Question On Connecting Multiple Sources to TV, DAC, and Power Amp

I’d like to eliminate the Bose

Yup, that’s step one fer sure! Bose absolutely sucks.

You have too many sources to manage to try to route through the TV. Get a good AVR — I’d highly recommend Yamaha — that has the features/inputs you need and get some good, high-value speakers from Wharfedale, Elac, etc. and you’ll be light years ahead of where you are now on every level.  You just plug all your sources into the AVR, connect it via one HDMI connection to your TV and it will take care of routing all your various sources to the TV via the single HDMI connection.  Just my $0.02 FWIW, and best of luck.

Thanks soix.

I've checked out a few AVR's including some recommended on Audiogon but it seems a lot of them have a THD that's no better than, or worse than,  an old Sound Source amp and preamp I have. I also have an Adcom GFA-545 I'd like to run in place of the Kenwood M1A amp.

Since the THD on some of these AVR's isn't as good as separate it also make me wonder what the phono specs are, which most don't list.

I've also read about issue with many HDMI switchers.

This may take some time.

Perhaps you should stop using THD as the deciding factor. I haven't paid attention to it since the 1970's.

Soix is correct. You need to invest in a modern AVR and use it as a hub for all the components. Personally,  I use Anthem, but there are many options. What I would recommend is that if you do upgrade, make sure the AVR has the capability to output the front channels independently. This will allow you to integrate a two channel system with a home theatre bypass option sometime in the future when you get the itch for a better musical experience.

THD is not a good indicator of how something will sound.  Things like power supply, output stage, etc. will have a far greater impact on sound than THD. 

I understand the logic. My point was that if the THD isn't as good as an Audio Source amp, my mistake on writing Sound Source, and they don't give specs on the phono section perhaps other specs aren't very good as well.

I agree that the THD spec isn't a great way to determine sound quality. Years ago, an audio engineer I worked for used to laugh at the Dr.'s and Lawyers who came in to his shop for mods and repairs. I remember him saying "They can't hear the difference between .001% distortion and .0001%.

Yes, if I go with an AVR I'd like to send the preamp out to a 2 ch setup. But, then I have to contend with what the AVR adds or detracts from the original signal wouldn't I?

As others have said, get one device for home theater and another for two channel stereo.  The amplification in most AVR units is not very good.  Your best bet is to get a "processor" (no amplification) and a two channel preamp that has home theater bypass and use a separate amp(s) for your main speakers.  You could get an AVR that has a preamp option that allows you to bypass the amps in the AVR for your main speakers and use the AVR to power your surround speakers.

This allows you to listen to two channel music without having any of the home theater components in the chain and to share your amp(s) with the home theater processer when using it.

Thanks for the additional input. My LR has 12' ceilings with a cookie cutter center that rises another 2'. I don't plan on going into the attic and installing a multi-channel surround speaker system. Two speakers up front and perhaps a sub if needed.

I want a setup that sounds decent for the TV with more focus on the music (phono, CD, and lossless player, no mp3's.).

Good point on the processor. I'll have to check if these processors with bypass are true bypass or switched through circuitry.

OK, this is getting better. Thank you all for the input and yes, correct me if I go astray.

I think you are trying to do 3 different things.  Have a DAC/Amplifier system, a stereo, and a TV system.  Pick 2 or live with a messy complex system.

You have such a large number of sources to figure out how to attempt to course through the TV. Get a decent AVR — I'd energetically suggest Yamaha — that has the elements/inputs you want and improve, high-esteem speakers from Wharfedale, Elac, and so on and you'll be light a long time in front of where you are presently on each level. You simply plug every one of your sources into the AVR, interface it by means of one HDMI association with your TV and it will deal with steering all your different sources to the TV through the single HDMI association. Simply my $0.02 FWIW, and good luck.

Regards,

Founder of voltage regulator Store

OP doesn't mention a streamer nor what the primary source for music might be.  I suggest analog from the disc player go directly to the preamp as well as HDMI to a processor or AVR.  That assumes the disc player has a decent DAC. The TT would continue to go directly to the preamp.  If OP's preamp has a mode that by-passes its volume control, analog LR from the processor or AVR also goes to the preamp.  And analog from a future streamer would go directly to the preamp.

db