preamplifier-processor include SpeakerLink connections for Meridian’s DSP speakers, an “endpoint” card for optimal performance with Meridian’s Sooloos music-server systems, a proprietary apodizing upsampling filter for all digital inputs, and 24-bit/192kHz DACs. The 861 v6 partnered a delicately pure and transparent midrange and treble with exquisite delineation of voices and instruments, said KR. “The 861 has always been and still is the best-sounding audio processor I have heard,” he concluded. Price varies with options chosen. Outboard HD621 processor (see “Digital Processors”) adds HDMi capability. (Vol.23 No.2, Vol.26 No.8, Vol.29 No.7, Vol.34 No.5 Read Review Online)

Parasound Halo P 7: $2000 ✩ $$$
The Halo P 7 is a full-featured analog stereo preamp with six stereo inputs, balanced and unbalanced outputs, front-panel headphone and MP3 jacks, and an MM/MC phono preamp. It also provides two 7.1-channel unbalanced inputs that can be set for home-theater bypass, optional bass management for all sources, and RS-232/12V connections to integrate with modern A/V systems. With its “delightfully open, balanced sound” and outstanding versatility, the Halo P 7 is “the category killer of analog multichannel preamps or HT bypass,” raved KR. (Vol.32 No.1 Read Review Online)

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Anthem MRX 700: $1999
Made in China, the 90Wpc MRX 700 is Anthem’s top-model audio/video receiver. It has all the requisite A/V connections, including USB and Ethernet inputs; is compatible with HD radio and iTunes tagging; comes with a complete Anthem Room Correction kit; and uses a large toroidal power transformer. Though it lacked the transparency of Integra’s DHC-80.2 and couldn’t match the bass clarity of Bryston’s 9B-SST, the Anthem offered a warm midrange, well-focused images, and a deep soundstage, said KR. (Vol.35 No.1 Read Review Online)

Emotiva XPA-5: $899 $$$
The XPA-5 five-channel power amplifier is rated to deliver 200Wpc into 8 ohms, all channels driven. It measures 17" W by 7.75" H by 19.5" D and weighs 75 lbs. In terms of materials choice, electrical design, and appearance, the XPA-5 offered no innovations, but nevertheless exuded an overall solidity and competence. Though it lacked some high-frequency transparency and resolution, the XPA-5 had a generally warm sound with powerful, extended bass and an agile, detailed midrange. “I am greatly impressed with the Emotiva XPA-5,” said KR. Sold direct with a 30-day money-back guarantee. (Vol.34 No.11 Read Review Online)

Marantz AV7005 preamp-processor: $1599.99
Replete with connections, the stylish, user-friendly AV7005 preamplifier-processor offers built-in Audyssey MultEQ XT room-correction and has six HDMI inputs, two HDMI outputs, four composite and four component inputs, three composite and two component outputs, four digital audio inputs and one output, seven stereo analog audio inputs (including one for phono), and four stereo RCA outputs. There are also connectors for AM/FM stereo antennas, Sirius satellite radio, Ethernet, RS-232, Marantz’s MX port for wireless control/streaming, and trigger and flasher terminals. Despite its slightly forward overall balance, the AV7005 had a clean, exciting sound, and was particularly impressive with hi-rez FLAC files. “It’s hard to fault the Marantz AV7005 for sound, appearance, or ergonomics,” KR concluded. JI says that with its Pure Direct audio mode that disables everything not needed to send the signal out the back (including shutting off all video circuits and front panel lights), this is the perfect preamp for a system that does double duty for audiophile music and HD movies. (Vol.34 No.3 Read Review Online)

Rotel RSP-1572: $2199
This compact, handsome preamplifier-processor offers six HDMI, two component, and two composite video inputs; two HDMI, one component, and four composite video outputs; four optical and three coaxial digital audio inputs; eight stereo analog inputs; one 7.1-channel analog input; and one USB input. Audio outputs include one optical, one coax digital, two stereo analog, and one analog 7.1-channel preamp output with dual jacks for two center and two subwoofer outputs. While the RSP-1572 lacks auto-setup and room EQ capabilities, its variable filters allow the user to effectively deal with room acoustics. The Rotel offered transparent highs, a clean midrange, and full bass, said KR. “Those of us who don’t mind getting our hands dirty with some measurement tools can have it all with the RSP-1572: great sound and great looks,” he concluded, though he adds that the room EQ is a bit challenging. (Vol.35 No.3 Read Review Online)

K

Bryston SP3, Parasound A31.

Deletions

Harmonic Technology Harmony Rainbow cables, Sherwood Newcastle R-972, discontinued; RS Audio Cables apparently no longer available.