Best AV Processor for 2 channel

"Is there any processor that will come close to the sound of a Kontrol or other high end 2 channel preamps for stereo listening?"

No. None of the computers that are the heart of a HT av processor sound as good as even a modest preamp, let alone a high end preamp.

Does the Linn have a av bypass? If so, buy a inexpensive processor to decode the movies and run it through the Linn. Otherwise, still buy a inexpensive processor and switch interconnects back and forth.

I used to do that when I had a Casablanca 2 with extreme DACs and a older ARC preamp that had no av bypass. Even the Theta wasn't as good as an older preamp, let alone todays SOTA.

Agaffer
Have you heard the EAD theatermaster 8800?
Yes it is a smoken 2-channel,or 8-channel direct pre-amp.
Tim

In its price range the Cary Cinema 5 is an outstanding 2 channel or HT pre.

Do you have LP's? Is that why two channel pass through is important?

Because otherwise the DACs in the Prepros are likely better than what is in your DAC or Cd player.

Two channel is inferior for Redbook CD playback anyway in my experience.

In less than a month I am going to Chicago to compare the EMM DAC6 and the TAG McLaren AV192, the person who owns these devices tells me there is very little difference between the two on Redbook CD in two channel. He prefers TMS to either two channel options. So maybe your compromising your 7.1 channel to accomadate your 2 channel.

A foriegn thought on this site for sure.

Meridian Surround Processor, its the only choice, until TAG McLaren Processors are resurrected as AudioLab.

I had the same idea in mind when I went shopping for my gear. I ended up with the Parasound C2. I actually met the owner of Parasound and talked with him a fair bit. His vision was building a great 2 channel preamp that was ALSO a great 7.1 prepro. I think he succeeded. The C2 sounds awesome and you can bypass the processors by using the analog 7.1 inputs of the C2. It also has a ton of other features, inputs, outputs and upgradable software. Check it out.