What is a Home Theater Bypass

As mentioned it allows a decent 2 channel preamp to be used in a home theatre set up as well, allowing for a hybrid two channel/ht system.

BUT, some HT bypass preamps are better designed than others. While some are unity gain units (as mentioned) they still process the signal and can impart a sonic signature which means that the 2 towers in a ht setup will have a slightly different sonic signature from the rest.

Other manufacturers, such as Cary, have a true bypass circuit. The entire preamp is bypassed so that no processing of the signal occurs. In fact, the unit can be turned off in bypass mode to save tube life in the Cary tube preamps.

kw.......

Out of curiosity, is the Cary unit the only one with true bypass? In other words, not unity gain?

what about an HT processor with a high end audio quality 2 channel that is on par with the best? life wld be simpler...does it exist?

The Modwright LS 36.5 is another preamp with a true HT bypass. The HT bypass of this preamp works even when the unit is turned off!

I have considered the high end HT processor option but HT technology evolves so quickly that within a year or two, it will be obsolete (HT-wise) and need replacing, whereas a stereo preamp with true HT bypass can be kept in place until the upgrade bug hits (hopefully a long, long time later). To me, therefore, a better (mostly because it is more cost effective in the long run) solution is a pre-amplifier with true HT bypass.