I have an old Citation 7.0 and looking for a newer preamp who is great at 2chanel and movies but it seams impossible to find a preamp better on 2 channel than this .. atleast in my pricerange ..
Perhaps a meridian 861 but the price ...

I bought this via Ebay over two years ago and meant to post a review when I had made my final upgrade for my speakers which has delayed until late this year. How do describe the sound of the Citation 7.0 it is simply, to my ears, the best analog preamp I have heard, I also have a Harman Kardon signature 2.0 which is also very good, but this to me is simply in another league, th eplacement of instrument vocals is second to none in regard to other pre amps I have auditioned, the sound itself is '' liquid'', so smooth, bass is to die for, but the mid range and treble is clean and extended, I will not have to change to another pre amp again. So my advice to anyone considering this outstanding piece of equipment to buy it quick and don't look back.
It is a steal at the prices you can get this for now.

I have only used this for 2 channel audiophile listening. I don't even know how the other features work.
I would call it articulate... Tight deep bass, smooth natural mids and accurate top end. Nothing to fault here. a musical preamp with a nice transparent Sound stage. You could do alot worst just for 2 channel and they tell me this does a phenominal job for home theater.

In the constant and ongoing search for "better" sound,I keep moving preamps and AVPs in and out of my system and every time I move them back out and return to my Citation 7.0. I have heard the definition of "crazy" is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So I guess I am crazy thinking I am going to find a better preamp than the 7.0, when in fact it appears nothing out there at any price is going to surpass it Maybe it is the audiophile version of the grass looking greener on the other side of the street. I have no other rationale for my repeated attempts to do what appears impossible. Anyway, after recently trying and passing on the Bel Canto Pre2 (a very nice preamp really) I think maybe I have finally learned my lesson. High fidelity audio is ultimately a personal journey and each of us has to decide what moves us in our listening and what does not. That said, the Citation 7.0 is simply, to my ears, the best analog preamp I have heard or (it seems) hope to hear . So here now I belatedly add myself to the list of 7.0 admirers and offer my advice to anyone considering this outstanding piece of equipment to buy it quick and don't look back.

Superb Analog sound.
Best looking audio preamp. Its gorgeous!
Best analog surround processing.

No six-channel input.
Remote is not universal.

This is the absolutely most stunning audio/video component I have ever had the privelage to own, use or even listen to.
In terms of sound quality and clarity,it just blows away the Denon AVP-8000 which is an expensive and acclaimed unit. The 6-axis surround is phenomenal. I never believed in surround sound for stereo music before I discovered 6-axis. I use Marantz DP-870 and Millenium 2.4.6 outboard processors for AC-3 & DTS.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVP-8000

6-axis surround processing. Better than logic7, nemo, and circle IMHO.

No DTS or DD

After ALOT of preamp/processors which drove my wife crazy, I finally settled on the Citation 7.0. I had the opportunity to go with the Citation 5.0 (newer model) but it had a few bugs in the firmware and processing. (seems like when they try to improve on something, something else breaks down huh?) I even called madrigal on this, and they told me to stick with the older 7.0 because of the mentioned bugs. In terms of the processing, I thought the analog steering logic was much faster than anything else out there.

In terms of musical smoothness and spatial finess it was even better than the EAD which is a really good unit itself. It drives my planar speakers really well.

In terms of HT, this thing is more accurate than the Lexicon models I tried.

I do not normally give anything 5 stars, but since I got this unit directly from Madrigal I got it at a fire sale.

The only knock is that for HT, it does not have DTS or DD. I upgraded the unit with the MSB 5.1 input and connect it directly to my EAD theatermaster DVD player with good results.

My system includes:

Preamp/processor- citation 7.0
Amps- Bryston 6BST & Bryston 4BST
front speakers- Bohlender Grabner 520dx
rear speakers- Citation 7.3
center speakers- bohlender grabner 220dx
subwoofer for music- rel stadium 3
sub for HT- sunfire signature

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon DC2, Chiro 802, EAD Encore, other mid/high end processors

Six-Axis...Six-Axis...Six-Axis! Super sound quality, beautifully finished, auto-calibration is great.

Some would say no DD or DTS processing; I however, will not! Six axis is the way to go!

After reading all the rave reviews on here, I bought a 7.0 with the intention of adding a DB-25 input for my Dolby Digital Decoder so I could have the best AV preamp and Dolby Digital too. After hearing the six-axis mode, I put my Dolby Digital decoders (Sony SDP-9ES and Onkyo ED-901) up for sale. Six-Axis produces a much more satisfying and realistic soundfield than DD does. I was surprised to learn it is full-range in the surrounds unlike Pro Logic! Jim Fosgate, you are a god... thanks, bud! At the price these things sell for now used they are possibly the best buy available in audio. Get one... everything you hear about it, and all these reviews, are true. I was expecting it to be good, but I was blown away. I'm pleased to add my five stars to everyone else's perfect scores... very well deserved.

Similar Products Used:

NAD preamps, Sony and Onkyo DD decoders, Onkyo THX receiver

Analog is outstanding. Looks, build quality and six axis. Incredible bargain ant current prices.

Lack of 5.1 channel inputs.

I have never auditioned the 7.0 prior to purchase but own the Citation 7.1 amplifier which I believed game me an indication of the quality products that Madrigal Labs was capable of producing. The unit that I purchased is a late producton model with the 3.5 software version, in mint condition.

I truly was not prepared of the outstanding analog sound reproduction the 7.0 was capable of as it is an AV controller. This is one awesome piece of equipment in the music department, IMHO. Its music audio performance is much, much better than the Creek OBH-12 passive which I believed was very good in this regard. Amazing what an extra 250 bucks can buy.:) The 7.0 also offers tons of inptus and outputs, it's highly flexible, has a well laid out remote and looks amazing with my Citation 7.1 amplifier.

On HT, six axis is no slouch when compared to my H/K AV receiver connected via its direct channel inputs using the onboard DD/DTS decoders of my DVD player. On TV broadcasts and VHS material, it walks all over Dolby Pro Logic. If need be and this is a big IF, the five channel inputs can always be added at a cost of approx. $300.00 which would bring it up to date.

Initially, I was not going to add this review as the others accurately describe the performance capability of the 7.0. However, I have rarely been as impressed with a piece of audio gear at a reasonable price. The Citation 7.0 is such a unit and believe that it deserves my $0.02.

An easy five stars plus product given its outstanding audio and video performance, flexibility and the very reasonable price which one can currently be purchased for.

Enjoy!

Similar Products Used:

H/K AVR 80II as pre/pro, Creek OBH-12 passive and have auditioned a number of preamps and pre/pros.

Six Channel Axis, Excellent two channel stereo

No DD upgrade

I have own this unit for 5 years and I haven't found a product that has truly surpassed it in sound quality. I think that 6 channel axis is a better sounding mode than DD or Dts, the sound is more natural and involving. You don't get the same type of separation in the bass and rear channels as DD and Dts,but with stereo subs and side speakers, which most products don't have fills that gap with ease. It is truly outstanding in the stereo mode, its sound stage is second to none in its price range and it is completely analogue. This means you won't get harsh sound on audio and video tapes, that happens with some units out there. The other units I listened to in my system are excellent units and if I had to have DD and Dts I would certainly buy one of the units I listen to,but none were as much fun to listen to as my Citation. If you can find one used by all means buy it you won't be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

Theta Casablanca, Proceed PAV, and Classe.

THX, 6 Axis, 2 channel Stereo..

No Digital Input

Great Pre-amp THX 6 axis Surround Process. What's else do I need to say more.. It is a great piece.

Similar Products Used:

Lexicon DC-2