genkifd

i returned my Phoebus around 2 years ago as the card started to crackle & pop (LOL) imo worst driver support for a hardware ever. but Asus is famous for bad driver support. eventually replaced it with Soundblaster Z - worked perfect from day one and still today.

problem with european receivers is that they are generally slow in the uptake of new tech. example they still do not have atmos and hdmi 2.0(a).

preamps dont have a inbuilt amplifier - all preamp / processor does is contain all the inputs, processing etc. great advantage of a preamp is they have alot more room inside than a reciever (all in one).

i have the Asus drive and has been great from day one.

for $2k speakers i would be listening to the KEF LS50 http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/557-kef-ls50-loudspeakers above - goldmund is for the ultra rich man......

i have a pro mod chip for mine - if i recall correctly they cost around $150 AUD.

you can tell you are sucked in by advertising (branded) - look at your avatar

well up to you man but for me audio is much more important that visual. as i do listen to music about 50% of the time. As i also strongly believe picture is only 50% of a movie experience.

i just dont understand people who spend so much on a projector / tv and spend so little on the audio system.

nice projector - hopefully spend the same $$ on the audio side.

what the DAC chip?

Speakers for me as i dislike the comfort of headphones also poor sound stage and body impact.

home pc - 4k - wish MS would fix the resizing issue.

its really what your experience in audio is. Many is about brand snobbery (pitty most audio brands that the general public has heard of are very ordinary). how Bose came of fam was their high end speaker 901 which at the time was great and many audiophile praised. ever since then they havent lived up to the 901 standards. they spent more on advertising (like beats and many other companies) in marketing that actual audio research / development.