2. home-theater
  3. 1055515994

Seperating 2 channel and HT in the same system.

I am trying to go from 50/50 music/ht to 70/30 music/ht. I want to use the internal DAC from my CD player instead of the DAC from the pre/pro.

Should I get a pre/pro with a true analog bypass or add a preamp for 2 channel listening? If the latter, how would you hook up a preamp so that the CD player signal does not get routed through the pre/pro and still be able to listen to HT through the same main speakers?

Doesn't a preamp have to go out to the amp? If I route the preamp to the pre/pro, the pre/pro will run it through it's own DAC again. The only way to cure this would be to constantly change the connections from the preamp to the pre/pro whenever I want to change from CD to HT.

Isn't there a better way to integrate a system?
joew
joew OP
61 posts
 
I understand perfectly. It is as I had hoped. So, in essence, all I need is a preamp with HT passthrough (not necessary but convenient) and a fair to average pre/pro for movies (how bad can you screw up DD, 5.1 etc).

You have been a huge help. Thanks again!
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
One note Joew, you would always need to remember to turn the volume control back down before switching inputs on the two channel pre from movie to other source.
joew OP
61 posts
 
So probably the best idea would be to have a tiny stick-on marker to delineate the pre-calibrated volume level when using the HT pass through?

sogood51
2,157 posts
 
If you use pre-amp without pass through input you could do that. In my setup I use a Bent audio passive unit for two channel and sunfire theatergrand pre/pro, unity gain with the Bent passive is: volume all the way up, I have to remember to turn it down before I switch inputs for sacd. If you get a pre with theater pass through you won't have to do this. I wanted the pre that I wanted so I chose to put up with this little pain in my system. Lots of good pre's have the theater pass through now a days (tube and SS) so that is the easy way to go.
abex
322 posts
 
Sogood51
I am using an FT Audio which I guess will need to be done the way you and the others have described.The SS Proc. I have is a Lexicon CP-3Pro. Have not ever had it online and I really do not know what to expect .

I just got my dream speakers finished and they are more than I ever hoped they would be.I have a few XO Cap upgrades to do and to get a pair of Modifed NEAR M10's to use as my CC speakers and I will have completed my finishing touches.In the future I hope to beable to get a SS processor that has AC-3,but I am mainly in it for Stereo so I will be happy with what I have.
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