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How to merge my 2 Channel and HT Systems?

OK, I have downsized to a smaller condo and no longer have the luxury of a dedicated music system in one room and a full HT setup in another. I really would like to keep at least my Plinius SA 102 to power my Joseph Audio RM25si's for music (Thorens turntable, Theta Miles CD player, and maybe FLAC streamed over network) while using my preamp (Anthem) for both and power amp (B&K) to power the rest of the system when listening to HT. Is it possible to merge my two systems so the Plinius drives the Joseph Audio's for music and HT and the rest of the system kicks in for HT?
moto_man
levy03
442 posts
 
i tried a merge and it failed miserably. i still keep them in the same room/rack but also keep them separate/independant of each other.....all the way down to the power supply. MUCH better results for me.

merging the two will be one big compromise for your 2ch set-up.

cheers
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,500 posts
 
...very hard to do. The best way is to have 2 separate systems.
byfo
120 posts
 
I use a MANLEY Skipjack. This allows me to use my two channel preamp (output to Skipjack) for two channel sound and my Anthem D2 for HT. (front left and right output to Skipjack). Skipjack outputs to my two channel amps. This also allows me to incorporate my sub only through the D2 (the sub output was adjusted using the ARC system)into my two channel set up as well. This gives me the best of both worlds.The D2 is not a very transparent preamp for two channel IMO.
byfo
120 posts
 
This also allows independent volume adjustment to the sub when listening to two channel which is very cool!
egrady
138 posts
 
It can be done, the biggest problem is what is between the two channel speakers. If your screen is wall mounted you're in business. Once I went to a FP and placed the screen on the wall, getting rid of the obstruction between my L/R speakers, a whole new world opened up.

No matter how well you approach it, optimal L/R speaker placement is different for HT and 2 channel. So a combined system will have compromises. But once the L/R speakers have room to breathe the compromise is modest.
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