aotaphil
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upgrade from Proceed AVP (Madrigal)
bierfeldt
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The big question is what features do you want or need? Do you need 4K support? Dolby Atmos? What about room correction?

I assume by upgrade you mean modernize as that unit you have is reasonably old I think. Do you plan on staying in the same price range or are you looking to spend more or less?

commsysman
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aotaphil wrote:

im looking for suggestions on upgrading from Proceed AVP Madrigal. heres my current set-up:Stereo

Mark Levinson 27.5 amplifier

2 – Proac Response 3 speakers. (Center speakers – 8 ohm)

Mirage subwoofer – LFX-2

Proceed AVP (Madrigal) This, of course, is what I’m trying to replace.

Surround

B&K AV 5000 series II 700w amplifier.

2 – Dynaudio Audience 40 side speakers.

2 - Dynaudio Audience 60 rear speakers.

1 - Dynaudio Audience C120 center speaker.

It would help to know exactly what features you need that the Proceed does not have. What is your need, specifically?

I would also say that the B & K amp is a weak area in your system. The Mark Levinson amp is certainly nice for the front two speakers, but a better amp is really needed for the other 5 channels. I would suggest that you consider the Marantz MM7055 5-channel amplifier.

For a new preamp/processor, I suggest that you look at the Bryston SP3 and the NAD M17. If they are more than you want to spend, the Marantz AV7702 is another possibility.

aotaphil
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features needed: 4K support, dolby atmos, room eq., 7 channel surround decoding, sub out, user friendly interface, optical audio inputs, hdmi video inputs. here are my input components: direct tv box, Panasonic dmp-ub900 blue ray, proceed madrigal cdp pdt2 cd transport. thanks in advance for any and all suggestions. room size is 14'x14'

bierfeldt
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For those requirements, I am not sure if Classe or NADs pre/pros have Atmos and the latest 4K.

I would look at the Anthem AVM 60, the Marantz AV8802a or the Integra DRC-R1. I have a Marantz pre/pro and think it is very musical. I find the Integra pre/pros have distinctly superior video processing. I have no direct experience with Anthem but know they have a strong reputation in this space.

The Classe Sigma SSP does not support 4K or Atmos. As best I can tell, neither NAD pre/pro does either; the T 187 or the M 17.

There is a pre/pro coming out from Arcam in January, 2017 called the AV860 that should run in the $5K range and will deliver on all the features you need. It is the one more traditional audiophile brand that I can find that is producing a truly modern pre/pro with all the current features you will want.

caphill
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aotaphil wrote:

im looking for suggestions on upgrading from Proceed AVP Madrigal. heres my current set-up:Stereo

Mark Levinson 27.5 amplifier

2 – Proac Response 3 speakers. (Center speakers – 8 ohm)

Mirage subwoofer – LFX-2

Proceed AVP (Madrigal) This, of course, is what I’m trying to replace.

Surround

B&K AV 5000 series II 700w amplifier.

2 – Dynaudio Audience 40 side speakers.

2 - Dynaudio Audience 60 rear speakers.

1 - Dynaudio Audience C120 center speaker.

What's your budget on the processor? If you want a processor that is fully equipped with the latest formats and decoding abilities your best bet I think will be the Anthem AVM 60 and the Marantz AV8802A processors. The Anthem AVM 60 retails for $3k and the AV8802A retails for $4k. They both are great for home theater but not so for 2ch music. The Anthem AVM 60 is especially very good for movies with the ARC (Anthem Room Correction) engaged and according to some is superior to the Marantz AV8802. The AV8802 is also equipped with Audyssey Platinum Suite XT32 pro, which is the greatest version from Audyssey.
Both processors are capable of decoding dolby atmos, dts-x, aura 3-d as well as hdcp 2.2 compliant for 4k video with hdmi v2.0. But IMO with these processors you're sacrificing on the stereo performance for music especially when used as an analog stereo preamp.
With these processors I would suggest getting a high qualitu stereo preamp that has ht bypass.
However, I highly recommend the following preamp processors that are great for both 2ch music and home theater but these processors lack the latest formats and codecs eg dolby atmos, dts-x, aura 3-d, hdcp 2.2 4k pass through and hdmi v2.0. They are :

* Classe Sigma SSP ($5k). No hdcp 2.2 for 4k, no dolby atmos or dts-x. or aura 3-d. But Classe will upgrade its hdmi and modular boards in order to accomodate hdcp 2.2 for 4k and dolby atmos dts-x, etc early next year for additional $1k.
No automatic room EQ but Classe provides manual PEQ and requires proper tools & equipments and knowledge on how to implement it. Sounded phenomenal for both 2ch music and home theater especially when used as an analog stereo preamp. Has true analog bypass for used as an analog stereo preamp. This unit is optimized for 2ch performance for music. Does not process or upscale video signals, it simply switches it. Lacks bells & whistles typically found on Marantz or Denon or Onkyo or Yamaha or Pioneer or Sony.

* Classe SSP 800 ($9500). Pretty obselete but it is phenomenal sounding both 2ch music and movies. Like the Sigma SSP, this unit has true analog bypass. Classe isn't going to upgrade its hdmi or modular boards as this model has been around since 2008.
This model is about to be discontinued at the end of the year and there will be a replacement model that's supposed to come out next year but the price will go up to around $13k or more and the replacement model will be equipped with hdcp 2.2 for 4k hdmi v2.0 dolby atmos dts-x etc and will sound even better than the SSP 800 or the Sigma SSP. The Classe SSP 800 or its new replacement model that's supposed to come out next year aren't fully featured and lack bells & whistles. It does not process video signal, it simply switches it.

* NAD M17 ($5500). No hdcp 2.2 for 4k, hdmi v1.4, no dolby atmos or dts-x or aura 3-d but all NAD processors hdmi modulars are easily upgradeable to accomodate the most current and latest formats and codecs. Sounded great for both 2ch music and movies. Unlike the Classe this unit will digitize its analog inputs. Equipped with Audyssey room EQ. Lacks features or bells & whistles typically found on japanese mass produced av manufacturers.

* Bryston SP3. ($9500). No hdcp 2.2 for 4k, still on hdmi v1.4, no dolby atmos or dts-x or aura 3-d. Pretty bare bone. No automatic room EQ nor manual PEQ. Phenomenal sounding especially for 2ch music or when used as an analog stereo preamp. Like the Classe, this unit has true analog bypass for used as an analog stereo preamp. This unit is optimized as a stereo preamp.

* Krell Foundation ($7k). No hdcp 2.2 for 4k, hdmi v1.4, no dolby atmos or dts-x etc. Great sounding for both 2ch music and movies.
Lacks features or bells & whistles compared to mainstream entry level processors.

* Krell Evolution 707 ($30k). Phenomenal sounding for both 2ch music and movies but lacks the latest codecs and formats.

* All Meridian processors are phenomenal sounding for both 2ch music and movies but lacks features and bells & whistles. Lacking the latest formats and codecs.

* Datasat processors. All Datasat processors are very expensive and very impressive sounding especially for home theater. The best sounding home theater processors ever built. But no hdcp 2.2 for 4k, no dolby atmos etc.

* Theta Digital Casablanca iii hd and iv. Very expensive and very very good sounding especially for movies. But no latest codecs and formats.

All these high end processors mentioned above are great sounding for both 2ch for music and movies but lack the latest formats and codecs but some of them will have their hdmi modules and softwares and hardwares upgraded when they become available.

As for a multi-channel power amp, I think your B&K five-channel amp needs to be replaced by a competent amp. I don't think getting the Marantz MM7055 five-channel amp would be an upgrade sonically from your B&K amp. Marantz MM7055 isn't a good power amp at all. It is basically no different performance wise than its receiver's built-in amp. Marantz makes great ht processors but not power amps.
I highly recommend the following five-channel amps for your surround channels :
* Parasound Halo A51 amp ($4500).
* Rotel RMB-1585 amp ($3k).
* NAD M27 seven-channel amp ($4k).
* Classe Sigma Amp5 power amp ($5k).
* Classe CA-5300 amp ($9500).
* Bryston 9BSST2 amp ($6700).
* McIntosh MC205 amp ($7k).
* Krell Chorus five-channel amp ($8500).
* Anthem A5 amp ($4k).

If you aren't willing to spend a fortune on multi-channel amp for your surround speakers I would recommend the Rotel RMB-1585 for $3k. It is the best performing and best sounding five-channel amp I've ever heard for its price point. It is the least expensive amp out of all other amps that I recommended above. This amp is a beast. The sound is very smooth refined with rich warm tonal and full bodied sound. For $3k I think it is a true bargain considering its performance and sonic fidelity and refinement.

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