Thoughts? 26' rectangular room -- 2 channel on one short wall, 5.1 on the other

maxwave

acoustically, dividing the room makes a ’rear wall’ right behind you, earlier reflections even if diffused

and dividing limits the space others can enjoy, audibly and visibly. I or a friend and I sit in the mid focused ’imaging’ spot when listening, meanwhile Donna is behind on the sofa. others in chairs (video end, video off),

imaging limited to prime spot, yet the sound is very good anywhere in the large room, and without a divider the music can go out to the porch, bounce around corners into the kitchen ...

my somewhat large room (nj not texas standards) is the feature that turns this small split level house into a winner. When I visit houses, i.e. ’Open Houses’, often a much bigger home does not have a room that works as well.

OP is planning a basement, more easily divided temporarily, while mine is a light filled space (luckily with easy light control for video during a bright day).

@elliottbnewcombjr   
Sorry, I should have specified that my post was for the OP

By the way , I use an integrated amplifier with a HTB  and it is 
fine with me.

maxwave,

I should have waited till Hilde responded to your suggestion, sorry, just got caught up with my thoughts about it.

I just learned about HT Bypass, it’s a very good idea for a single integrated system. In the past, I would have benefitted. New Video System: I would definitely get AVR with FL & FR Preout, and then try and keep or return a 2 CH Front Stereo System with HT Bypass. 

Someday I may upgrade my HT with new 2 channel front system, it would be for better quality 5.1, not for 2 CH, that exists other end of the room.

I could pull out my PC (needed before Smart TV’s), and the idle VHS (kept for the wedding tape, and all my illegal Mike Tyson Boxing Tapes I don’t watch), to make room for an Integrated Amp next to the/an AVR.

Coordination of TV/Blu-Ray/AVR/2CH remotes would be of paramount consideration.

How do you handle your remotes now?
.......................................

OP, others

HT BYPASS is an INPUT on the separate Preamp or Integrated Amp

The AVR must have PREOUT for FL and FR to go to that input

my Sony AVR doesn’t have PREOUT

https://electronics.sony.com/tv-video/tv-video-home-theater-sound-bars/av-receivers/p/strdn1080

so I would need to change both for 'how much better' if just for Video Content (5.1 or 2 CH)???

........................

I’m done with ’Theoretically Better’ after buying/trying/selling Oppo BDP-105. It couldn’t better sound in 2 ch system, couldn’t better video or sound in 5.1 system. Research, buy, drill holes, balanced cables, wife in the crawl space, rca cables, equip in/out, list, sell, lost a few hundred.

@elliottbnewcombjr

My Integrated amp. with HTB , my HT processor , my DAC/Streamer and my cable TV  , have apps that I use with my IPad.

AVR calibration, does that get properly sent to the front preouts?

Surround System: Auto Calibration using AVR Front Preouts to HT Bypass inputs:

Do AVR's boost/cut the signals to it's many preamps (presumably-thus boosts/cuts the signals going out it's front preouts)

or does it cut the power to the speaker wires another way (front speaker wires not being used)?

I just did a full AVR reset: then a manual surround speaker type/size/distance/test tone volume adjustment.

Then I used the supplied Calibration Microphone, and let the AVR run Auto-Calibrate. Interestingly Auto did a better job.

IF the front signals go out the AVR Preouts, to a separate Amp, if you hear front volume changes during calibration, all is well, then it will stay calibrated at any volume change via the AVR.

'Loudness' if used for low volume listening: For 2 Channel it needs to work when the AVR is OFF.

"Loudness' for Video? AVR would need to have a feature of some kind.