[mikeaitch]

I'm looking to buy a new processor.

Thing is, there seems to be at least a couple of receivers/amps coming out with full compatibility with new formats, and enough inputs/outputs, but no standalone processors on the horizon AFAIK

Am I missing something?

[Krobar]

Info has leaked on the Onkyo lineup, they are planming their entry level HDMI 1.3, 2 in 1out, DTS HDM, Dolby TrueHD, Audyssey entry level $400 amp for release next month.

The important point is though they may well upgrade their modular receviers and more importantly associated Integra Research Preamp (I have one and would not mind Audyssey and some better more plentiful HDMI).

There is also rumoured to be a Denon Preamp releasing soonish but this rumour has been going on for about 2 years!

[Helicon]

Initially it'll take a bit of time. Most manufacturers will be concentrating on releasing one box receivers, which the majority will be interested in. A pre-amp/processor, while needed, wouldn't be high on a manufacturer's agenda.

[mikeaitch]

Thanks for the answers- I was beginning to think I'd asked a stupid question!

Surely the likes of Lexicon, Arcam, etc make an awful lot of profit out of these high priced processors compared to the pile em high, sell em cheap receivers?

It just seems to be very quiet on this front, which forces me to waste money buying an upmarket receiver to use as a processor whose budget for sound quality has been diluted by the need to provide amps, speaker outputs PSU etc

[Canti1982]

I believe arcam are working on such a thing (AV10) but its probably just the research phase/testing. On the AV forums interview with John Dawson from Arcam he said that they would not rush to get such a thing out quickly as in their opinion the technology has not reached a level where the quality of audio is high enough for their standards.

This is probably why you are mainly seeing lower budget intergrated amps with HDMI audio processing. No company would want to release a high end amp/processor that could not hold its own.

I get the feeling we will be waiting til at least this time next year if not the end of 2008.

[MarkE19]

Originally Posted by mikeaitch

Surely the likes of Lexicon, Arcam, etc make an awful lot of profit out of these high priced processors compared to the pile em high, sell em cheap receivers?

They make less profit per unit sold with receivers, but they sell in large numbers. Processors sell in much smaller numbers and often have a far more spent on their R&D. Therefore they need to charge a so called 'over the top' price to recover the initial outlay to produce it.
Even the Arcam and Lexicon receivers have a shelf life of several years rather than the yearly update to the likes of the Denon etc receivers.

Mark.