jrisles Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 HI Guys I have finally got my Elektron Theatron Amp .. it arrived on Friday. I have taken it out of the box .. all looks good but do you think i can use it?? I don't have a pre-amp or a processor yet that i can plug this thing into. Although i have an integrated valve amp (read my sig) there are no pre-outs & as mentioned in a previous post of mine my old Yamaha DSP-A2070 also has no pre-outs. So i am all dressed up with no where to go so to speak. Now i need to look for a multchannel processor. I intend to keep my music system & mu ht systems seperate. I am of the view that seperates are much better than trying to integrate into a single system. Also given that i listen to alot of music more than i watch tv and also given that my preference is towards a valve sound my Elektra Theatron will be serving purely as a HT amp & not a 2ch music amp. Sure i will listen to it in 2ch mode just to satisfy my curiosity but keeping these things seperate provides me & my family some versatility. Now the question what is a good 7 channel processor? Arcam, Rotel, Pioneer, Marantz?? Any recommendations? Well at least the amp looks good in my rack even though i can't listen to it. I might just get myself a cheap pre-amp in the meantime until i decide what processor to get. Any suggestions on a cheapish 2ch pre-amp? Looking forward to posting my review. cheers jeff
jrisles Posted March 11, 2007 Author Posted March 11, 2007 I guess i would prefer using HDMI. I have a Samsung 46" (which reminds me i should put this in my sig) LCD screen which has one HDMI input. I have also purchased a HDMI switch box that can accommodate up to 7 HDMI devices.
wheelz Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 I would buy a cheap avr (one of the lower end yammies/pioneer/nad/hk) that have pre outs and use that until the new pre pro's come out with the new sound formats then spend abit more on a decent pre to compliment your electra. Even a s/h amp with pre outs would be good while waiting for these new formats to be included in pre pros and avr's
kodaz Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 Have you checked out the new NAD Masters series they have a nice preamp. Was looking at one but have decided to go with a Denon AVR-4306 in the mean time as even though the sound of the NAD was way better I liked the features that the Denon had and the price (pacakge cost) was going to be cheaper. So I will keep the power amp (NAD M25) for now and see where things are in 2 years or so.
betty boop Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 congrats on the elktra ! if intention is purely ht, grab your self somthign under $2k eg the nad 163 avpre-pro at $1499 alternatively the rotel 1068 av pre-pro. apart from those two choices the rest are avrs anythign under $2k investigate for yoru self to determine yoru preferece. the yam and pio or denon are the real hdmi choices if looking for somethign that processes audio via hdmi others jsut switch hdmi. otherwise save a few bikies and go non hdmi avr either new under $2k or s/h under $2k. my pick ? the nad 163 simple easy to use and does a fine job ht wise. hdmi ? jsut run hdmi straight to your display for video and run coax or optical from yoru dvd to avpre-pro.
glennb Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 What Alebonau said. With a HDMI switch box you don't need it on your AVR, and if you want to go BR or HD-DVD later, then you'll need to upgrade your Processor to support the new audio formats anyway. Anything from the lower end of the Denon / Yamaha / HK / Marantz / NAD lines with Pre-outs will do a decent job.
jrisles Posted March 11, 2007 Author Posted March 11, 2007 So I will keep the power amp (NAD M25) for now and see where things are in 2 years or so. So were you considering replacing this amp with the Elektra?? Have you been able to hear both? I have not yet heard either myself. I would expect the NAD to be a decent amp?
brodricj Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 I have finally got my Elektron Theatron Amp .. it arrived on Friday. I have taken it out of the box .. all looks good but do you think i can use it?? If you think that's bad, I bought a Rotel RB1080 power amp last DECEMBER, had it TNT'd from Melbourne to Perth at great expense, and it still sits unopened in its box at my front door! my old Yamaha DSP-A2070 also has no pre-outs. So i am all dressed up with no where to go so to speak. Are you absolutely sure about that? have you checked whether there are main amp jumpers on the back panel? I would be surprised if it doesn't have the jumpers on the back as that's how Yamaha normally build their AVR's (My Yamaha DSP-A1 has amp jumpers that I can patch off to run an external amp). Now the question what is a good 7 channel processor? Arcam, Rotel, Pioneer, Marantz?? Any recommendations? I can vouch for the Parasound Halo AV controller, it's a 4 yr old design but it is still a great piece of gear (and comes with a 5/10 year warranty). If Halo is out of your price range they do a cheaper version which is still a cracker of a unit.
jrisles Posted March 11, 2007 Author Posted March 11, 2007 Are you absolutely sure about that? have you checked whether there are main amp jumpers on the back panel? I would be surprised if it doesn't have the jumpers on the back as that's how Yamaha normally build their AVR's (My Yamaha DSP-A1 has amp jumpers that I can patch off to run an external amp). Hmmm ... i don't even know what main amp jumpers look like yet alone what they do ... ... but i will check out my user manual. Bearing in mind your DSP-A1 came out after my DSP-A2070. Also another thing the 2070 is a 5.1 Dolby Pro-Logic Analogue Receiver. So no DTS etc. I would have to buy another "box" to get it up to today's standard. So i really do think this receivers days are numbered. On another note does anyone know if the Outlaw 990 pre/pro is available in Australia? cheers Jeff
betty boop Posted March 11, 2007 Posted March 11, 2007 ~On another note does anyone know if the Outlaw 990 pre/pro is available in Australia? cheers Jeff the outlaw is a sherwood clone, check steve at east wood he flogs them off cheap.
jrisles Posted March 12, 2007 Author Posted March 12, 2007 the outlaw is a sherwood clone, check steve at east wood he flogs them off cheap. I think i am going to go for the Sherwood Newcastle P-965 Pre/Pro .. sounds like an amazing device for the $$$. Any comments from the gallery re this combo?? Any dissenters? If so why so? I contacted Steve from East side? hifi .. he will do this processor for me for about $1800.00 .. although i have noticed he was doing them for this price this time last year as well. Probably no such thing as a $2700.00 rrp?? Treat this like a wedding vow .. if anyone has any good reason why these two (Sherwood Newcastle Processor P-965 & the Elektra Theatron amp) should not be united then please speak up or forever hold your peace. cheers Jeff
betty boop Posted March 12, 2007 Posted March 12, 2007 I think i am going to go for the Sherwood Newcastle P-965 Pre/Pro .. sounds like an amazing device for the $$$.Any comments from the gallery re this combo?? Any dissenters? If so why so? I contacted Steve from East side? hifi .. he will do this processor for me for about $1800.00 .. although i have noticed he was doing them for this price this time last year as well. Probably no such thing as a $2700.00 rrp?? Treat this like a wedding vow .. if anyone has any good reason why these two (Sherwood Newcastle Processor P-965 & the Elektra Theatron amp) should not be united then please speak up or forever hold your peace. cheers Jeff tell us what its like once you got it. think theres a hdmi switchign add on for the sherwood avr coming out probably worth askign abotu that one as well and whether its a goes with the pre-pro
jrisles Posted March 12, 2007 Author Posted March 12, 2007 tell us what its like once you got it. think theres a hdmi switchign add on for the sherwood avr coming out probably worth askign abotu that one as well and whether its a goes with the pre-pro Yes according to this review it appears the omission of a hdmi output on this unit was deliberate Sherwood P-965 Processor Review
norpus Posted March 12, 2007 Posted March 12, 2007 Yes according to this review it appears the omission of a hdmi output on this unit was deliberateSherwood P-965 Processor Review I believe the Sherwood gear is well built and designed, so go forth and multiply
jrisles Posted March 12, 2007 Author Posted March 12, 2007 Apparantly the HDMI switch is not yet available in Australia (according to Steve from East Side). Sherwood Newcastle HSB-600
davidward Posted March 13, 2007 Posted March 13, 2007 congrats on the new arrival, look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Elektra when you get it fired up.
jrisles Posted March 13, 2007 Author Posted March 13, 2007 Yep i have gone & done it. I have ordered the Elektra's new running mate. I have the Sherwood Newcastle on its way. Now all i need is a subwoofer, rear speakers, surround speakers .... a new house to put it all in ... the list goes on & on ...
jrisles Posted March 13, 2007 Author Posted March 13, 2007 Congrats mate is that the one from Daz No i think this is the one from Steve. Who is Daz?
jrisles Posted March 22, 2007 Author Posted March 22, 2007 OK .. it (Sherwood P-965 Processor) has arrived & now all i need to do is hook it up ... man just how many cables does one need to get it all working??? i got to re-arrange my stereo console ... i can see a new audio unit maybe required After i have hooked it up I will give you a review on the elektron & sherwood combo ... wish me luck .. cheers jeff
betty boop Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 OK .. it (Sherwood P-965 Processor) has arrived & now all i need to do is hook it up ... man just how many cables does one need to get it all working??? i got to re-arrange my stereo console ... i can see a new audio unit maybe required After i have hooked it up I will give you a review on the elektron & sherwood combo ... wish me luck .. cheers jeff wish you luck ! do post some pics once you have all setup ! and tell us how it all goes
Mannah Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 OK .. it (Sherwood P-965 Processor) has arrived & now all i need to do is hook it up ... man just how many cables does one need to get it all working??? i got to re-arrange my stereo console ... i can see a new audio unit maybe required After i have hooked it up I will give you a review on the elektron & sherwood combo ... wish me luck .. cheers jeff Good luck, should be an impressive combo when done. Two things might happen - 1.) you will be impressed and happy with your purchase immediately 2.) you will be disappointed with the sound, spend a few days tweaking setting and moving speakers and then be really happy which will it be time will tell
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