How to get 2 Channel and Home theater in one packa

Through a series of upgrades over time, I have arrived at both an excellent 2 channel system as well as multichannel. I have a high-quality preamp and amp for 2 channel and a seperate processor and multichannel amp for 5 channel/movies. The multichannel amp drives the center speaker and rears, while the preamp and amp drive the front channels (L + R). I can either use the HT bypass or not of the preamp in this configuration, and truly get the best of both worlds, as they say, with tons of good clean power due to the 2 amps.

The systems recommended by Jamesw20 and Fplanner2000 are variations on the "combo system" that I recommended. My recommendation uses a receiver for HT processing and powering the center and surrounds. James recommendation uses a quality processor and 3 channel of a 5 channel amp for those duties. Fplanner2000 uses a dedicated processor and a seperate 3 channel amp for those duties.

The commonality here is that these systems do not use any compromised HT processor for 2-channel music. They simply built a quality 2-channel rig and added HT functionality that would not compromise the 2-channel music reproduction.

These three methods will all work well. It's simply a matter of choosing how much importance (and money) you put into the HT/multi-channel portion of your rig.

Enjoy,

TIC

I still will stick to my Anthem pre/pro/tuner with 2 channel mode which bypasses all HT processing when I want.
In addition, it allows me to enjoy DVD/A and SACD when I feel like it.
Yes, I do have a 2 channel tube system upstairs but find myself using less and less.

I know this will drive the audio crazys nuts, but a Denon 5800 series receiver would likely do an excellent job. But then you claim to be serious, so a simple solution just won't do. I guess I find myslef put off by those who think of high-end audio as an end unto itself, a hobby, rather than as merely a means to enjoying music in their homes. Do you really imagine you could tell if it were a 5800 series or a cluge suggested by Bdgregory, Jamesw20, or Fplanner2000, or that such a cluge would make the music any more enjoyable?

I enjoy tweeking the tweekers.

db

The 5800 (or similar receiver) is a perfectly legitimate option; however, it depends on what you're after. If you want to optimize 2 channel listening, there's no way a receiver will do that. I don't have to imagine it, I tried it, for some time, in the same room. Indeed, a receiver probably won't optimize the home theater listening either. Another, probably better quality option is to have a great pre-pro as suggested by some of the posters above with great outboard power amps, and drive your 2 channel using the digital bypass available on most pre-pros. This can yield excellent 2 channel performance, but not as good as can be gotten with a great 2 channel preamp.

That's not to say that the 2 channel (and HT) performance can't be excellent. My experience (and preference) is that separates sound better $ for $.

I also don't think it's necessarily true that a 5800 is any less "clugey" than a separates approach. Indeed an argument can be made it's more of a cluge. At the end of the day the only thing you save is a handful of interconnects. I have a Sony ES receiver in my living room system, and the cabling is a mess.