Letters - December 2009
Upgrade from an older Theta to a new Integra?
December 20, 2009
To Wes Marshall,
I really enjoyed your review
of the Integra DHC-9.9 processor [on SoundStage! A/V] and hope you don't mind
a personal e-mail from me. I've always liked the SoundStage! Network the best since all
the reviewers have been great with a question or two I might have through the years, while
most other review sites don't even allow e-mails.
I'm sure a lot of folks are in my very position. Basically,
I own a 1997 Theta Casablanca with standard DACs. I've been quite happy with it since I've
used the Analog Direct route for my Naim CDX CD player so the Casablanca's DACs have only
served for home theater. Obviously, many Theta owners would not be happy to settle with
only the standard DACs since there have been two upgrades by Theta in the form of a CBII
and CBIII with various upper-level DACs, but the standard DACs have served me well even if
they are only 18-bit. I made the bad decision way back when of not getting the DTS board.
Now that Blu-ray has won, it seems many titles are in DTS only. My CBI can simulate 5.0
but it’s not that great sounding in comparison to DD 5.1. This is the main reason now
forcing me to consider upgrading. I'm having a very hard time justifying the $3500 charge
by Theta's dealers for Theta to upgrade my CBI to a CBIII let alone the high cost for
newer DACs that are needed to support lossless, whenever Theta releases their HDMI upgrade
in 2010, which will be yet another charge. It could easily cost around $10k if not more.
I'm just not ready to spend that kind of money when many processors like the Integra
DHC-9.9 are now available. Sorry for the long explanation but this leads me to wondering
what your thoughts would be. I'm a little worried since my ears are very sensitive to
sibilance or upper treble that sounds etched or hard, where it makes me want to turn the
sound down instead of up. Is the Integra DHC-9.9 really that good?
Robert
Thanks for the kind words. We try hard.
There's only one answer for you and that is to get a
hold of an Integra (and better still, an Anthem, too) and put them to the test. I chased
the perfect sound for years (best ever were Jeff Rowland and the original Threshold) and I
can tell you that the Integra does not match the liquidity and purity of those components.
But it comes damn close, and it is convenient, and it has room correction (which is the
real deal -- don't underestimate it) and costs less than the last phono preamp I bought.
Wrap that up and it's a no-brainer for me. I would rather have the Anthem, but not for
$5000 extra.
On the other hand, you may have more money than I do or
hear things differently. That's why you should get them and try them out. I now listen to
CDs using the room correction. It sounded different at first, but now it sounds right. You
can always use the Integra for movies and Theta for music. . . . Wes Marshall
Buying Guide question
November 11, 2009
Editor,
I’ve looked through the 2009 SoundStage! Network
Equipment Buying Guide and found it very helpful. I’d really like to pick up a
printed version of this. Is it sold anywhere like Barnes & Noble? Or could I purchase
one directly from you? There are a few listings I’d like to have for when I go to New
York in the next month, where I plan to do some shopping for my new home theater. Thanks
for any help you can provide.
Michelle
The SoundStage! Network Equipment Buying Guide 2009 is
not for sale anywhere -- the only place you can see it is on the SoundStage! Network website. However, if what you need is to have
a printed copy of some individual listings, there is a print feature for each entry: just
look at the top right-hand corner of each entry just underneath the title. Click Print and
it will automatically format the entry for proper printing. . . . Jeff Fritz |
