Wells Audio Majestic (no HT Bypass) vs. Integrated w/ HT Bypass - Help!

Um, no, do not use AVR pre-out. It will work. But it will be sending the signal through the worst component you have (AVR) into the best.

What you will find is the sound with that integrated (either one, ANY integrated!) is so much better than AVR you will migrate away from HT entirely. What I did. Long ago.

What you do, for the best sound:
Connect your sources directly into the integrated. Connect your stereo speakers to the integrated.

Notice the Majestic has fixed outs? Connect that to your AVR. This way you will be running clean signal to the integrated, and using the AVR for surround only.

It will be a bit of a hassle with movies but only if you are anal about your surround volume. I ran just like this for quite a while using two separate amps until I realized its just not worth it. Surround, I mean. Once you get used to how good stereo with a proper integrated sounds you will probably come to the same conclusion.

Anyway, usually people tend to watch movies about the same volume all the time. Set the AVR for that. You'll still be able to adjust the main volume on the integrated. Try it and see.

Oops.  Forgot to mention in my prior post that, as @millercarbon stated, you’d now connect your primary stereo sources directly to the integrated rather than the AVR.  So basically the AVR is totally out of the playback chain unless you’re using HT.  Apologies for any confusion. 

HT bypass is accomplished through the preamp's input. I like using my HT bypass because it allows me to have two separate systems without compromising either,

I have a Luxman CL38U-SE preamp that has no HT pass through. I hook up my Bryston amp to the Luxman w/RCA connections and the Balanced to the Krell preamp. Just flip the switch on the amp.

Thanks for all of your feedback. @soix , I'm thinking about doing what you are suggesting because the Majestic doesn't have HT bypass. @millercarbon , I'm confused about what you are suggesting.  If I'm playing a movie through my AVR, won't the AVR need to be connected to the integrated so that the movie's audio makes it the L/R speakers? According to the manual for the AVR, I can turn off the L/R and send the signal untouched to the integrated.  Does anyone have any thoughts on the level of quality between a 1500 integrated and the Majestic.  It isn't just a matter of being twice as expensive. I know that doesn't always indicate quality. Does anyone have any experience with the Wells Audio amps?