Abominations: HT processor to tube amps?

Any way you can bring tubes in to the chain is good. If it sounds good, listen. 

I’m just beginning the process of building several Bob Latino VTA tube amp kits (3 monoblock M-125s for LCR and a stereo ST-120 amp for side surround speakers). I’m using a Marantz AVR as a pre-pro for HT and 5.1 music, and running a separate tube preamp for stereo music listening. As I finish the tube amp kits I’ll be incorporating them to run the 5 main channels and letting the Marantz power the rear and Atmos channels. I may be going to hell for this sacrelige, but until someone makes an all-tube 11.2 channel Dolby Atmos rig and I win a lottery, it’s the closest to heaven I expect my ears will be able to find. I’ll try to remember to post an update here in a few months once I’ve finished integrating the tubes into the system. Hopefully it works out as well in reality as it does in my imagination :-)

Jealous! I'm planning on getting the m-125 monos eventually. I hope it works out for you. Keep us posted. 

I run my HT thru a NAD M15 HD into Rogue M-150 monos. It’s absolutely outstanding. I’ve got an Adcom 6 channel amp running bridged center and surrounds (leaving the other two to pick up Atmos once I upgrade the NAD).  My two-channel listening goes thru the analog bypass/7.2 channel input/output, while HT goes via the DSP stages.

The only issue I have has to do with practicality vs. anything sonically. Turning on and off a SS system for HT in a couple of hours is pretty mindless. Add two big tube monos, however, and you have to think of going right into music listening (as the tubes are warm) - vice leaving them on and sucking up electrons, or turning them off to later turn them on to warm them up.