2. amps-preamps
  3. 1205789333

Amp switcher for 2chnl to HT?

OK, here's the idea: I want to get the best of both worlds and have a 2 channel system in the same space as an HT setup. I am getting B&W N803's as new fronts for my HT. Clearly they deserve/demand great amplification. My HT rcvr is good enough for HT, but not great for 2 chnl. So I could run another great 2 channel amp from the pre-outs, but what if I want to use a great integrated, then what? And what if I want to really go crazy and add a great CDP to the equation? So I started thinking that maybe I could use an amp switcher (if something like this exists) and I could run a parallel 2 chnl system. Is this doable? Does this make sense?
jeffkad
jeffkad OP
211 posts
 
Thanks soooo much. I will search the archives. Now I have to decide if I want to go the simple route (just adding a great 2 chnl amp) or get into the more elaborate set-up. I had mentioned the integrateds because I also didn't want to have to rely on the Pioneer receiver's pre-amp. They are one-box solutions and there are some great ones now. I've heard the Mac6500 as well as the Cayin H80 (with 803s) and they were both amazing. I run old matrix 803s2 in my living room via an old Acurus DIA integrated and it sounds great. Thanks again....Jeff
tsmack
35 posts
 
I would highly recommend either the Cary SLP2002, which is a tubed preamp with HT bypass or to use a BAT unit such as the VK300X integrated, or one of their preamps that can set unity gain. I currently use the VK50SE and set one input to have a fixed volume. I run the two front outputs from the HT preamp into this input. This allows me to use the volume of the HT preamp for movies, then I just change to the CD player input on the BAT and I can listen to high end 2 channel playback. I love this setup as I can often be listening to a cd while watching tv.
jeffkad OP
211 posts
 
Of course, upon a little research, it appears that neither of the two integrateds I'm looking at have HT bypass (Mac MA6500 or Cayin H-80a). Will have to keep looking I guess.
reubent
7,005 posts
 
Jeff,

HT bypass is not required, it is just a bit more convenient. You can do the same thing using an integrated without HT bypass. You simply use an unused set of inputs, i.e. AUX, tuner, etc. and connect the L&R front pre-outs from the receiver to this unused input on the integrated amp. When you want to play HT, you will need to select this input on the integrated and set the volume control on the integrated to a pre-defined value (like top dead center, 5, etc.) When you calibrate the HT you will need to set the integrated's selector switch to this input, and set the integrated's volume control to this pre-defined value. Then everytime you play HT you will also need to set the volume on the integrated to this pre-defined value.

Once you do it a couple of times it will become second nature.

Don't give up on trying to find an integrated with the HT bypass. However, if you find one you love that doesn't have it, it's still workable.

Enjoy,

TIC
jeffkad OP
211 posts
 
Reubent: can I just hire you as my audio consultant and you can come over and fix everything for me, lol!?!?! I can't thank you (and everyone else of course) enough for all the invaluable information. I just got my Nautilus 803's and HTM1 and they sound great even through the 130wpc Pioneer VSX 49tx, but not as good as what I heard through the Cayin at a dealer recently (although through the newer 803S). So I'm really excited to move to the next phase of this project, which is to get that better amp (and maybe a really good outboard dac, oh, and that Cullen Sonos mod, oops, and I forgot about those new B&W DS7 surrounds, and.....the list goes on!!! (oh yeah, maybe I need to try some new cables too, hehehe)
Thanks again everyone...Jeff
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