Hi everyone. I discovered ASR many months ago and now find myself checking it almost daily. I decided to become a member and also donate to this worthy website. Amir, thank you for your objective reviews and managing this great website.
I am in the process of building a treated room and a/v system for multi-channel and stereo music from streamed sources and discs. This system will also need to be used for surround sound movies and occasionally for tv.
My current plan is a 5.1 system with (ASR recommended) Benchmark amps and four Revel F226Be speakers along with a recently acquired C426Be. I’ve been struggling with choosing equipment for the streaming and a/v processing part of this system. Having read Kal Rubinson’s many excellent articles on multi-channel music as well as his recent review of the Exasound S88 streamer, I was thinking of getting the S88 and pairing it with the Marantz 8805 (w/ analog bypass for streaming?) or perhaps one of ASR’s more highly rated processors with better room correction.
Recently, I became aware that a Trinnov Altitude is capable of streaming multi-channel audio which would eliminate the need for a separate streamer. Coincidentally, my Revel dealer, (who was aware of my search for a processor), mentioned that he would be able to get some “fantastic” pricing on the JBL SDP-75 and was planning to get one for himself.
Any thoughts on other options or how I should proceed? My ears (as well as spouse’s) are getting old, so underwhelming SINAD measurements are of lesser concern. Of more concern is reliability, “bug” free software, ease of daily use (changing sources) and excellent room correction. It seems that any of my options at this point will cost more than I’d planned but if it sounds great, works well and outlasts me I will be happy. I’ve been pleased with my current stereo system (Bryston 4B power, Classe Thirty pre, Velodyne 10 sub and Magnepan MG10Q R) which was purchased in about 1995 and still works.
PS: My treated room consists of the ceiling and two adjacent walls constructed with Constrained Layer Damping. CLD is a technique I read about in “Premium Home Theater” by Earl Gedlee and is designed to absorb low frequencies without absorbing mid and high frequencies.
I am in the process of building a treated room and a/v system for multi-channel and stereo music from streamed sources and discs. This system will also need to be used for surround sound movies and occasionally for tv.
My current plan is a 5.1 system with (ASR recommended) Benchmark amps and four Revel F226Be speakers along with a recently acquired C426Be. I’ve been struggling with choosing equipment for the streaming and a/v processing part of this system. Having read Kal Rubinson’s many excellent articles on multi-channel music as well as his recent review of the Exasound S88 streamer, I was thinking of getting the S88 and pairing it with the Marantz 8805 (w/ analog bypass for streaming?) or perhaps one of ASR’s more highly rated processors with better room correction.
Recently, I became aware that a Trinnov Altitude is capable of streaming multi-channel audio which would eliminate the need for a separate streamer. Coincidentally, my Revel dealer, (who was aware of my search for a processor), mentioned that he would be able to get some “fantastic” pricing on the JBL SDP-75 and was planning to get one for himself.
Any thoughts on other options or how I should proceed? My ears (as well as spouse’s) are getting old, so underwhelming SINAD measurements are of lesser concern. Of more concern is reliability, “bug” free software, ease of daily use (changing sources) and excellent room correction. It seems that any of my options at this point will cost more than I’d planned but if it sounds great, works well and outlasts me I will be happy. I’ve been pleased with my current stereo system (Bryston 4B power, Classe Thirty pre, Velodyne 10 sub and Magnepan MG10Q R) which was purchased in about 1995 and still works.
PS: My treated room consists of the ceiling and two adjacent walls constructed with Constrained Layer Damping. CLD is a technique I read about in “Premium Home Theater” by Earl Gedlee and is designed to absorb low frequencies without absorbing mid and high frequencies.
