What did you add to your 2 channel system to do HT?


My system is really two channel with components added to create a low budget home theatre system.  My LTA MicroZOTL preamp has a HT input that basically locks the level. Not a true pass-through like my conrad johnson had, but it works. Things I've added include:

Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver which is only used for processing 

Adcom GFA555 amp for center channel 

Denon PMA600 amp for two surround speakers 

Sonus Faber center channel speaker 

PSB CS500 surround speakers

SVS PB12-nsd subwoofer (in addition to my REL subs) 

Sony Ubp-x800m2 Blu Ray

75 inch Samsung HD LED tv

Pretty low budget and mismatched.  I had the Adcom laying around, so I put it to use.  The system sounds good enough for the little bit of movie watching I do.  The Onkyo will do 7 channel, but only doing 5.1. 

I'm curious to hear what other people do to convert a two channel setup to multichannel? 

sls883

@carlsbad2 Nice system.  I've not heard of those speakers, but they look quite interesting with four 8" woofer.  

My conrad-johnson preamps had a true theatre pass through.  The front channels from the surround processor went straight through the preamp to my amplifier.  My LTA is not that way and it confused me at first when I was trying to level match the 5 channels.  LTA picked some random output level for one of the inputs that is labeled HT and locked it there.  I contacted them to verify this. 

@carlsbad2 I should mention that you don't have to assign the HT designation to any of the inputs, so if you don't need it, you don't use it. 

@sls883 But the HT designation and the assigned volume only applies to the HT use of the system, the 2 channel hi-fi use is just normal.  

Thanks.   The speakers are really sweet and show off the amp well.

jerry

@carlsbad2 

That's correct.  When I run 2 channel, none of the HT components are in the signal path. 

My two REL subs have both speaker level and LFE line level inputs that can be used simultaneously with different gain controls for each.  When I do HT, they are pulling double duty. 

I replaced my surround processor, amps, and speakers with a Sony HT A9 setup for immersive sound.  A big surprise was how good Roon streamed to the setup via HDMI from the Nucleus sounds.  Ultimate decluttering.