inserting 2 channel preamp

My Pioneer Elite receiver goes thru an STI 500 Wyred 4 Sound integrated amp with an HT bypass for movies, and I feed the integrated directly for 2 channel. Also, used a Rotel 1095 as the amp and the Pioneer as a preamp for a while. Both hookups worked great. In fact I'm having a hard time deciding which to unload. I have not heard your Pioneer, but both improved my sound quality for 2 channel.

My Pioneer Elite receiver goes thru an STI 500 Wyred 4 Sound integrated amp with an HT bypass for movies, and I feed the integrated directly for 2 channel. Also, used a Rotel 1095 as the amp and the Pioneer as a preamp for a while. Both hookups worked great. In fact I'm having a hard time deciding which to unload. I have not heard your Pioneer, but both improved my sound quality for 2 channel.

My first serious HT setup revived my love for good music - which led me down the typical road of AVR first, then AVR with external amplification and some speaker upgrades.

Yet, I still felt something was holding back that major step up in sound quality - which was the AVR (the swiss army knife of a multitude of av features and the master of none).

Best thing I've done is to get a good integrated amp with HT Bypass to have a combo HT/Music setup.

Here's how my rig is set up

Overall diagram: http://erikt.cts.com/Pictures/hometheater/HT-Bypass-Diagram-1.jpg

For Movies:
http://erikt.cts.com/Pictures/hometheater/HT-Bypass-Diagram-HTmode.jpg

For 2-channel Music:
http://erikt.cts.com/Pictures/hometheater/HT-Bypass-Diagram-2chnlmode.jpg

No muss, no fuss, no cable swapping.

Peter,regards your advice inserting 2 channel preamp !
I have the same issue.I run a Arcam AVR 600 for music only.5 speakers and 3x Subs.It fine for the Esoteric SA 60 DVD-A and SACD 5.1
To get more out of my Sony SCD-1 VSE 7 and Clearaudio Innovation Turntable where the Speakers are set to small and 3x Subs going what is the best option for 2 channel pre and power combo with HT bypass to link in with my AVR 600.Hi-end with a balanced budget..
Thanks Stump

2 channel pre and power combo with HT bypass