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Looking to get into tubes on the cheap

My current set-up is Tekton Design Electrons with an Hsu VT-15H subwoofer and a Denon AVR-2200w receiver.  I am interested in entering the tube world. I have always run SS/receiver to listen to music so I am a total rookie with tubes. Here is what I would like to have. I use my system for 2.0 and 2.1 music, HT 5.1 going to 5.1.4, and basic TV viewing. I would like to keep my receiver in the chain and add tubes and somehow have some kind of switching. Would like to be able to listen to 2.1 and then push something on my Harmony remote to switch between music and HT set-up without having to touch wires. Read many different thread as well as this one. I am not wanting to spend thousands to achieve this but I also want it to sound better than my current SS sound on a 2.1 set-up. Seen the various posts and opinions on tubed preamp vs amp and still after reading all that don't know which one is more beneficial. Looked at Aric's Ultimate but that is more than I am wanting to spend. Looked at Monoprices 50wpc hybrid tubed preamp and ss amp combo. Not sure I want my tubed stuff to come from the place I get me cables but it seems to get good reviews from people who have purchased and it is $170. Also looked at Gemtune X-1 integrated tube amp and Nobsound MS-10D hybrid tube amp.  Can I get some guidance on this? Ultimately I am just wanting to improve my 2.1 listening experience.  
128x128jcarman721
reubent
7,047 posts
 
@jcarman721,

I did a search for the specs of your HT receiver. It does not have multi-channel pre-outs, just pre-outs for the .2 subwoofer channels. With no pre-outs, I don't know how you can integrate it into your proposed 2 channel rig and have it switch between 2.0/2.1/5.1 without moving cables. Sorry, but I don't think it's going to work for you unless you replace the receiver with one that has pre-outs, at least for the L&R front speakers..

Sorry if I've missed something, or don't understand your setup. However, I don't think it's going to work as you envision. I've had mixed/combo 2-channel systems and 5.1 channels systems on multiple occasions in the past and they all used the L&R front pre-outs from the HT receiver going into an input on the 2-channel integrated amp or 2-channel pre-amp. Search on my user name for old posts regarding the subject.....
jcarman721's avatar
jcarman721 OP
6 posts
 
@reubent 

It has preouts
jcarman721's avatar
jcarman721 OP
6 posts
 
@reubent 

here is a diagram of the back of the unit.
http://manuals.denon.com/AVRX2200W/EU/EN/fig/Name%20Rear%20Small1%20X2200E2_DRDZILrknilyjc.png

reubent
7,047 posts
 
@jcarman721 - Hummm, OK. The spec's on the Denon website say "Multi-channel preouts 0.2" which implies that there are only 2 subwoofer pre-outs. When I go to an image of the back of the unit, I do see the 2 sub pre-outs as well as a pair of Zone 2 pre-outs. Is there a set of pre-outs for the multi-channel? If not, I still don't think it's going to work because when you select zone 2 for output, I think it's going to down-mix everything to 2 channels. Am I missing something? 
jcarman721's avatar
jcarman721 OP
6 posts
 
@reubent  

You are correct.  Those preouts are not multi channel preouts.  I'm going to have to swap out me receiver for one with preouts.  OK, let's say I swap out my receiver I'd still like to get some guidance on this.  
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