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First home theater. HELP

Hi guys,

Luddite that I am, I am in the process of putting together our first home theater setup, and could use some help. It's always been about two channel/analog for me, and I am way behind the times when it comes to video. I want to keep it as simple as possible, not too expensive, and want to use some of the gear that I now use as a second system in our weekend country get-away place. I am interested in a basic surround setup (5.1), for prerecorded movie playback only (DVD's, movie downloads , but no cable or network tv), and the kids' video games. The
system will be also used for two channel music listening, which is why I would like keep the current gear and hopefully simply (?) integrate the new video and additional audio gear.

The current sound system consists of Meitner PA6i preamp and Meitner 101 mono blocks, Totem Arro speakers and EAD transport and DAC. I will probably add a turntable to the system at some point, which is one of the reasons I want to keep the Meitner gear (good phono), as well as the fact that it sounds great with the Arro's, is small and looks great.

My thoughts so far are to add a Totem Dreamcatcher center, rears and subwoofer for 5.1 use, an appropriate 5.1 surround processor, and a Meitner MTR50 stereo amp for the rear channels. Video will probably be handled by a Panasonic or Samsung 60in plasma. First question:

Is there a good, reasonably priced surround preamp that has a "pass-through" feature so that I can use the Meitner pre for two channel music listening with minimal sound degradation? BTW, the Meitner has two sets of outputs for whatever that's worth.

I have no illusions about getting sound that comes anywhere near SOTA, but would like to enhance movie viewing, and retain the sound of the existing second system for music listening. I welcome any thoughts/suggestions re processor, speakers, set-up, etc.

Thanks in advance.
frogman
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almarg
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Hi Frogman,
The idea seems to be that this allows the Meitner to remain connected to the front mono's for critical music playback, and that for video, the two outputs of the Meitner, being connected in parallel, would allow the front L/R line level signals from the receiver to "pass through" from one set of RCA jacks to the other set which is permanently connected to the two front amplifiers. Please shed some light on this.
It won't work. Electrically that is essentially no different than connecting the outputs of both the preamp and the receiver together at the power amp inputs, via a y-adapter. The comments in my previous post about connecting both the preamp and the receiver to the power amp apply. I would also recommend against doing that even if the preamp did not short its outputs to ground when turned off, per the reasons stated in my posts in this thread. Basically, connecting two outputs together is almost never good practice IMO.
As I think about it further, why not simply send the receiver's two front channel signals to one of the aux inputs on the Meitner, which would send it to the front amplifiers? The Meitner has the capability to adjust the volume of each input relative to the other inputs. Would the volume of the two front channel signals not be controlled by the volume control on the receiver as it passes through the Meitner?
That would be the ideal arrangement (using pre-out signals from the receiver), EXCEPT for the problem of not being able to easily return to a specific volume setting on the Meitner. Yes the volume would be controlled by the receiver, but it would also be affected by the volume control setting in the Meitner, and therefore thrown out of balance with the volume on the center and rear channels unless the Meitner's volume control could be returned to a consistent setting when the receiver is being used.

Perhaps the answer is to go the other way, as I believe you alluded to in your original post, and find a receiver or processor having pre-outs (that would be connected to the Meitner power amps) and preferably also a pass-through provision to those outputs, with the Meitner preamp's output being connected to an input of the receiver or processor. If a receiver were being used (as opposed to a processor + multi-channel power amp), it would have to provide a convenient means of disabling the center and rear channel speakers while providing normal signals to the pre-out jacks. I don't know if a beast meeting all of those requirements exists, as I don't have a lot of familiarity with A-V stuff.

Best regards,
-- Al
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almarg
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Another possibility is to connect the outputs (left and right) of the Meitner preamp and the pre-outs from the receiver or processor to the inputs of a switch box, that would select one or the other. The outputs of the switch box would be connected to the power amps.

The DB Systems model DBP-2JAU/5 is a good one, which I have used in the past. It costs $110, though, as shown here. Note the link to a review. Here is their home page.

Best regards,
-- Al
minkwelder
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"That would be the ideal arrangement (using pre-out signals from the receiver), EXCEPT for the problem of not being able to easily return to a specific volume setting on the Meitner." - Al

I have not found this to be a problem. As I said, I simply used a 12:00 volume level position on my 2-channel preamp when I ran the receiver's auto-level routine, and return to that setting when using the receiver. Due to differences in preamps, a different setting may be required to remain within the receiver's range of volume adjustment.

"If a receiver were being used (as opposed to a processor + multi-channel power amp), it would have to provide a convenient means of disabling the center and rear channel speakers while providing normal signals to the pre-out jacks." - Al

I am using the receiver's amplifiers for center and surround by hooking speakers to the center and surround speaker outputs on the receiver, but I do not hook speakers to the receiver's front speaker outputs. There is no need to disable anything. Actually, the receiver could be used as a processor alone without the need to hook up any speakers to it. Of course, for two channel listening, the receiver is not powered up at all.
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almarg
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03-23-12: Minkwelder
I simply used a 12:00 volume level position on my 2-channel preamp when I ran the receiver's auto-level routine, and return to that setting when using the receiver.
The Meitner preamp only provides a volume control on the remote. I had interpreted Frogman's comments to mean that the volume control mechanism on the remote is something like a pair of up/down buttons, with no means of telling where you are other than by listening. I just did some further research, and it looks like the remote provides a rotary control for volume (as well as for balance). So the approach of sending the receiver's pre-outs into an aux input on the Meitner may be practicable after all.
I am using the receiver's amplifiers for center and surround by hooking speakers to the center and surround speaker outputs on the receiver, but I do not hook speakers to the receiver's front speaker outputs. There is no need to disable anything.
You're probably right; thanks for pointing that out. But I wouldn't be completely certain. My statement pertained to the possibility of routing the Meitner's output into an input of the receiver, and routing the receiver's pre-outs for the front L & R channels into the two-channel Meitner power amps. Obviously in that configuration the receiver would have to be powered up for two-channel listening. If the amplifier sections of the receiver are not disabled during two-channel listening, in that configuration, depending on the design of the specific receiver it is possible that inter-channel crosstalk could result in sound being produced at audible levels by the center and rear speakers.

Regards,
-- Al
minkwelder
255 posts
 
D'ohhh!
I hadn't even considered the possibility of a preamp without a manual volume pot on the unit itself. If there is no way to return to a specific volume level on the Meitner, that would indeed complicate matters. On the other hand, depending on how critical one is about the audio balance for movie watching, the volume level of the Meitner could be set using the receiver's test tones.
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