Using a two channel pre-amp with a HT processor.

I believe some of the Conrad Johnson Premier Tube Preamps have HT processor pass-through.

Mark- if you run a search on the forums you will find several discussions of this issue.

I had the ARC LS-16, and used it exactly as you described with excellent results. It allowed me to run a fully balanced circuit from the CDP (Sim Audio Eclipse) through to the fully balanced amp (Theta Dreadnaught), then simply flip the switch on the remote to 'Processor' for HT operation. I have since switched to a separate room for 2-channel, therefore the setup has changed and the LS-16 is gone, however if I was still all in one room, it would have stayed. Good luck- I think you are on the right path...

you can use any preamp, true but... if you don't choose a model with a unity gain input (which bypasses the volume control) you will be subjecting your front left & right channels when viewing/listening to home theater to one more level of circuits to pass through. Since its only a problem for home theater and NOT when listening to stereo with your preamp, you may not be that concerned. My favorite stereo preamp with unity gain and also with balanced connections (XLR) for this is the Audio Research LS25MkII. (Much more affordable than the Ref 2). There are many more models to choose from if you want to go single ended. Conrad-Johnson makes some.

I use a Mark Levinson 380S with Unity gain and it is espcially made to have it incorporated in a Hometheatre, works amazingly well..Can you say best of both worlds !?

Matt