Dolby digital preamp recommendations, anyone?

Wonder if anyone out there is using a dolby digital preamp that they are particularly pleased with - my price range is between $1000-$1500. Considered Adcom, but haven't done much investigation yet.... thoughts, anyone?

OutLaw 990 PrePro

Used Sunfire Theater Grand III or IV.

I like my TG1

I realy like my TGP ll.

You guys are no fun.

If I had that money to spend on something NEW, I would take the Outlaw, hands down. However, if he doesn't mind used stuff, I like my Sunfire.

I don't mind used at all, but I'd like it to be 6- or 7-channel. Used suggestions are fine.... thanks, all. And, that Outlaw looks like a BEAST.

Anyone familiar with Arcam amps, preamps, and/or A/V receivers, even?

I have owned an Outlaw 990 for about 6 months and owned a 970 before that.

I have to agree that the Outlaw 990 is awesome. I will add a warning not to get the 970 in order to save money. They are totally different platforms and the 970 has been buggy since it came out.

I have been waiting to hear from a Sunfire TG owner with a 9-speaker system on what they think about those side-axis channels.

If I could do it NOW in that price range, I would try out the Outlaw. There seems to be many satisfied customers here, and in my mind that speaks volumes about them. If you are looking at used also, I would look at the TGIII as a option. I think you will be happy either way. I love my TGI, and I believe they only got better as they came along. At least that is what I have read here. Now if only I could be happy on the 2 Ch. level...... That would be awesome.

I have owned an Outlaw 990 for about 6 months and owned a 970 before that.

I have to agree that the Outlaw 990 is awesome. I will add a warning not to get the 970 in order to save money. They are totally different platforms and the 970 has been buggy since it came out.

I have been waiting to hear from a Sunfire TG owner with a 9-speaker system on what they think about those side-axis channels.

I admit I don't know jack about the Outlaw products. I have owned 4 different Sunfire products & was supremely happy with all of them.

I have run the full 9.1 setup (for a while) and was very happy with it. I don't really think there is much "value added" with the side axis unless you have a relatively large listening area.

What questions in particular did you have about the side-axis channels?

What questions in particular did you have about the side-axis channels?

What exactly do they accomplish? and how well do they do it?

When I considered buying a TGIV before I pulled the trigger on the 990, I was hoping to take advantage of the side-axis channels in order to improve the sound-stage at the front of my room when listening to music. I wasn't interested in 9.1 surround per-se. I was already running 7.1 and that's plenty for me as far a movie listening. But I just never heard anyone mention that the side-axis channels made a dramatic difference when listening to music.

By the way, the 990 does an excellent job with stereo material and multi-channel analog sources (SACD, DVD-A), so in the end, I am very happy with my decision and have no regrets.

The outlaw is a fine HT pre. I've heard them, and they are very transparent, and have a TON of features.

However, the Sunfire units have the added bonus of having Sonic Holography, if you're doing 2-channel critical listening, and IMO, NOTHING brings depth and air to the soundstage like SH.

Along that line, the Sunfire Pre's before the TGP-III do the Sonic Holography analogue (like previous Carver products) and although the Sunfire version of SH is a LOT quieter and clear than the Carver implementations, it is still done in the analogue domain.

The TGP-III, IV, and TGP-5 all do the SH in the digital domain, which makes it a LOT cleaner, and results in a much lower "sound floor", giving you a pretty much dead-silent background, and a LOT more open-ness and air in the low-level details.

I'll admit, I'm a Sonic Holography addict. I go to "high-end" audio salons and listen to their "flagship" systems (Krell, ARC, Goldmund, B&W, ML, etc) and all I can think is, "Gee, I wish I could engage the SH. This system would sound SOOOO much more open and real..."

Every few days, I listen to my system with the SH disengaged fo ran hour or so, just to remind myself how stereo sounds to the "rest of the world". Helps me to appreciate what I've got all the more!

Maybe you might consider an Outlaw, and an outboard C-9, to give you the "best of both worlds"...

--Richard