good sounding

Problems with bass mangment
Digital lock does not always work
Remote has to reprogramed when batteries changed

This unit sounds great when it is working. I have had problems with the bass managment as well as not being able to get the unit to lock on to a Dolby digital or DTS signal. I found that once the system is calibrated the bass has to boosted 10-12db to get it sound right on movies on DD or DTS. Have had the latest software update sent from Sunfire and it made no differance. I really liked the way this unit sounds in stereo as well as DD & DTS. In stereo the imaging is pin point accurate,as well as presenting a large sound stage. Holagraphic mmode works quite well with the right type of music. On movies the envolopment as well as how realistic the sound is very good.

But because of the bugs I have had with unit it is going back to the dealer. 4 stars for sound, 2 for quality control

List of equipment:

Sunfire Theater Grand
Sunfire Cinema Grand
Martin logan Aerius I Mains
Martin Logan Cinema center
ACI Emeralds Surrounds
Marantz 67 se CD player
ACI Titan Sub
Toshiba 3109 DVD
RCA satellite Direct TV

I've had my Theater Grand for some time now and I am truly a fan for sunfire products. The sound from the system I've build continues to impress me every day. The Theater Grand - cinema grand combo is an impressive pair.

Some shortcomings: The remote. Several of the reviewers have made reference to "re-programming" the remote in their reviews. You do not have to re-program all of the codes back into the remote at a battery change - just the "buttons" you want to show. When new batteries are put into the remote all button "panels" show up on the display. All that is required is to "shut off" the ones you don't need. I will agree it is a pain if you have 4-6 screenfulls to adjust, but by making a diagram of each screen on paper to refer to, solves this problem and six screens can be adjusted in less than a minute.

Another problem I have had is the locking onto DTS sygnals from my DVD player. If the Theater Grand does not lock at the beginning of the DTS DVD, it will never lock. You must start at the beginning and leave the buttons alone until everything starts up (will work everytime) If the Theater grand does not get a lock it must be turned off and on again and the startup process including DVD play all started from scratch. I talked with Sunfire about the problem and they said the problem was fixed in a latter release (software upgrade 5) mine currently was purchased with version 3 or 3 upgrades. Sunfire said the upgrade solved an issue with the DTS standard that changed AFTER they released this unit. I have not sent mine back yet and of course, own only 1 DTS disk!

If you are looking for bass management this unit has only volume. Crossover frequencys cannot be adjusted in the theater Grand and are set at 80hz. Ihis setting works fine for me as I adjust this in my sub.

My Aerius I mains are biwired (MIT) using voltage and current sources on the Cinema Grand. This is an outstanding combo to power Martin logans. The doubling of output watts as ohms drop is a perfect match for the Martin Logans. My dealer agrees.

Great combo - great support from sunfire - great sound.

I bought the Sunfire Theater Grand purely on the reputation that I had formed from the Sunfire True Sub and Cinema Grand I had Purchased Earlier. I was using NHT 2.3a's full range and NHT center and surrounds, with a Sony ESD2000 driving the Cinema Grand, it was OK, but I knew I had some weakspots to fix, mainaly the processor, so I bought the 1st Theater Grand in Texas, and I was awed by its perfomance, very clean, clear, powerful, discreet, warm..I can think of a couple hundred other adjectives to describe it. This thing is the greatest! So I bought a Sony 7700 DVD player to get DTS as well as AC3, and bought some Martin Logan ReQuests ( Main and Surround) and a Logos (center). I was able to biwire the mains so I have current to the ESL and Voltage to the woofer...this is the absolute best Audio system I have heard under $100,000! The sound is so good it will raise hairs on the back of your neck...serious. SO now I have ordered the Sunfire Signature Series Cinema Grand and a Pioneer 502x 50" Plasma screen to go with my Theater Grand, I am giddy, wich is a vast understatement.
I only have a couple of complaints, the remote is the only weak spot, you cant fully control the TG through the remote, it needs a DSS compatible, I can program a hack menu, but I shouldnt have to. The remote also goes through batteries fast! (and you have to reprogram some of the remote fields when you do). I also had the software revision, and I dont see/hear much difference. Also, why 3 sub preouts? Why not 4 so I can double up on each of the 2 True subs? I also agree with other members, ALL the lights should be blue.

Overall I would not trade my Sunfire for anything short of a full blown Krell or Mark Levinson system, which would be about 10-15 times more expensive.

I give it 4.5 stars...would be 5 if the remote interface wasnt so hack.

Pin-point image, tonal balance, excellent stereo sound, Top-notch Dolby digital and Dolby Prologic and dsp performance.

Not enough S-video imput, no digital output, no 6-channels analog imput, fixed 80 hz crossover point, no mid-night mode for Dobly digital or Dobly prologic.

This review is for Theater Grand version I. I bought my unit on late December 1999. Right out of box, My family notice its sound difference from my very good Pioneer Elite receiver. Theater Grand's sound is cleaner and we hear much more details on music or movie and very smooth. The dimemsion of the sound stage extended further. Its is very musical.

I saw some of the earlier review mention about the bass tuning problem. I don't have that problem. For those reviewers if they feel the bass power is not enough or the bass is not sound good enough, please try to change the power cord. A good power cord make this preamp/processor sound big different. One month after I got the unit. I replaced the original power cord with a Tara Lab AC Master power cord. It make the music sound cleaner and less noise from high to low and the bass power of my main speaker and sub-woofer come alive. The bass is no longer suppressed or lifeless. The bass come out cleaner, tighter, much more powerfull and with great dynamic. You can verify it with the CD by Celine Dion singing the movie "Titanic" theme song.

Associated equipment:
SONY DVD Player DVP-300
ADA PTM-6150 6-channel amplifier
Speakers: Definitive Technology BP-30 (bi-wired), LRC 2000(bi-wire and bi-amp), BPX and FP-1500 sub-woofer.
Monster M1000D digital interconnect
Tributaries SCA300 Interconnects
Tributaries SP5 speaker cables
Tara Lab. AC Master power cord for the amplifier and preamplifier
Audio Power Power Wedge 114 AC power conditioner

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite VSX-99, Luxman receiver

Clarity.Detail:Dynamics.Tonal accurasy.

A little weak on deep deep bass.(in stereo mode)

Well I was looking for a good preamp for future home theater and stereo music...
Have been all into two channel before but thought it would be suitable to move on to the home theater and dvd audio thing...
Auditioned some brands and got all pleased with Sunfire's
Theater Grand 2...
I already had the Vacum tube preamp version 1 (as I have heard there is a new improved version}..and the Sunfire power amplifier..
Well when listening to the new Theater grand 2 I got all stunned with the clarity and detail it delivered.My old Vac tube preamp always had some harsh and edgy sounds in the midrange and treble that I thought was ok but a little to harsh...Wth the theater grand 2 the harshness was gone...just clear detail with no edginess.Everything was there but without that sharp pointy edge to it(the one that makes my ear uncomfortable).
The new Theater Grand 2 is an ecxellent preamp for music and I have yet to listen to it perform as a home theater preamp...I mainly listen to twochannel music..
Compared to some of the above mentioned preamps it does very well even outshine some of them by far...
This is a preamp with a lot of detail and yet smooth sounding..
One thing is that I thought it was lacking bass..I got it for truying at home for a week all new..Right out of the cart it didnt play that deep deep bass..but after listening to it for about four days the bass was getting to show up...
not to much though as it should be...I dont like coloured preamps...Wich I think now the Vac tube preamp is..Not much but a little coloured in the bass and in the upper mid range...
Maybe that is fixed in the new version..
Well I am thinking of getting the Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature to match the preamp...

Equipment used..

Rega Planet cd( tried both the usual rca and conecting to the digital input to the TG2 rca sounded best}
B&W Nautilus 804 (will be used as fronts..DM604 already own for rears and soon Nautilus HTM2 for center).
Supra cabling
Sunfire power amp 2x300w

Similar Products Used:

Sunfire vacuum tube preamp.HK Signature 1.0 preamp.HK Signature 2.0 preamp.Thule Spirit.Copland Peamp.Gryphon Tabu Preone....and more

Outstanding customer service, I stand corrected

I would like to correct my previous post, I found that there is a newer version of the theater grand 2 that does have a upgraded bass management, I called sunfire and give them credit for offering to upgrade my processor, I consider this company with the elites on service for doing this, it was not their fault that my dealer (overture audio) gave me faulty info, there are a lot of so called high end company's that would never offer to correct a dealers mistake, my hats off to sunfire

Similar Products Used:

lexicon

ok for ht, balanced outputs

build quality, cheap power cord, base managment, CAN NOT USE SUB WITH SPEAKERS SET TO LARGE

In the review below, Dennis says that you can use sub with speakers set to large, YOU CAN NOT, it says so right in the manual, I have owned the theater grande 2 for a month now, I use it strictly for ht, I have a seperate music system, if you are looking for a processor for both music and and ht, there are better choices out there. musicly the sunfire is ok, but also uses some of the usless dsp modes found on receivers, if you like echo and reverb the sunfire is for you.

Similar Products Used:

lexicon

Extremely real, clean and accurate sound

The only con is lack of 6.1 capability. Quite frankly, I have no plans to add more speakers and amp channels. 5.1 does an incredible job of meting my audio expectations.

Upgrade to Theater Grand II
Bottom line, if you have full range speakers for your system (front, center, surrounds) then upgrading is a must do. The TG II now has real bass management, allowing full range signals to all speakers while having sub woofer outputs. Additionally, two new audio modes have been added, ”Party 4” and “Party 5”. These modes mirror front speaker signals to the rear surrounds and synthesize a center channel signal. These modes provide killer playback of stereo sources. The TG II with Sunfire Cinema Grand make my Hales Rev 3s sound awesome with all sources. Based on the indicated -db level, the unit has more gain since it takes a lower setting to output my normal listening volume. Just some of the many new functions; ability to dim indicator lights, additional inputs/outputs, on screen programming, improved remote, improved FM antenna connector, 6 channel input connector for outboard decoders, much cleaner sound as a result of using Motorola DSP chip.

Upgrade Mechanics: call Sunfire (425-335-4748) and request Return Authorization Number, pack up in original carton; the TG unit, remote, FM & AM antennas, glass base, plus cashiers check for $1050. It took 11 calendar days for round trip (US Priority mail to, UPS ground from). In return you get a brand new TG II unit. (your old unit is not reworked and returned)