Troy R

Home Theater Pass Through

Could someone explain to me what exactly this means?

I've read a few people suggest that getting a preamp or integrated amp with HT pass through would help with having a GREAT 2 channel set up that could be integrated into an HT (which I am trying to accomplish).

does it just bypass the preamp functions of my 2 channel rig and allow me to use my 2 channel amp for HT. While still allowing me to use my 2 channel preamp for music only?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Troy

chung_sotheby

Actually, the HT passthrough is just a loop, so it passes whatever signal directly to the amp without any gain or other Preamp functions being applied to the signal. So, yes, you are using your 2 channel amp for your front speakers in both HT and 2 channel use. The only bad thing about this is that you have to keep your 2 chan preamp on at all times, which might not bode well for some 2 chan tube preamps, and you have to buy an extra set of interconnects, which might be a moot point if you already have seperate systems. Kind of like using an extension cord. The cord itself is like the interconnects, while the outlet box is like the 2 chan pre in HT bypass mode, all it is doing is accepting a signal and passing it on. hope this helped

Ricky T

My Rogue 66 tube preamp has a Unity Gain HT passthrough...so, with a flick of the switch on the preamp, the Rogue's volume control and input are rendered invisible. So invisible that I turn the Rogue OFF when not using it.

I am not sure about the Adcom gfp750's Unity Gain switch (whether or not you can turn it off).

Kevin_R_H

Troy,

This feature is not a neccesity for integrating a HT into a "killer 2-channel" system.

If your stereo preamp doesn't have this feature, the main ramification is that you now have two volume controls in the signal path (heading to the Main Speakers). My preamp doesn't have this feature, and therefore sometimes I spend a few seconds at the beginning of a DVD adjusting the volume of my Mains to match the other speakers. It's really no big deal.

Good luck to you. Your "plan of attack" is perfectly sound.

Kevin

Troy R

Thanks guys! Much appreciated. I'm just trying to figure out which way I want to take my system. I'm much more critical of my 2 channel music but I just CAN'T live without my HT either... Gotta have my cake and eat it too I guess you could say...

Thanks again!
Troy

Ricky T

Troy,

The most economical combination would be: HT receiver, 2 channel preamp (with or w/o HT unity bypass), and 2 channel amp. If you are super critical about 2 channel, you can easily spend more on the preamp than the receiver. And all three components are upgradeable independent of the other two.

For example, on a $2500 budget, I'd probably do: Pioneer Elite 45tx (or perhaps Denon 3803 or NAD 762), Rogue 66 magnum (or Adcom gfp750, both with HT bypass), and used Parasound 2200II 250x2. Each ~ $700-900.

On a $1200 budget, you can get a Denon 3802 (600 new) and 300 each on a used 2 channel preamp and 2 channel amp (ie, Parasound 1100 pre and 1000A 125x2 amp).

Troy R

Thinking about what you said I'm a little confused... So if I did that would I just plug the front right and left preamp out puts of my HT processor into the Auxillary or some other input of my 2 channel pre?

Thanks for the help




Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking maybe a used McCormack TLC-1 pre and the McCormack DNA 1 amp. Then I'd figure the receiver out later. thanks for the suggestions! I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do!

Troy

Kevin_R_H

Troy,

You've got it - "pre-out outputs" from HT amp/receiver get connected into "AUX inputs" of stereo preamp (or some other input).

Simply select AUX as the source input of your preamp, and you are in business.

Kevin

Gordon B

With the lash up recommended in this thread, is there any way of integrating your sub with the 2 channel part of the system? If your sub is hooked up to the receiver's sub out jack, there would be no way to get the signal to the two channel music system. Right?

Craig_Kg

The idea is to keep away from processing like bass management for music. Some subs (notably some English ones) will accept input from both the high and low level inputs with separate gains and cutoffs and do a sum total - so with these, you can connect the sub to the receiver as usual and also wire the speaker cables to the sub as well as the front speakers.

On the HT pass though side of things, I agree with Kevin.

\"Are you ready, Jack?\"
\"I was BORN ready!\"