Upgrading av pre-amp

[hornetstinger]

Considering upgrading my AV pre-amp (Lexicon MC-8)

Got two options, just get a cheap AVR with pre-outs.
https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/produc...products&subcatid=avreceiver&productid=nr1606

or a av pre-amp
https://www.marantz.co.uk/uk/produc...&subcatid=avcontrolamplifier&productid=av7703

Sources are 1080p so is the TV.
Power amplifiers are ATI 2000 series (7 channels) fully balanced XLR

If I go Atmos I have spare amplifiers I could use, and spare speakers but these aren't Atmos, just regular bookshelf speakers that I would have to angle up somehow.

Or if the AV amplifier had enough amplification channels just for the Atmo speakers I could use those internal amplifiers, rather than external amps

 

[Kei]

The proper AV pre amp is definitely the better choice. (not all AVR's come with a full compliment of pre outs) I upgraded from an AVR with pre outs to an AV7701 and it was a big improvement. (admittedly my AVR was quite old and only mid range) You are paying a lot of money for the built in amplifiers that you aren't going to use on an AVR. That said, AV pre amps cost more as they are a niche market. It's also very convenient having the pre out as balanced XLR straight out of the unit as it saves having to use a sonifex UL4 or balancing transformers to balance the signal.