Pre-amp or Pre-pro,, which one to get ?

there's lotsa 2-channel preamps that have pass-thru for surround, which defaults the pre's controls to your processor when yure partaking of that dreadful movie-watching biz... ;~) when doing what ya *should* be doing, which is listening to music, your main speakers are not corrupted by all the ancillary electronics. pre's that *i* know of that do this are made by linn, vtl, sonic frontiers, audio research. i'm sure there are many others. i would recommend going this route, as opposed to getting an all-in-one unit.

doug

I agree with doug. I considered doing the pre-processor route. Some considerations: 1) It's expensive to buy a processor, and this processor tends to lose value fast. 2) The processor's digital section will fall out of step with digitial technology pretty fast. 3) It's nice to have the flexibility of a separate preamp. You can later split it into two stereos if you like. 4) I think that most home theater stuff is built to a little lower standard sonically A generalization - I haven't listened to many of them. 5) A two channel pre will throw another box on your audio rack. .....For preamps, the adcom gfp-750 is an excellent inexpensive 2 channel preamp with a processor input. I have one for sale!

Avitar, it's my understanding any preamp with a tape loop will feed the two channel, line level signal out to a separate processor. The processor will need it's own volume control though. Enjoy the journey.

rockvirgo, ewe are correct, but the preamps w/the processor-default function allows the processor's controls to operate the main 2-channel speakers. a bit more conwenient, i'd think.

doug

Second that sounds right to me. Once we get the DSP'd signal looped back into the preamp something's gotta regulate it. Shortening the signal path by bypassing the preamp's volume control sounds like a good idea. Cool.