What is the benefit of a second amplifier .

My advice is that if you are serious about a second amp for analog then you might want to consider a separate system altogether. It is a major step and not the most economical but if you want truly great 2 channel you need to think in those terms. Movies as you have pointed out require other attributes. Think about it, to me a separate system no matter how humble would be the begining of building a better system until you reach your destination. Buy cheaper mains for movies and use the B&Ws in your analog rig as a starting point. From there you have a world of choices.

This is a very complex discussion and how you go depends on how serious you are both from a sonics, and from a budget point of view.

The guy you spoke to is partially correct I expect. If your processor does indeed bypass all of the digital when in 2 channel mode - this may (or may not) help. Your power amp will indeed optimize on 2 channels when you're only driving 2, because the power supply is only supplying those 2. Your amp is a pretty good amp too; however, I doubt your amp compares favorably to a quality 2 channel only amp, and likewise the 2 channel performance of your processor probably compares poorly to a quality 2 channel pure analog preamp. What you need to consider is whether you want to invest in a separate 2 channel system, and connect it in "bypass mode" with your front speakers.

Bypass mode worksa as follows: You buy and install a high quality pure 2 channel preamp and a hi quality 2 channel power amp (or better still IMHO: 2 mono block amps) and connect then to drive your main speakers.When you are listening to 2 channel music exclusively, you are using this system, and you processor and 200.7 amp is turned off.

To listen to theater, the "main speaker" outputs from your processor are connect to your stereo preamp "passthru" inputs, which pass the front channel signal through to your main speakers. This can be an expensive way to go, but it is hands down, and far away better for 2 channel music performance, and no worse for theater performance than whayt you have.

Some stereo preamps have built-in passthrough channels, but even if the one you want doesn't it's possible to set it up to work this way. The nice thing about preamps with passthrough built in is many of then need not be powered on for HT mode.

Finally - could you improve your performance by simply adding a dedicated 2 channel amp and not adding an analog stereo preamp? yes you can - with the right stereo amp (or pair of monoblocks). This won't get you all the way there though . . .

The system you have currently is plenty good enough unless those B&Ws are in a very large room. I would simply connect the B&K amp to a nice 7.1 processor and be done. Emotiva makes a well-regarded units, the UMC-200, and is due to release their up-scale XMC-1 soon...

-RW-

I have a hybrid 2 channel stereo and 7.1 channel movie system. I have the 200.7 amp. My speakers are Sonus Faber Cremona. The 200.7 had plenty of power to drive them, but the sound was bright, something B&K is noted for. It works well for theater, but less so for 2 channel. I ended up with a separate 2 channel pre-amp with home theater bypass and a separate 2 channel amp. The 2 channel is definitely better through the separate pre-amp (Cary SLP-05) and a Levinson 432 than through the 200.7 A separate 2 channel amp is a step up from the 200.7 and the pre-amp further steps up the sound. My guess is that your 803's would also should the advantage of a separate pre and amp. Depends on whether you are willing to pay of it. Can you borrow a high quality 2 channel amp to give it a try?

Dtc is on the $$$...A separate 2 channel amp will benefit you if you wanted to venture more into the 2 channel mode. Try a Rotel RB-1572 amp for those B&W's you might like it as I was impressed with this combo from my local dealer. But this will force the movement of an interconnect and speaker cable
I have kept my B&K 200.7 amp and use it for my home theater that is processed by a Pioneer Elite (through the pre-outs). These do run a mix of speakers as they fit for my arrangement but do run a pair of B&W CDM7NT as the main front L & R and Martin Logan Motion 4's for the side surrounds. But I too have a hybid 2 channel system that runs either through my Coda CSi integrated amp to a pair of Tyler Acoustic Woodmere II's or my Modwright SWL 9.0 to the B&K for some tube to solid state action. I have this tri-fecta easily changable via an interconnect and speaker cables. I purely use my B&W's for home theater and the Tyler's for 2 channel. I am blessed with a very large room that gives me the capability to run such a large front of speakers without losing its stage presence. The new Oppo BDP 105 is my only source since I run a variety of music and movies via hdmi or dedicated 2 channel. I really wanted to have a universal unit that could perform well in both departments and I have been pleased so far.