2. amps-preamps
  3. 191954-150037

Preamp used in HT bypass - Signal degrade??

Is it a good idea to put a preamplifier between a Home Theater processor and your amplifiers?  Initially I thought it might be good to benefit from whatever the pre-amplifier may offer but if you got a very good processor it may be pointless and detrimental.

I tried it for a while and I think passing signal through a preamplifier tends to limit some detail.  It's like removing a restrictive conditioner from the power cord. Is this the case or am I imagining things? It may sound a lot clearer and open and including the preamplifier may not be a good thing.  So why does anybody use a bypass component it's just another piece of hardware along the signal chain?   Maybe it's a trade-off for the convenience.

 

 

emergingsoul
erik_squires
16,121 posts
 

I can't answer this question in the general sense, but I can in the specific.

Anyone can make a bad preamp with a bad HT bypass.  The question is, if your preamp is bad, why are you using it? If it's degrading the HT signal it's probably degrading everything else.

My experience with Parasound P7 and Luxman integrated is no, it's not the preamp that degrades HT sound so much as the quality of the HT signal to begin with.  If your HT preamp sounds noticeably better, get another stereo preamp, it's in the way.

erik_squires
16,121 posts
 

Also worth noting, audiophiles tend to over-emphasize ANY change at all.  That is, a tiny change we spend weeks listening for somehow justified a $2,000 speaker cable. 

Worth keeping in mind any change you perceive and putting into the grand scheme of things.  If you weren't testing A/B would you even care about this difference?  Is the convenience of using a preamp with HT bypass not worth the degradation? It may be OK to ignore it and say "good enough."

elliottbnewcombjr
5,469 posts
 

All Video, The AVR is handling all channel's volume, including the Front Volume, i.e. more or less attenuation of the signal,

you do the initial setup with the AVR, ONCE, from the listening position (level adjusting front to center to rear to sub), and then you only alter the volume of them all together. Your AVR must have front pre-outs.

the HT Bypass is a PASSSIVE Input/Pass Thru, to the 'better' amp for the Front Speakers, thus it avoids other circuits in the preamp

 

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