AV Pre/Processor vs 2 Channel Pre-Amp - Sound Quality

First of all, I’m in no way or affiliated with Classe Audio. My recommendation was solely based on my own experiences. I do own various Classe Delta series class AB amps in my dedicated HT room with the Lyngdorf MP-50 AV processor, which I’m still awaiting for its arrival and previously been using the SSP 800 for years.
But in my separate dedicated two-channel listening room you won’t find a single Classe gear. But for HT amps Classe are very good especially their Delta series class AB amps, even their Sigma series class D amps are suitable for HT. I guess I would say that in entry level hifi category Classe makes one of the best amps in comparison to Marantz or Rotel or Yamaha or Denon or NAD or Pioneer or Onkyo or Emotiva. I usually associate Classe with entry level hifi, not real high end.

The OP in this thread and few other threads were looking for something quite affordable and so I suggested Classe would be better choice than other entry level gears mentioned above.
If the OP was willing to pay for some serious amount of money then I would have recommended something else such as Pass, Vitus Audio, Naim, Devialet, Soulution, VTL, VAC, BAT, Audio Research, CH Precision, D’Agostino, T&A, Boulder, Esoteric, etc, etc.
These are different leagues than Classe or other entry level brands but are priced much much higher than Classe or Marantz.
But for what it’s worth I think Classe is very good for the money, especially their Delta series class AB amps.

For HT application Classe is one of my favorite amplifiers along with the B&W 800 series D3 speaker system, but not for music.
For music I like Naim, Audio Research, Simaudio, VAC, BAT, VTL, T&A, Dan D’Agostino, Pass, Levinson among others. But these gears are at different price points than Classe.

Perhaps I am wrong not the first time but I assumed the OP was looking for better 2 channel audio for music to use with his 2.1 video system. In this case I would run the video to the TV let the TV do the video not bother with switching through the pre and run the audio to the pre or integrated. You still get good movie sound in that mode and better audio for music which is why I thought Parasound would be a viable option to get better music playback trying to stay close to  his $2000 budget. There are other options besides Parasound I only used it as an example of a way to go about it. 

Correct, I would prefer to replace the receiver with something like the Classe or Parasound Hint6 which have hdmi inputs for video as well. The previous version of the Parasound integrated does not have hdmi inputs, so I would have to use it with my receiver.

From what I have read, Classe is really good at setting up their equipment with 2 channel listeners in mind. They also seem to get it that some people like a 2.1 system. It looks like Parasound is catching on with the HINT.

The only DAC I have right now is in my receiver. 

The only negative I see for me with the Classe is the class D. Don’t they sound a bit closed like my current receiver?

Finally, I think I missed a response, maybe from Soix, about connecting something to my subwoofer. I have ditched the subwoofer as bass management Idea in light of what Aux told me I think. 

@craigert 

The Classe Sigma 2200i class D amp does not sound like your Pioneer receiver at all. They did not sound closed in. In fact it puts out big soundstage with very good separations between instruments and vocals etc. To be honest, I myself not a big fan of class D amp either and this won't be my choice for music. But it will sound much better than any receivers or entry level integrateds or separates.