All I can say is WOW! I picked this up on eBay for $160. I was going to use this for the kids home theater but now it's in my main system. The sound quality is pretty extraordinary for the price. My Emotiva XSP-1 is more user friendly and versatile but at $1,000 that's to be expected. By comparison, the ACT 1 gives up nothing in sound quality. The clarity and build quality is in another class. Why don't they make stuff like this any more??

The only bad thing is that mine didn't come with a remote so I'm using the Redeye universal App on ios. It's a little clunky, but ok. My next purchase will be a matching ACT 1 remote if I can find one for cheap.

I bought this processor for $100 used 6 years ago for a small bedroom home theater. It comes with a very simple but functional remote that's essential for operation. Best value purchase i've ever made. Sound quality is simply amazing. It easily competes with home theater receivers in the $2,000 range. I use an Anthem DV2 processor in my main home theater and while this processor is much more versatile, the ACT 1 has a much quieter background nearly the same sound quality. I liked the ACT-1 so much, I purchased a second Act-1 for my son last year when he went away for college. Unfortunately the price almost doubled and most units don't come with the original remote.

Still, at $200 this is a real sleeper and giant killer in my opinion. The circuit is fully discrete, e.g., no integrated circuits, and can easily be repaired or modified which is an added bonus. Keep in mind this processor is about 20 years old and some used units may need servicing. Also, if you absolutely must have any of the digital decoding formats created in the last 20 years, the Act-1 will be a disappointment. But in my opinion, for a small room, the ACT-1's discrete Pro Logic discrete decoding is much better sounding than modern digital surround decoding formats.

Great surround very good stereo built great almost 3 years I think , and have never had any problems at all.

Stereo and dolby digital and party modes are all I listen to the other modes sound alike and are worthless to me , they all sound like crap. Whats with the white knob ? It looks like the original volume knob broke off and I just stuck whatever I could find on it

I think this is the most pre amp for the money and gives you the best of both worlds. I wanted a pre amp that would still give me good stereo 2 channel and good 5.1 dts surround. It is doin every thing fine. I dont hear nor have I ever heard any hum buzz or noise of any kind. I am running some power threw it front and rear crown macro ref. 760 per chann. and a hafler bridged to mono at 750 for the center my crowns make noise with the cooling fans but Never any noise from the pre amp

Similar Products Used:

None this was my first venture away from 2 chan. stereo

Ancillary Equipment:Marantz CC 43 cd changer, Marantz MA-500 mono amps, Phillips DFA-980 Integrated Amps, Echostar Dish Network Satellite TV, Magnavox HIFI VCR, Magnavox 25" TV, Spica TC-50 front Speakers, B&W DM-601 rear Speakers, M&K VX-7 Subwoofer (Sunfire True Sub is on the way, I can't wait!), Monster Cable Speaker and Audio and Video Interconnect, Straightwire Interconnect (I am going to upgrade to DH Labs Silver Sonic)

I believe in getting the best possible product for the least money. I can say that this product upgraded my system by a couple of orders of magnitude. Previously, my amplification was a 100 wpc Philips DFA 980 integrated amp, a pretty cool consumer grade product with a built in digital to analog converter. I found that the Acurus, controlling two Marantz MA-500's, 125 wpc, is much clearer and cleaner and extended in the highs (sounds less woolly).

I am now using the DFA 980 to drive the rear channels of my surround sound set up, where it works nicely. In surround sound, all of the channels have tremendous dynamic impact, and even my TV's built in speakers, used as center channel are clearer and more dynamic. Even though the ACT-1 is non THX, I get none of the rear "In your head" imaging that I have heard in other systems. Indeed I find the walls just disappear and I hear what sounds like the natural space in the film. The ACT-1 is just as impressive in Bypass mode (normal stereo)

Anyone interested should be aware of several glaring limitations of the ACT-1. It has limited (I think 4), because Acurus doesnt want you to use it as a stand-alone preamp, but rather only as a decoder (they told me this, in so many words on the telephone). I am considering using a switch box to cure the limited inputs.

Also, the ACT-1 is very susceptible to RF noise and line noise. In mute and when it is turned off while the amps are on, it causes the amps to emit a horrible buzz, which sounds like someone is being electrocuted. Use shielded cable and line and RF filters. My remote control is rather quirky as well.

But the payoff is great; to me it sounds like a $3,000 preamp. And that, to me, is what it is all about.

As a stereo preamp has clean, detailed sound with good sound stage.

Compared to a tube preamp I have recently switched too, the sound is more cold and seems a little harsh in comparison.

I have never used the ACT 1 for an AV setup but only for stereo. I have a B&K amp with celestion speakers, MIT speaker wire, transparent interconnects, and a velodyne sub. I have been expremely pleased with the ACT 1 in using it as a stereo preamp. The simple or "lean" desogn of the front panel is nice looking but makes changing settings annoying because I have to keep getting the manual out to see what's what. However, that's a pretty minor complaint.

I have never had any problems with hum. I do use a hospital grade power cord, though. I don't know if that makes a difference compared to the experiences of some of the other reviewers. Overall, I think this was a great buy for the money I paid for it.

Similar Products Used:

NAD, B&K

I don't use the ACT-1 as a pre-amp. It is meant to be looped thru yourregular pre in order to keep the music system separate from the home theatre
electronics. If you need more inputs then buy a pre-processor meant for that.
Used as a Pro-Logic processor the ACT-1 sounds good beyond its $899 price
tag. Soundtracks encoded properly have great depth and good separation
of music from dialogue and effects.
It is not harsh and tonally it stands up very well from the bass thru the
treble range.
Downside is "hum"; either from the digital section (my dealers opinion),
or a ground loop. This makes it unsuitable as a line stage(for me).
Also, being always in standby the ACT-1 has audible transformer buzz.
My dealer's ACT-1 was totally free of hum but had the transformer buzz.
Also, the video section is best used only for the menu functions. Of my
two samples: #1. S-VHS section did not work. #2. S-VHS section overloads
easily and causes bad screen "bounce".
My system: CAL transport & DAC; Acurus RL-11 preamp; Acurus A-150 &
Acurus 100x3 amps; ACT-1 processor; Snell CC-1 center channel; Snell Type D
main speakers; Velodyne F-1200 subwoofer and M.I.T. Terminator 2 interconnects
and M.I.T. Terminator 2 Bi-Wire.

The ACT-1 is a very good DPL processor but its lack of flexibility makes it near useless as a preamp (3 video inputs and 0 audio). The lack of a front panel display (it has on-screen menus only) makes it difficult to change modes. Once it is set up, however, all you need to do is turn it on and use the volume control. Sonically, as a DPL processor, it is extremely good.

Well... this isn't so much a review, but more a warning to anyone who currently owns an ACT1 and is considering buying one of the new "H" series of Toshiba TV's and big screens.I have owned an ACT1 for several years.. have been VERY happy with it's performance in the pro-logic domain, aside from thinking the remote is an ergonomic nightmare I've had no complaints.
I recently decided to upgrade my 27 inch Toshiba set to a new 32 Cinema series CN32H95 and that has started about 5 weeks worth of frustration.
It would appear that there is something electrically incompatible between the ACT1 and the new Toshibas. When the video signal is run through the Act1 THEN to the video input on the back of the set (normal configuration for the ACT1) it generates an odd horizontal banding through the picture.. ok, so I figure I have a ground isolation problem... NOT ! I tried lifting grounds on various things. No effect. Everything runs through a Panamax 1000, so, I tried sourcing direct from the wall.. nope.. nada !
Anyhow, to make a long story short... there appears to be NO solution, my Toshiba dealer tried an ACT1 with his projection series of the new Toshibas.. and guess what .. SAME RESULT !
Toshiba Canada, has in a round about fashion acknowledged it as an "incompatibility" ??? but that is as far as they will go... claiming that there technician has verified the set is in perfect working order .. which it is ! (it has GREAT picture, and still would recommend it) and
The Canadian rep for Acurus is stumped, and has spoken with Mondial.. strange but true, my Act1 works perfect with a Pioneer 50 inch, my old Toshiba, and a cheap Samsung that I have in the bedroom. So, I am stuck using the Pro-logic functionality of the Act1 only, and have had to forget about using the video switching capability. IF I had my previous set up of 2 VCR's and my DVL-90 still in the system, I would be DAMN mad,.. however, the video source side of my system is in flux, so.. it's not a big deal right now. My Toshiba dealer offered to move me into a different model Toshiba.. hence the test with an Act1 he had on trade in, which led to the discovery of this affecting the the whole new range. If I were to point the finger to something in the new Toshibas I would have to wonder if maybe it had something to do with the addition of the new Color Stream inputs ???? Just a guess on my behalf...
I have tried EVERYTHING to isolate the problem...to the point of stripping the system to just the ACT1 and the Toshiba... and 1 piece of inter-connect..even with NO video signal present as a source.. it still creates the horizontal banding. TOO WEIRD !
I have wired a "work-around" so that I can make any needed adjustments via the "on screen menus" but it is a patch at best.
I guess the true solution is to start looking at a new processor, something that I wasn't really planning on doing for about another year.. til some of the "format wars" settle down.
If anyone else has had some experience like this... I would love to hear about it and your solutions.
My rating is based on the audio quality of the pro-logic mode... and is not based on the incompatibility with the new Toshibas.

Had an ACT 1 hooked up to a pair of Bryston 3B's mono'ed. I listenedit in stereo mode and I wasn't impressed, compared to the 15 year old Bryston
.5b pre, which isn't a good pre. The Act1 sounded defenetly restricted in the top end and gave the symbals a edgie sound. In Dolby Pro Logic mode it fared
somewhat better, but still could be better. Unfortunatly, I feel it doesn't live
up to it's hype. (I returned the Act 1 for a refund)
In all fairness, it still is a good sounding pre for a $1000.
I am still looking for a good pre that will sound as good as my 15 year old
Bryston .5B pre, and can be used as a Home Theatre Pre.

Pro-Logic decoding

HUM, LOUSY S-VIDEO SECTION, HUM, ON-SCREEN MENU INJECTS IMAGE DESTROYING NOISE INTO PICTURE, AND HUM.

This is an update of a previous review I left at this site. I recently replaced my ACT-1 with the McIntosh MSD-4. Now, I'm not faulting the Acurus for not being up to the MAC-4 in surround sound quality. My new MAC is more than 3 times as expensive(Yeah, if you can afford it, the multi kilobuck processors will take you up those golden stairs). What gripes me is that I spent the last year and a half struggling with serious artifacting and corruption of wide screen movies on my new Mitsubishi 4:3 HDTV 50" rear projection set. It has the integral line doubler that can't be switched out and I assumed that the problems I was having was the fault of the TV.

Silly me......

I hook up the MAC-4 (which doesn't use on-screen menus) and the artifacting is reduced 90%. Not believing my eyes I try the ACT-1. The wide screen version of "The King and I" looks like crap. With the MAC-4 its gorgeous.

When I bought the ACT-1 and complained of the audible hum my stereo shop said, "That's baseline...perfectly normal."

That translates to: "Gotcha! If you don't like it, tough..."

My new MAC-4 is quiet. Yes, put your ear 4 inches from the center channel and you will hear some noise.

With the ACT-1 I could hear the hum from the comfort of my listening chair TEN FEET away in two different houses I used it in.

YES I LIFTED GROUNDS...YES I BROUGHT IN SEPARATE 20 AMP LINES FROM THE POWER POLE AND STILL THE HUM AND VIDEO NOISE FROM THE HIGHLY TOUTED ACT-1 WAS STILL THERE.

I'm mainly angry because for 4 years I've been treated as crazy by the very people you expect straight answers and quality components from. MY stereo shop and the people at Acurus.

Yeah, I'm a sucker. You can guess what a positive refernce I'll be to anyone I meet that is even considering buying the ACT-3.

I hear they're having problems shoving THAT piece down peoples throats because of the same kind of shoddy engineering and bean-counting economies that ham-strung the ACT-1.

Similar Products Used:

McIntosh MSD-4 and other decoders...