How do I merge home theater into my 2 chan setup?

Poloman, I have decided to take your route...I thought it kind of crude...but it is what it is. I actually thought of it before you made your post, but I was too embarrassed to mention it...now that you've confessed, I don't feel so bad. Will taking the banana plugs in and out as we go between HT and 2 chan degrade the speaker connection after a while? This also requires a dedicated amp for the pre/pro mains....which I happen to have. One thing I know for sure, all of us here are crazy.

If you have a Home Depot near you go down the electrical aisle find the RCA gold banana plugs. I use them they are like $5. a pair. If they wear out get some more. I dont use the outer sleeves though they're conductive.The plugs use 2 set screws, then I use hot shrink tubing from the collar down a couple inches on the cable, A hot hair dryer and VIOLA! Works for me.

I could really use some advice on the same. I am mainly a 2 channel stereo purist, but would like a good set up to watch movies on at home.

I currently have a 2 channel set up that consists of the following:

Old Denon pd300 belt drive turntable
Grace 747 tonearm
Dynavector Karat moving coil cartridge
Lehman Black Cube phono prestage
BAT vk5i preamp
Mark Levinson 331 Amp
Innersound Eros speakers
Old Sony ES CD player

I also have an old pair of inifinity 2 way bookshelf speakers that were my wife's from ages ago.

I have two goals here:

upgrade my CD player (thinking $2k-$3K range - I almost bought the Wadia 850 when I was buying the BAT and the Levinson)

figure out a way to integrate home theatre into the stereo system without compromising the stereo.

I was thinking about the Arcam FMJ cd/dvd player, the sony 9000 cd/dvd/sacd player, but man am I tempted by that Gamut CD player. Anyone have any thoughts on the best CD player that also happens to play dvd or would I be better off with a cd only player and then a separate dvd player for video?

Secondly, preamp, amp, processor - should I go with an all in one unit - if so how to integrate with my current set up - should I go with separate pre/processor and with a separate amp? Once again, how to integrate? Should I get a 3 channel amp (I think arcam makes a model specifically to get to get you to a 5.1 system with an existing 2 channel stereo) or should I get a 5 channel amp or combo pre/pro/amp which I could then integrate with my stereo into a 6.1 channel set up. I already have pretty fixed ideas on certain speakers (innersound will be coming out with a center channel speaker soon, I really like the rel stadium subwoofer for its quickness and musicality), but am relatively open to new ideas on the rears (either two surrounds or a two sides and two rears).

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. And yes, I'd like to keep this within some semblence of a sane budget - say $2K ish for the cd player/dvd player and less than that if possible for the pre/pro/processor amp.

Mitch4t-
I have my 2 channel system merged with my HT. The only thing they share besides the room is the Magnepan MGIIIa speakers (2 channel/Front), and the front channel L/R of my Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature amp. I use the Sunfire Theater Grand II as a processor only for film, another pair of Magnepan MMGs for the rear surrounds, and all 5 of the Sunfire CGS channels. There is also a Sunfire True Sub Superjunior sub connected to the processor for film LFE.

I use an ARC SP 9 mkII preamp to drive my phono and CD/SACD.

The Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature amp is perfect for this setup in that it has both balanced and single ended inputs.
I am using both: the balanced connections connect all five channels of the pre/pro to the amp, and the main outs of the SP 9 connect to the front L/R on the amp via the RCA inputs.

I also use a modified Sony DVP NS500V DVD/SADC/CD player that does double duty: The digital output feeds into the TGII for 5.1 film processing, and the 2 channel analog outs feed the SP 9 for music.

It's the best of both worlds: the processor is off during 2 channel listening, the SP 9 is off for films, AND no switching of cables!

There may be a simpler solution... I thought most audio preamps these days have a processor loop (or a tape loop, even) that could be used to switch in and out either a dedicated HT processor or a whole HT pre/processor. Even if yours doesn't have such a loop, you could *still* get a separate HT pre/processor and run the front speaker line level outs into, say, an AUX/VID/whatever line level input on the 2CH preamp (they are all the same, except phono).

You would have to: (i) calibrate the surrounds with the 2CH preamp volume at a preset point that you always tune it to in order to maintain the surround volumes right; and (ii) run separate signal paths from a CD/DVD player so CD Audio goes directly to the 2CH pre and DVD 5.1 goes directly to the HT pre/processor. That shouldn't be a big deal, however, because most CD/DVDs have lots of output options (e.g., RCA->2CH, digital coax->HT, like the prior poster).

This method would keep HT out of the 2CH rig, but allow sharing of all downstream amps/speakers/cables without *any* cable swaps or need to use simultaneously the bal/SE inputs on amps (less cabling, for one). In that regard, what happens if the amp is getting two signals at once by mistake? Any danger there? Also, even if an amp has both, don't some mfrs use a switch to select between them or shorting plugs? My sol'n avoids that...