Price Paid:  $6000.00 from A friend brought it

Summary:
Most of the reviews of this AV processor are located among the Preamplfiers for some reason. The misreference has been pointed out to audioreview several times but... Anyway... The DS model was released in May 03 and has two AD Sharc DSPs. For music it has no rivals at all and Dolby Prologic IIx is fun to play with. At home cinema, this processor can easily trade punches with the better known top-end brands. But when it comes to price-performance, none of the others laid a hand on it. I wanted to buy American but when something like this easily out performs US products costing twice as much... Sure, EAD will have something out with equalisation late 03 or early 04. This has it now and its good. Try this processor with Bryston amps and either top of the range B&W or Martin Logan speakers and you'll hear music at its very best. With high end M&K speakers this pair will give you a movie experience your friends will keep coming back for - trust me.

Strengths:
Great looks - very compact. Very versatile - huge set of useful features. Amazing value for money.

Weaknesses:
Not easy to find in the US. Lousy publicity - I'd not heard of them a year ago.

Similar Products Used:
Lexicon, Krell, Theta, EAD, Bryston - all in my home over the year before I bought.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 from 2001

Summary:
I am an essentially a listener of Stereo (2 channels). My entrance in the world of the 5 channels could not put in cause the quality in Stereo. AV32r possessed a quality above the average in Stereo and it is excellent in multi-channel. The one that me more I highlight in AV32r is: - A silence of great dimension, allowing to hear with clarity the small musical variations; - An excellent DAC, now in 24 bit/192 Khz with an enormous dynamics and detail, without aggressiveness; - A processor of great quality for the films, in normal way or in THX, returning the drama and emotion presents in the audio band; - Quite complete Setup and of easy understanding

Strengths:
Use easiness, construction quality and quality of the sound

Weaknesses:
no there is anything to refer

Similar Products Used:
Roksan caspian dsp

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This processor is now 2 years old but the sonic performance is still better to my ears then many AV processors or stereo preamplifiers just released today. The new software and user interface has been improved further. The simplest way to have the latest processing software is to download them via the Internet. First, download the Upgrade Wizard programme follows by the latest AV32R software for example the v3.50 is the latest. After loading both programmes into your computer connect the Programming Cable (optional extra) between your Tag processor and your computer. Them just follow instruction on the Upgrade Wizard programme.

Strengths:
The software and hardware upgrades are positive improvement because they are developed based on consumer suggestion.

Weaknesses:
Programming cable is optional extra. Good thing is you only need one for all Tag equipments.

Similar Products Used:
Proceed and Lexicon processors expensive in UK.

Price Paid:  $4600.00 from AV Plaza

Summary:
AV32R is the best AV processor you can buy under $5,000.

AV32R reinstated my once-lost faith in 5 channel music. Being very much into music and movies--more into music, yes, two-channel music, After auditioning AV32R with 100x5 amp about a year and a half ago with Elac speakers at the dealer shop, the sound quality this combination produced became a benchmark when I auditioned for other equipment and when I purchased the above-mentioned products. Being into guitar music, I simply could not get what Tag sounded from any other makers. Tried Krell but no where near Tag except for enormous power and deep bass--given the price and output difference, comparison is unfair but Tag somehow measured up. The pre-amp function or direct-mode of AV32R made me speechless: clean, musical, accurate, great high, solid mid and quick, tight bass. Krell, Classe, Meridian, Tag and other power amps that I hooked it up with AV32R gave out extremely satisfying performance: It sounded better than when I connected other processors.

My selection criteria for digital processors have been: 1) how does it sound now—i.e, 2-channel music and movies 2) how will it sound in the future—i.e., will it incorporate new formats easily into its fold without going through painfully expensive and fussy with too many strings attached; therefore, making upgrade process only valid in sales booklets?

Against these, Tag, Meridian and Theta processors measured up. Yes, other makers do ‘promise’ they would provide the best sound quality now and many years to come. Look again. Only these three makers proved they can deliver.

The only thing left was performance-to-price ratio. Not very important factor if you are into high-end gears, but worth considering if you try to maintain your balance and perspective amidst quite stormy selection process—trust me I’ve been there. Even though I loved Meridian and Theta processors, Tag AV32R gave out the sound that met most of my cravings and preferences: So good that AV32R turned me into risk-taker from risk-averter. Tag is not very well publicized and known across audio/video-phile circles in South Korea: selling it in the second-hand market will cause terrible loss. But it sounded so good—transparency, imaging, musicality, yes, it makes you want to come home earlier rather than later. Bass. Yes, the bass was quick yet highly-detailed but neither exaggerated nor distorted.

Then comes support of newest as well as old digital formats. Well, it supports and ‘delivers’ Prologic II, THX matrix, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS Neo:6 among other formats. Remember these formats should “work” rather than simply showing up on the font display to soothe you that your gear supports all these new formats but makes no sonic difference. In this regard, Tag stands out over its competition.

Setup is easy if you do not have Meridian or other European DVDPs or projectors. My Meridian 596 DVD player uses the same remote frequency with Tag. Setup was painful not because it is in itself difficult; rather because of this “little” technical problem. Still, setup was fun compared with Classe, Krell, Meridian, and Theta processors. My take is that only Meridian excels in accuracy and sophistication of setup and setup-able features.

Support was terrific as Geraldo aptly put and then some. Through on-line support you can even communicate with Tag’s CEO. Tag is a good example that even high-end companies can be agile and responsive to the voice of customer. Still, I’ve got two complaint to make in that Geraldo mentioned Tag sent out free software for owners but none came to me. Is it because Tag values European customers higher? And pricing. I guess Tag intends to set higher price tag against its exports.

Despite my complaints, I firmly believe TagMclaren AV32R AV Processor is a must-audition gear if you do not want to miss out big on superb sound, build, and support that this 22nd century looking processor.

Strengths:
Great 2 channel definition, transparency, superb 5-channel music, astounding processor. Ease of setup. Timely software upgrade turnaround time. Reasonable upgrade pricing policy. CEO's commitment.

Weaknesses:
Uses the same remote frequency with Meridian, Barco and other European makers--fussy to use.

Similar Products Used:
Theta, Krell, Classe, EAD, Yamaha, Denon, Rotel

Price Paid:  $2000.00

Summary:
After a search for 12 months and listening to AV amplifiers from Sony to Lexicon this is the one that found the way into my home. Some of the attributes that convince me that my search has ended were the way it plays all types of music with ease and excitement. This breast in a choice of Armani black or trendy polished aluminium equally likes my music that ranges from Mahler’s symphonies to Bridney Spiers with joy and enthusiasm. My DVD movies collection is now growing at an alarming rate. Since it is so easy to set up I have quickly settle into my sofa enjoying the wonders of movies experience within 2 days. It has home theatre benchmark reproduction.

The video switch shows no visible effect. The quality of the internal DAC is so good that it transforms my DVD player form an average CD player a very good one. The quality of reproduction is now almost the equal to players like Linn Karik. Karik as a transport is itself elevated to higher level. The processor is very transparent that I cannot attribute any sonic characteristic of itself in the chain. Connecting different multi-channel amplifiers also confirm this observation. I have tried Rotel RB985, Tag McLaren 100x5R, Chord SPM2000B. Each brings improvements that I wonders what a few Mark Levinson would achieve.

The company also has excellent after sales service. They are very keen with their online website support. They even sent out free software update for owners. In U.K. it cost half of the other comparable rival.

Linn Karik,
Sony DVP725,
Tag McLaren av32r,
Rotel RB985,
B&W HTML2 and 4 AVI Pro-nine speakers,
Eccose References Monocystal cables.

Strengths:
Very transparent & musical preamplifier. Top rate av processor. Easy set up. Software upgradability.

Weaknesses:
Writings and button on front fascia small for not-so-young user. Remote receiver window not sensitive enough.

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DB930, Denon 3300, Meridian 586, Lexicon MC1 , Linn Kairn