Help getting back to enjoying music and movies in one system

If you want it to do both TV and music i would recommend to make sure it has HDMI Arc input. That will integrate a TV very easily. obviously, you'll need other digital/analog inputs for your other sources. 

Maybe out of your budget but all the new’er ( last few years) Mac integrated amps (or preamps) that have the Dac2 board installed have HDMI arc that works very well. That’s what I use with excellent results.

So any integrated with Arc input will integrate easily with your TV. TV being the more difficult to find inputs for strictly 2, 2.1 channel playback.

if you need HT pass though for a future HT system make sure thats avail as well. Most integrateds that have HDMI Acr probably have the HT pass through.

For better vocal clarity for movies I’d suggest getting a center speaker like the LS50 Meta center.  You have a good-sounding AVR, so replacing it with another AVR wouldn’t likely do much for you and adding a good integrated with a HT bypass like Hegel, etc. would be a much better way to go.  Best of luck. 

Here is what I do and I strongly recommend the same. it requires NO compromise for 2 channel sound and fully supports your HT.

1. Design and build your 2 channel system. the only thing you need to make sure you have is a second analog input. This input will be used for HT. I have an amp with 2 inputs.

2. Design and build your HT system.  Make it 7.1 or 7.2.  at least 5.1.  you must have a center speaker.   Make sure your system has a preamp level output for your front speakers. Run pre-out from your HT preamp or HT receiver to your 2 channel amp/preamp/DAC (my DAC has an Analog in to make it more flexible) and attach to your second set of inputs.

now when you’re ready to listen to HT you just switch your amp (or your preamp if that is how you do it) to the input that your HT is set on.

You will have to adjust your sound levels if you use a preamp. I don’t recommend turning it all the way up since you will eventually forget to turn it back down. I suggest turning it to an arbitrary but very loud setting such as 1200 or 300--some setting that if you forget to turn it back won’t blow a tweeter. Then go through your HT set up program and let it set the level for the front speakers.

Jerry

Hey NIck, long time since we crossed paths!

Pete

@OP. For audio, the amp is your weak point. Upgrade your amp rather than your speakers. The LS 50s respond very well to better amplification.