Bi-amping for HT

that's right. Think of the preamp as simply being a passive connector between your HT receiver and your power amp when you're using it for HT. This way the volume control is fixed on the SP12, and the volume for all HT channels are controlled by the remote for the receiver.

If you do decide to buy a new 2 channel preamp - you may want to consider getting one that has HT bypass built in. It's better and more convenient, but not essential.

A Manley Skip Jack will allow you to use both your SP12 and your Pioneer receiver. You'd run your front left and right speaker line outs from both into the Skip Jack and out to your ARC D-90.

let me get this straight Byfo . . . you want him to buy a $900 switch so he can connect his $300 receiver and his $470 preamp to one amp, when both of them already have the capability to do this without an external switch?

If my current Pioneer had pre-outs for the speakers then I'd be set but it only has the pre for Subwoofer.

So just to clarify, I need a new HT receiver that has pre-outs for the front speakers(most current ones have pre-outs for all speakers). Connect the Pre-out L&R fronts from the HT to an Aux input on the SP12. Run my normal connection from the SP12 to the D90 amp. I don't believe it has a bypass mode.

I would have to manually turn on the SP12 because of no remote, with it set to the Aux input. Set volume to a predetermined level and from then on I can run the volume for all HT speakers from the new HT receiver remote.

Listening to music only with just the fronts and SW would be done as normal using only the SP12 and D90. I could listen to music in 4.1 if I connect my source to the HT so the fronts would go through the SP12 but the rears would be handled completely through the HT receiver. I could hook a different source into the SP12 and use just 2.1.

And if I get tired of the manual switching I can upgrade the preamp to one with a remote function and possibly a bypass function.

you got it, except unless you have a subwoofer connect to the SP12, it will be 2.0