FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Yamaha Pre Amp

Question:
Has anyone heard about a new pre-amp from Yamaha (ES324 maybe) which is supposed to add the ability to add an outboard AC-3 decoder to normal receivers? I was wondering if this is a possible upgrade path for my 890--and whether this was better than the MSB upgrade I can buy.

Answer:
The Yamaha DSP-E492 (http://www.yamaha.com/yec/dspe492.htm) is not really a preamp, but more of a piggyback processor that has a master volume control. The 492 provides Prologic, DSP processing, and 5.1 inputs for connecting it to an external 5.1 decoder. It does not appear to have any inputs other than the L/R inputs that are sent from your existing receiver or preamp, since your existing receiver/preamp handles audio/video switching. It has 3 channels (C/L/R) of amplification for use with an existing 2 channel receiver, but should provide 6 outputs for using your own power amps. It is due out in May according to Yamaha. I have an older Yamaha unit which basically does the same thing, except it does not provide inputs for an external 5.1 decoder. The advantage of using this type of processor is that it allows you to add a 5.1 input to your existing receiver/preamp for less than $500. It also provides Prologic decoding if you have an older non-AV receiver. The DSP modes are loved by some people and disliked by others. I tend to like them, and believe that Yamaha does them fairly well compared to other products in the same price category. The biggest drawback is that you add an additional component between your source and your speakers, although if you want to listen to straight stereo you can still use your existing reveiver in this mode. Also, if you are listening to a 5.1 source, it would most likely be coming from an external decoder anyway, so the number of links would be the same as a normal AV preamp with an external decoder. If you are looking to upgrade to 5.1 for as little money as possible, a DSP-E492 with a Dolby Digital decoder should be in the range of $800. The alternative is to replace your existing receiver/preamp with a new unit that has a 5.1 input, which will probably cost in the range of $800-$1200 for the receiver/preamp only. In addition, there are companies, such as MSB, that may be able to add a 5.1 input to your existing receiver/preamp, but I'm not sure if they add the bass management circuitry, which would require that you purchase a 5.1 decoder with bass management built in.