AC3 5.1 gear

I'm a bit out to lunch on current home theater audio stuff but I would like
to set something up and get rid of this pro logic rcvr I have.

** I don't really want an A/V rcvr (or tuner) so is there anything on Ebay
that is a 5.1 decoder that is a simple control center/preamp that I can
drive some seperate power amps with? I see alot of receivers but not much
along these lines. Any names and model numbers?....yamaha? hk? What would be
nice is maybe a digital input to interface with the DVD player and just a
couple other inputs for Tivo and a Vhs player. For hi fi audio I intend on
using a completely different system, so don't need CD and blah blah
inputs....tone, etc.

Thanks for your help on this.

In the recent past, JVC, Yamaha and Technics made decoders and some
are always available on the used market. I still use a Technics
decoder from time to time.

Kal

On Thu, 27 May 2004 07:31:53 -0500, "EBG"
wrote:

I'm a bit out to lunch on current home theater audio stuff but I would like
to set something up and get rid of this pro logic rcvr I have.

** I don't really want an A/V rcvr (or tuner) so is there anything on Ebay
that is a 5.1 decoder that is a simple control center/preamp that I can
drive some seperate power amps with? I see alot of receivers but not much
along these lines. Any names and model numbers?....yamaha? hk? What would be
nice is maybe a digital input to interface with the DVD player and just a
couple other inputs for Tivo and a Vhs player. For hi fi audio I intend on
using a completely different system, so don't need CD and blah blah
inputs....tone, etc.

Thanks for your help on this.

EBG wrote in message ...
I'm a bit out to lunch on current home theater audio stuff but I would like
to set something up and get rid of this pro logic rcvr I have.

** I don't really want an A/V rcvr (or tuner) so is there anything on Ebay
that is a 5.1 decoder that is a simple control center/preamp that I can
drive some seperate power amps with? I see alot of receivers but not much
along these lines. Any names and model numbers?....yamaha? hk? What would be
nice is maybe a digital input to interface with the DVD player and just a
couple other inputs for Tivo and a Vhs player. For hi fi audio I intend on
using a completely different system, so don't need CD and blah blah
inputs....tone, etc.

Thanks for your help on this.

AudioReview will give you an overview of what is on the market
and the reviews will give you an indication of features and price.

http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_125086_2719crx.aspx

Another stack of reviews is available at

http://www.hometheatermag.com/preampsurroundprocessors/

That should give you some ideas as to what to investigate further.

Thanks.

So most of the newer stuff has AC3 5.1 capability built in?

I was getting a bit confused with some stuff on ebay that had "AC3 5.1"
inputs for a seperate processor....I'll just assume that it's "dated"
equipment?

Is AC3 just another name for "dolby digital"?

I saw a Sony SDP-E800 that looks like what I may be after....nothing fancy
just outputs for the 5 amplifiers.

EBG wrote in message ...
Thanks.

So most of the newer stuff has AC3 5.1 capability built in?

I was getting a bit confused with some stuff on ebay that had "AC3 5.1"
inputs for a seperate processor....I'll just assume that it's "dated"
equipment?

No. Those are forced upon us by the The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The idea is that a SACD or DVD-Audio player has to decode the bitstream
and feed the data to analog inputs on the receiver to prevent bit-perfect copying.

Is AC3 just another name for "dolby digital"?

Correct. AC-3 was the original moniker.

I saw a Sony SDP-E800 that looks like what I may be after....nothing fancy
just outputs for the 5 amplifiers.

If I remember correctly, that has a built-in AC-3 decoder
so that you can hook up a laserdisc AC-3 RF output to it
and enjoy AC-3 sound from laserdiscs, but doesn't have DTS.

There are many. For a new one - Outlaw Audio 950 (www.outlawaudio.com) plus
many others. For used ones check out the Harman-Kardon Signature 2.0, B&K,
Adcom, Rotel, etc. Make sure to check if they have DD and DTS processing
builtin and not just 5.1 inputs.






Dennis


"EBG" wrote in message
...
I'm a bit out to lunch on current home theater audio stuff but I would
like
to set something up and get rid of this pro logic rcvr I have.

** I don't really want an A/V rcvr (or tuner) so is there anything on Ebay
that is a 5.1 decoder that is a simple control center/preamp that I can
drive some seperate power amps with? I see alot of receivers but not much
along these lines. Any names and model numbers?....yamaha? hk? What would
be
nice is maybe a digital input to interface with the DVD player and just a
couple other inputs for Tivo and a Vhs player. For hi fi audio I intend on
using a completely different system, so don't need CD and blah blah
inputs....tone, etc.

Thanks for your help on this.