How to have great HT and 2-CH Stereo

I did the same--essentially built two systems, one on top of the other. For two channel I've got a VTL pre with a processor bypass loop and then a receiver doing the processing and powering the center and rears. It's not nearly as high-end as one might go with seperates for the HT end, but gives you the extra bells and whistles of HT without having to compromise on the two channel (which, as far as I'm concerned, is where it's at). That said, it also allows you to spend as much as you want on the HT without having to consider the equipment's capacity to pull double-duty with the two channel--avoiding that infernal balancing act between HT and stereo that no one seems to have won yet.

I see a lot of good suggestion and thank everyone for the help. I was thinking about the same thing as what Khokugo was thinking by running the receiver in parallel with the pre-amp. When I watch movie, I will set the pre-amp to a pre-determined volume and just adjust the volume on the receiver when watching movie.

However, I'm wondering if this will damage the pre-amp if the receiver's "Pre-out" level that is going into the pre-amp is too high when volume on the receiver is turned up too high. Any comment?

Hi Patrick. I would only try this if I had a pre amp with the HT Loop and here's why. The ease and sense of security when you are changing inputs or in this case, switching to a movie will be lost when having to pre adjust your recievers volume with the 2-channel pre amps volume. I know some people will say "when you adjust it once you should leave it alone" but I say you can forget that as soon as you have to turn it down for whatever reason. Wondering if the levels are right and touching this and measuring that grows old quickly. I used to have a setup like that and it pissed me off. My suggestion to you is to purchase a pre with a HT loop switch. This allows your 2-channel pre amp to get out of the way totally when watching movies and let your receivers volume control all of your 5-6 channels for movies. One volume, one setting! I went with the Anthem 2PL and eventually moved to the Sonic Frontiers Line 1 Pre amp with both being tubed and excellent performers in 2-channel music as well. The Line 1 has the sweetest remote in the business and the overall build is always noted in any review given to this piece. Once again, going through a line level means you have to control 2 volumes as opposed to one and since you are concerend about music quality know one would question your choice of the SOnic Frontiers Line 1.