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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
minkwelder
256 posts
 
"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.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
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
256 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.
frogman OP
7,472 posts
 
Thank you Al for the great info and resources, and thank you Minkwelder for your contribution.

Al, you initially interpreted my description of the Meitner's volume control correctly. The PA6 was available with either a wired remote (which I suspect is what you saw a picture of), or an infrared remote (the "i" designation). I have the infrared remote which simply has +/- buttons with no way of replicating a particular volume setting; other than aurally. What do you think about the idea of using a simple passive volume controller (passive preamp) in line with the L/R front outputs from the HT receiver?
This way, for HT use the volume on the Meitner can simply be set to max, and the appropriate (and repeatable) volume setting can be set with the volume control on the passive pre. The L/R front signals would be routed through the Meitner as Minkwelder suggested, and be volume controlled by the passive controller.
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Yes, it was a picture of the wired remote that I saw.

I think that a better and also much less expensive approach than a passive preamp would be to put a pair of fixed-value 10 db or 20 db in-line attenuators at the preamp inputs, and then set the preamp's volume to max for HT as you suggested. Unfortunately the gain of the preamp doesn't appear to be specified, but I would feel fairly confident that with a 10 db in-line attenuator in place, and certainly with a 20 db attenuator, the overall gain at the max volume setting should be low enough to allow you to use reasonable level settings on the receiver.

As you may be aware, Rothwell makes 10 db attenuators that are generally well regarded. Some other makers supply 20 db attenuators, but I don't recall the specific names.

These would be (and should be) inserted directly into the input jacks of the preamp, with no intervening cable.

If you go that route, it may be worthwhile to try connecting them via the tape inputs, and comparing sonics with the results you get when connecting via one of the other line-level inputs. I see that the input impedance of the tape inputs is 100K, while the other inputs have an input impedance of 33K. Depending mainly on how much those numbers vary across the frequency range, it's possible that the higher input impedance of the tape inputs would provide better results when driven by a passive attenuator. On the other hand, using the 33K inputs would result in slightly more attenuation, assuming that the gains of both signal paths within the preamp are the same. My guess is that it would work fine either way, though.

Best regards,
-- Al
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