Sound with 2 channel music and DD, DTS, analog bypass, flexibility, upgradability, great tech support (adam)

remote just OK, (upgraded to Marantz RC5000)

I agree with the Soundstage reviewer Bobby completely.
If you're looking for a preamp/processor that combines excellent analog performance with second to none Digital processing, you should definately take a really close look at the Soundstage. Throw in its upgradability, modular design, excellent tech support, flexibility, etc.... and you have one of the best preamp/processor available period. Then you look at its price and say "I have to have this unit"..........
Definately 5 stars..................

Similar Products Used:

Theta Casanova/Casablanca, EAD Ovation/Signature, Meridian 561, Lexicon MC-1

Completely upgradeable. Excellent sound qualities. First class tech support

Cheap remote, no 24/96 yet but will do so when better sounding dacs are availible.

I owned A proceed AVP which is an excellent unit but sold it to buy the Soundstage. The soundstage is the sonic equal of the AVP but offers more flexibility along with excellent tech support. I was able to get all of the information that I need to make a purchasing decision. The unit is a bargain at 1000.00 less than the proceed. It is super clean sounding and I do not that any surround processor betters it in two channel. I have compared it directly to the Classe unit, and Meridian units. And have listened extensively to it in my system after it replaced the Proceed which is itselt an execellent unit. You will not have to second quess whether you purchased the right unit with the one. Highly recommended. I do not know of anything that sounds better for all that it does.

Similar Products Used:

Proceed AVP, Meridian 568

Upgradeable, excellent tech support, easy to use

No on screen menu, no 24/96 processing,cheap remote

I became frustrated with Madrigal becauce the AVp was not hardware upgradeable and there was no way to keep up with the new technology. So I sold the avp and ordered an Aragon Soundstage. Before I shipped the unit, on the way to Fed-ex, I decided to stop in and compare the two units in the same system as it turned out that the Soundstage arrived as I was getting ready to ship the AVp. I brought a long a few of my favorite cd's and some DVDs to demo the Soundstage. At first listen it was very clean and the sound very detailed. But I notice right away that the music lost a great deal of the life that was present with the AVP. So my dealer allowed me to hook up the AVP. The AVP promptly kicked the Soundstage around. It sounded much more musical and dynamic. But the Soundstage was better a subtle details. On movies they were neck and neck. However, I listen mainly to music. I really had high hopes for the Soundstage and was extremely diappointed. My dealer sat by and had no comment. But, I could see the look on his face when I contected the AVP and played the same tracks we had just heard. The Avp was clearly better sounding. I own 2 Aragon amps and they are excellent. I hoped that the Soundstage would allow me to keep up with the tech. at a reasonable price but I was unhappy with it. I shipped the avp and began my search for a replacement. This search led me to the California Audio Labs SS-2500 which is better than both the Soundstage and AVp but at 5400.00 it should be. However, it has 24/96 dacs, is hardware and software upgradable. I had to spend 1400.00 more but it was worth it. It is similiar in sound to the Soundstage meaning clean and detailed but it adds back the life to the music. One must understand that I am being very critical here. For 4000.00 the Soundstage will beat anything around that price. But it is not the best thing out there. I love Mondialdesigns and have had great luck with their products but had to pass on this one though I would recommend it highly for someone who's budget is in the 4000.00 or less range.

Similar Products Used:

Proceed AVP, Cal audio SS-2500, THeta CAsanova

Sound,upgradable

The usual....remote is kind of lacking

I have been locking for a pre/pro for around a year now trying to find one that had great two channel sound and wouldn't be obsolete in a short time.All the ones I heard at a lower price point,Marantz,B&K,Sony just din't have the two channel sound I was looking for (my main concern). I thought of getting a seperate high end pre amp & a more modestly priced pro but decided that when DVD Audio comes around I'd want a pro that was clean in all channels. The next price point was the Carver which was a decient sounding piece but just not quite there. I listened to the Krell & had pretty much decided to wait & save up for that, but gee $6,000...ouch. I then started hearing about the Soundstage & auditioned one. Finally I found the combination of great two channel sound & upgradable features I needed. For $2,000 less than the Krell I said....sold.This really made a HUGE improvement in my system, the other reviews already attest to the sound quality so I won't go over that again.Big pluses to me other than the sound was very easy set-up, excellent bass management with a crossover all the way down to 35,analog by-pass for ALL 6 channels, very robust construction & when I emailed Aragon a few times about the Sounstage I always got a response the next day.Give this unit a listen, I believe you'll be very impressed.

Sound, upgradable, # of inputs, balanced outputs, flexibility,

remote

If you are looking for a pre/pro that sounds as well with 2 channel as it does with DD, DTS etc.... is truly upgradable for the future, has an outstanding sounding analong bypass and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. You really only have a couple of choices. Those are:

Aragon Soundstage
Bryston SP-1 (not released yet)
Classe SSP-25 (not really upgradable like the Aragon)

That's it as far as I know...........

Please forgive me for not making a few things clear in my last review. I write this during my coffee break at work. What I meant to write about was that this unit had too many features that would not be used if a person already owned a good Analog PreAmp (for Example Audio Research LS16 or the LS25) and whated but a D/A sound processor for their DVD and Laser Disc players. I wrote about the Aragon SoundStage has having Balance Outputs but no Balance Inputs, and of corse the Theta Casa Nova has neither...thats because I already have Balance Inputs and Outputs with my Audio Research LS16 PreAmp. My Sony XA7ES CD Player is Balance Output to the LS16 Input and then Balance Output from there to an Aragon 8008BB Amp Balance Input. If I would of bought the Arargon SoundStage I could not ran my CD Player with the Balanced lines. I needed but a RCA Input and Output D/A sound processor to ran my DVD and Laser Disc players. All other Audio machines (Radio Tuner, Record Player, Tape Deck, CD Recorder) are RCA into the Audio Research LS16, which has an RCA audio bypass to pick up the information from the Theta Casa Nova. The Theta Cosa Nova is then ran RCA Out to an Adcom 5503 3 channel Amp to ran the Center and Rear speakers. Therefore the Aragon SoundStage Balance Outputs are a waste of value for me. The Theta Casa Nova has its own RF Mod input for Laser Discs while the Aragon SoundStage does not have a Input for them...but of corse one can make one of the RCA inputs and plug an outside RF Mod into it. This is way I wrote in my 1st review that the Aragon SoundStage is for those that want one good PreAmp that does everything, but this unit may not be good for those that have already a good analog PreAmp, or like Tubed Sound as in the case of the Audio Research Products and needed but a simple D/A sound processor.

see below

Remote a little confusing

This is the perfect union of stereo and multichannel.
I feel the 2 ch. performance is very comparable to my
"audiophile" system above. The HT performance is excellent
as well. Don't think twice about non-THX certification.
Once you hear it, it won't matter. Upgradeability is as
good as it could be and it offers 2 ch and 6 ch analog
pass-through for DVD-A. 6 balanced outputs are nice, too.
I don't miss on-screen display (thought I might). The remote takes a while to learn. Its a universal remote
made by another company and Aragon didn't bother to mention
the correct input code, but once I figured this out I was
off and running. Once you get the hang of it, its about as
good or better than any other universal remote I've tried.
5 stars in spite of this initial frustration. It just sounds
that good.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom gtp600, Threshold/Levinson 2ch system

Direct Stereo DAC bypass mode with subwoofer output. Outstanding DACs in digital mode. Balanced outputs to amplifier

Expensive. Manual could be better.

This is one of few Surround pre amps with Direct Stereo capability to buypass DACs and maybe the only one that has capability use the subwoofer output in this mode. Incredibly the new B&K Reference 30 has a direct mode without output to subwoofer when the Reference 20 did have output to subwoofer in this mode. An analogue mode with output to the subwoofer is an important feature for flexibility to use separate DACs or DACs in CD player and also have flexibility to add DVD audio or SACD.

Quite easy to use and sounds fantastic in either Digital or Analogue mode. Should especially appeal to people who want to use for music listening

Similar Products Used:

B&K Reference 20 and new Reference 30