2. home-theater
  3. 152851-107182

2.2 Channel System Processor Suggestions

Currently setting up a 2.2 channel system that I will be using for my home theater (have no plans of adding more speakers). I have a pair of ML ESL9's, a NAD m22 power amp as well as two ML 1100X subs and want to use balance connects for all equipment. 
My question is, do I need to buy a Pre/Pro, like the NAD m17 or Anthem AVM60, or is there a scaled down piece of equipment that would work just as well? Most Pre/Pro's have 11 or 13 channels, which is obviously overkill, but I still need something that can support 4k HDMI, has balanced outputs, and would prefer a good room correction software, like Dirac or ARC.
jimmy225
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Like everyone else said, a 2-channel preamp will usually have the better sound.  If you wanted a HT pre/pro, two items come to mind:

Bryston SP3 - no room correction or EQ however

Krell Foundation
jimmy225 OP
14 posts
 
Some people have mentioned sending the sound separately to a preamp, or integrated amp, and simply connecting all video equipment straight to the tv. My next question would be, how do I send the signal from the tv to the preamp? It looks like my only two options would be RCA or Fiber Optical. Would that degrade the sound compared to using HMDI?
big_greg
6,632 posts
 
You don't want to send the audio from the TV to the preamp.  Connect the audio from your playback device(s) directly to your preamp.  If your bluray player has analog (RCA) outputs, connect those to the preamp and send the video to the TV through an HDMI cable.  Make sense?  Not all bluray players will have analog outs, but most higher end ones will.  My Oppo 4K player and my Roku both have RCA outs.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
jimmy225 is most likely asking because, like many other TV consumers, he is using a smart TV with Netflix/Spotify apps built in.  Like big_greg stated, this is never the best way to stream audio to an HT processor or preamp.  Much better to investigate streaming media players, such as Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire.  Or move up to higher end streamers such as Zappiti, Zidoo, Dune.
dolfan
109 posts
 
Volume control? I am setting up a similar 2.1 system. Thank you for this thread jimmy225! 
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