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Ted,
If this system will have any 2-channel aspirations at all (even just 10% of your time), then my advice will be contrary to most anyone else on this site.
First of all, I will assume you aren't fabulously wealthy with unlimited funds. If you truly have hundreds of thousands of dollars to throw at your system, then you can certainly ignore my advice.
Otherwise, my advice is to spend as little as you can tolerate on a pre/pro. It's application (along with any multi-channel power amp you mate it with) will not require mega-buck resolution. It will just be used for dialog (Center Speaker), LFE (subwoofer), and effects/noises (rear and side speakers). None of these signals will need the "hi-end" capability required of critical 2-channel music reproduction. (Actually, there's no reason to overspend on those speakers either).
Instead, dedicate the lion's share of your budget on a stereo preamp, stereo power amp (or monoblocks), and main speakers. They will incur double duty as the foundation of your Home Theater for multi-channel as well as the sole participants in music playback. for my home system, my HT Integrated/processor costs about 1.5 % of my total budget.
If you feel I'm completely loony, I'm sure you're not alone. Otherwise, you can find some of my older posts that describe this philosophy of mine in more detail. Actually, I'm not alone - there's more than a few "silent minority" guys who have been converted.
Kevin
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