I'm curious... does anyone have a 2 channel biased system that they have 'attached' an HT to?

Over the past year, my focus has gone away from HT and back to Stereo. I'm even considering buying a high quality integrated amp to drive my Revel M20's (currently using a Marantz SR-18).

As I run through the possible ways to upgrade my system, the thought of getting an integrated amp that would 'permanently' reside in my system (regardless of surround format wars or updates) is very appealing. Something like the new Bryston 3B based integrated amp that is due next year perhaps.

I could then throw in a relatively affordable receiver like the new NAD T752 and have a full 7 channels of amplification. If surround formats change, I just swap the receiver, but my 'permanent' front-end stays...

Thoughts?

[Kevin T]

sounds like a good plan to me. i would have considered the same but due to space limitations, i opted for a pre that functions well for both stereo and ht. right now, i'm running an ead theatermaster encore which i will one day upgrade to the ovation-8. sounds great for music and ht even on my lowly mirage frx-7 (also soon to be replaced).

kevin t

[Saurav]

Quote:

does anyone have a 2 channel biased system that they have 'attached' an HT to?

My "attached HT" consists of my DVD player's analog stereo outputs going to one of the inputs on my preamp, and the DVD player's video going to a TV. So I guess my answer would be a "yes", if that qualifies to be called a home theater

[Steve_Ma]

I bought an entire 5.1 HT setup at once. However, I sunk the most money into the mains (towers) and sub, understanding that they were going to get the most use for music listening. It works great for HT as well, but future upgrades will revolve around better music reproduction.

[Yogi]

I started out with purely HT intentions but slowly along the way discovered the beauty of two channel music. I then started upgrading my speakers and components geared towards greater 2 ch satisfaction and the quest still continues. The next upgrade on my agenda is the addition of a separate 2 channel tube pre to my system. I am quite satisfied with my HT performance and wouldn't be upgrading to newer formats or prepros in the near future.

[Shara]

I went through long list of pre/pro to have one box solution. Lexicon MC-12,MC-1,DC-2,AVM-20,AVP2,REF30,Stage One and EAD 8000. I came back to Audio Research and Outlaw
950. I have both Ref Two and SL-12 pre. made by A.Research.
I will sell one of these 2 channel pre. after I play with them little longer. I have not found a Pre/Pro that will
do both really well. Still searching for music...

[Tom Grooms]

Ahh! Two channel in all its glory with a HT pass through. I like your thinking Craig.

Get a good 2 channel integrated or preamp/amp combo and hook up your Turntable and CD player directly to the pre. Now plug your DVD player into a HT Receiver and send the pre-out of your mains into your 2 channel gear. You might look for a pre amp with a HT bypass. (Adcom GFP-750, Sonic Frontiers and a few others) If the integrated you want doesn't have this feature, set the volume to unity gain (source voltage in = source voltage out) and calabrate your Receiver levels.

Remember to turn the volume knob to this position before firing up your DVD player and don't forget to turn it down before you return to two channel material.

$0.02

[Ari]

I'm doing (or will be doing) the exact thing that Tom Grooms described. Due to space constraints in a new house that I'm moving to, I will have to integrate my stereo and HT. I'll be hooking up my CD player and TT directly to my tube preamp (Anthem Pre2L) which will then be hooked up to my receiver's pre-outs. The Pre2L does have HT bypass.

One question, let's say I don't use the HT bypass, how does one know what unity gain is??

[Lee Scoggins]

Quote:

My "attached HT" consists of my DVD player's analog stereo outputs going to one of the inputs on my preamp, and the DVD player's video going to a TV.

Saurav, I have a very similar setup also.

What's lost in the multi-channel marketing blitz is that really good two channel is three dimensional.

Further, two channel recordings generally sound better that multis since the damn pop engineers can't stop fiddling their knobs (!) and putting instruments and sound effects in the back speakers.

Really, who wants to sit on stage with a classical orchestra? Not me, I prefer Row N.

[Tom Grooms]

Quote:

One question, let's say I don't use the HT bypass, how does one know what unity gain is??

When calibrating your receiver, set the receiver flat on all channels, then adjust the volume on your pre/integrated until it matches the center and surrounds. Then remember that position.

DTS with tubes glowing, prue ecstasy…

$0.02

[BruceD]

I've been using the 2-channel preamp + DD/DTS processor for the last 4 years, and I think it works extremely well.

Quote:

One question, let's say I don't use the HT bypass, how does one know what unity gain is??

I don't have an HT bypass on my Parasound 1100D preamp, so this is my calibration sequence:
1) Use an SPL meter + calibration DVD @75dB for VE or 85dB for AVIA
2) Set the DD/DTS processor's volume control to reference level
3) Play the calibartion DVD for main speakers
4) Adjust 2-channel preamp's volume control to 75dB or 85dB on SPL meter
5) Mark 2-channel preamp's volume control position (for me it is exactly 12 o'clock or what is commonly called unity gain).

You can continue to calibrate the other speakers, but the 2-channel preamp doesn't get involved.

When I listen to TT or CD on the 2-channel preamp, the volume is typically between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock