What do you mean by Processor? What will it be processing?
What do you mean when you say all his sources are digital? Digital but specifically what digital Sources - USB, Optical, Coaxial, technically CDs are a digital source, HDMI, other? Details matter.
If he simply needs common digital inputs, then he doesn't need a Processor, he simply needs a DAC
(digital to analog conversion).
Few to know Stereos have HDMI inputs. Though most TVs, as an example, have Optical Audio Outputs, which can be used to listen to Movies and TV sound.
Are these by chance the speakers he has -
Focal Scala V2 Floorstanding Speakers
What other equipment does he currently have?
Is he determined to spend the entire £15,000 or does that represent the absolute Maximum he can spend?
To recommend equipment we need to know what he wants to do, that is, how he intends to use the system. The range of needs will determine the range of equipment.
Things to consider -
- Network Streaming from Local Storage and from the Internet - Yes or No?
- Tone Controls - Yes or Now?
- DAC - Yes or No? Probably yes, but how many inputs and of what type?
- Bass Management - Yes or No? If he has a Sub, then certainly he will need some type of Bass Management for both the Front and Sub. But to what extent and the specific choice for Bass Management has to be compatible with the equipment he has.
- To what extend to Movie and TV watching come into play with this system?
- Give us a list of all the Sound Sources he has, and of those he hopes to have? We have a budget but we need to know specifically what features and equipment are included in that budget.
That will give us a place to start with specific and productive recommendations.
Here is one of many options -
Parasound Halo P5 Pre-Amp with Bass Management and DAC - £1400 -
Parasound HALO P5 Pre Amplifier
Model Halo P5 « Parasound
Parasound Halo A21, 250w/ch Power Amp - £3200 -
Parasound HALO A21 2 Channel Power Amplifier
Model Halo A 21 « Parasound
Parasound Halo JC1, 1x400w Monoblock - £6000 (each or pair...not sure) -
Parasound HALO JC1
This (JC1) is not longer listed on the Parasound Website, but it has been replaced by the
Halo JC5 which is a 400w/ch Stereo Power Amp, though I don't see it listed at Stone Audio -
Model Halo JC 5 « Parasound
This is simply an example -
Parasound Halo P5 + A21 - £4600 -
-250w/ch RMS to 8 ohms at 0.04% distortion
- Bass Management
- DAC - Optical, Coaxial, USB (1x each)
- Tone Controls
Then what ever other features we need to add to the system to bring up to meeting your friends needs. Depending on those other needs, that could add another £3000 to £5000 to the system.
He certainly has the money to do better than Parasound, but until we have a full list of his needs everything said is pure speculation.
Steve/bluewizard