UltimateAVmag.com: Buyer's Guide: Surround Preamps/Processors: Premier Choice

	UAV Recommends. These components offer outstanding performance that is just short of the Ultimate, but still worthy of consideration for your system.


	Classe SSP-300 $4,500 Output channels: 7.1-channels, single-ended Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic II, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96 Ins and outs: Four coax and four toslink digital audio, one AES/EBU, one 7.1-channel analog, three component video, RS-232, two 12V triggers Highlights: THX Ultra2, LCD touchscreen display, auto setup with included microphone, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video, 24/96 A-D and D-A conversion. The Skinny: Although this striking controller from Classe sports a gorgeous curved aluminum fascia with the cool factor appeal of the LCD touchscreen display, the SSP-300 has the sound quality with movies and music to back up those good looks. The Classe is as feature-rich as its looks imply, and the auto setup and calibration is a snap. Our only serious gripe is that while transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video is on tap here, DVI or HDMI switching would have been quite welcome in this day and age. But once the movies start, the sound is dimensional and enveloping, and highly detailed. The SSP-300 is an extremely well balanced package of features and flexibility with sound quality that fully lives up to Classe's high-end audio pedigree.
	Linn Kisto $12,995 Output channels: 7.1-channels, single-ended and balanced Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic II, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, MPEG, AAC, Limbik Ins and outs: Six coax and seven toslink digital audio, four component video (configurable), two SCART, one RGBHV, ten analog audio inputs, also configurable as 5.1-channel analog inputs, RS-232 Highlights: Software upgradeable, intelligent compact design that leverages multiple composite video inputs and analog stereo inputs to component video and multi-channel analog audio inputs, multi-source/multi-zone The Skinny: Linn is one of the most hallowed names in all of hi-fi, and the Kisto is packed with all of the innovation and performance the Scottish company is known for in a strikingly small package. Just a few of the sleight of hand tricks in the Kisto are scores of composite video inputs that can be reconfigured as component video inputs, and multiple stereo analog audio inputs that can be reconfigured as mutlichannel analog inputs. All of its sophistication is hidden from the user, making it exceptionally simple and straightforward to use. The Kisto eschews many of the bells and whistles common to many home theater processors, keeping its focus on pure picture and sound quality based on simple, pure signal paths. An audiophile's pre/pro all the way.
	Meridian G61 $5,495 Output channels: 7.1-channels, single-ended Decoding: DD, Pro Logic IIx, DTS,THX Surround Cinema, MPEG Surround, Trifield, Ambisonics Ins and outs: Five Toslink optical, six coax inputs configured either as individual coax connections or two proprietary six-channel MHR connections, one 5.1-channel analog, ten coaxial digital outputs, RS-232, three 12V triggers Highlights: THX Ultra2, all processing at high sampling rates with processing up to 24-bit/192kHz, multi-source/multi-zone The Skinny: Although the G61 is among Meridan's least expensive components, its pedigree is obvious. Although it features no video switching at all, in all other respects it's remarkably flexible. It boasts a wealth of digital inputs, and can connect digitally to a Meridian digital speaker system or in the analog domain to a conventional multichannel amp. The audio processing and D-A conversion is all performed at ludicrous speed. In terms of pure sonics this Meridian is an Ultimate Choice level component. We're just being sticklers about the lack of video/HDMI switching. But make no mistake: the Meridian G61 has the sonic purity and realism that separate the true high-end.
	Meridian G68ADV $9,985 Output channels: 7.1-channels, balanced on three front channels and primary subwoofer, four surrounds and two secondary subs single-ended Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, Trifield and Ambisonics Ins and outs: Six coax and five toslink digital audio, two sets of proprietary six channel coaxial digital audio inputs, one 5.1-channel analog, three component video, RS-232, four S-Video, two 12V triggers Highlights: THX Ultra2, Meridian Room Correction, broadcast grade component video switching with 300MHz bandwidth, five Motorola DSPs with 48-bit precision, 24/96 A-D and D-A conversion, multi-source/multi-zone The Skinny: Meridian is best known for developing the lossless compression algorithm that DVD-Audio (and now Dolby TrueHD) is based on, and for elaborate and uniquely configured, cost-no-object digital home theater systems. Although the G68ADV isn't cheap by any stretch at almost $10K, this is one of the more accessible price points at which Meridian has ever offered its renowned technologies. In addition to offering a variety of proprietary digital connections that offer performance advantages with other Meridian components, the G68ADV offers simply superb picture and sound quality. Among its unique technologies, Meridian Room Correction ameliorates room problems below 250Hz, and includes Meridian's proprietary Trifield processing for expanding two-channel sources to 7.1-channels, and Ambisonics on top of that. In short, the G68ADV offers outstanding performance, proprietary and essential technologies you can't get elsewhere, and excellent performance. Very Meridian.
	NAD Masters Series M15 $2,999 Output channels: 7.2-channels, single-ended Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96, THX Surround EX, Ins and outs: Four each coax and toslink digital audio, three component video, one 7.1-channel analog, RS-232, four 12V triggers Highlights: THX Ultra2, HDMI video switching (no audio porocessing), video cross-conversion of composite and S-Video sources to component, multi-source/multi-zone, backlit learning remote The Skinny: The Masters Series components delivered everything you'd expect from NAD, only more so. The build quality and sound are superb, and while the M15 isn't downright inexpensive it's a fine value neverhtheless. While we're miffed that audio processing over HDMI isn't included, there's too much else going on here that's good for us to pout about it. In particular, we love that the NAD Masters Series sparkles and wrings out all the glorious detail in music, and yet retains a smoother, more relaxed touch with movies. We enjoyed our time with the NAD Masters Series so much it was hard to pull away to write about it!
	Parasound Halo C 2 $4,000 Output channels: 7.1-channels, single-ended and balanced Decoding: DD, DD EX, ProLogic II, DTS, DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix/Neo:6/DTS 24/96 Ins and outs: Four each coax and toslink digital audio, two component video, one 7.1-channel analog, RS-232, two 12V triggers Highlights: THX Ultra2, auto setup and calibration with included microphone, LCD touchscreen remote, component video switching, 24/192 D-A conversion, multi-source/multi-zone, backlit programmable remote with LCD screen. The Skinny: Products like the Halo C2 are how Parasound made its bones in this industry, and why it now enjoys an enviable reputation for offering high performance components that challenge the very best at a fraction of the cost. The Halo C2 continues this tradition, offering all the versatility and features of the big boys, along with standout performance and rock solid usability and reliability. In addition to all that, the C2 is gorgeously designed with fabulous build quality. In short, like so many Parasound products the Halo C2 is a lot of everything for $4,000.