I have been listening to my SSP-800 system again for the past 3+ weeks after not hearing it since July. The system really sounds great, and in a room that is large with 24' ceilings which produces a lively yet controlled sound with tight bass output.
I mostly listen to stereo, but I do like to watch blu-ray movies on this system as they sound so great through the SSP-800, even though I still don't have the dual board upgrade and I'm only able to get Dolby HD through the player.
I have noticed it before, but it struck me that the sound produced in HT through the SSP-800 is truly amazing, and the sound produced in stereo is very good, but not equally as good as it is in HT. I was puzzled, so I decided to unpack my CP-500 pre-amp and listen to both back-to-back in stereo.
Subjectively, the stereo sound produced through both of them are very good. The SSP-800 is clearer and it exposes more subtleties in some instruments, but the CP-500 is more pleasing, less fatiguing and possibly more "musical" for some reason? Newer CDs that are recorded (I'll call them produced with the gain maxed out) are more in your face through the SSP-800, but are easier to listen to through the CP-500.
Is the SSP-800 a much better surround sound processor than it is a stereo pre-amp? I guess it comes down to the fact that it appears to be underutilized when the source is a CD or an iPod, but that's what I primarily use as a source with this system. Or, is the CP-500 a better choice overall as a dedicated pre-amp, or nearly as good as the SSP-800, when the source material is (new & older recordings) CDs, LPs or an iPod?
I was planning to use my CP-500 in my stereo system that I've been putting together around the 804Di(s) in our other house. Then I got the idea of selling the CP-500 to buy a CP-800, but, maybe that would be a mistake given what I think I'm hearing?
I'd also be interested if anyone has recently done a back-to-back comparison between the SSP-800 and the CP-700, now that they are more used to listening to the SSP-800 and the excitement of a new toy has perhaps faded.
I mostly listen to stereo, but I do like to watch blu-ray movies on this system as they sound so great through the SSP-800, even though I still don't have the dual board upgrade and I'm only able to get Dolby HD through the player.
I have noticed it before, but it struck me that the sound produced in HT through the SSP-800 is truly amazing, and the sound produced in stereo is very good, but not equally as good as it is in HT. I was puzzled, so I decided to unpack my CP-500 pre-amp and listen to both back-to-back in stereo.
Subjectively, the stereo sound produced through both of them are very good. The SSP-800 is clearer and it exposes more subtleties in some instruments, but the CP-500 is more pleasing, less fatiguing and possibly more "musical" for some reason? Newer CDs that are recorded (I'll call them produced with the gain maxed out) are more in your face through the SSP-800, but are easier to listen to through the CP-500.
Is the SSP-800 a much better surround sound processor than it is a stereo pre-amp? I guess it comes down to the fact that it appears to be underutilized when the source is a CD or an iPod, but that's what I primarily use as a source with this system. Or, is the CP-500 a better choice overall as a dedicated pre-amp, or nearly as good as the SSP-800, when the source material is (new & older recordings) CDs, LPs or an iPod?
I was planning to use my CP-500 in my stereo system that I've been putting together around the 804Di(s) in our other house. Then I got the idea of selling the CP-500 to buy a CP-800, but, maybe that would be a mistake given what I think I'm hearing?
I'd also be interested if anyone has recently done a back-to-back comparison between the SSP-800 and the CP-700, now that they are more used to listening to the SSP-800 and the excitement of a new toy has perhaps faded.
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