Hello all, if you have read czechu82’s post, you will see that he just wants to add a center channel so that he can watch tv/movies from time to time. He does not want to use the center channel to add to the music score. In this situation, adding a receiver could be a good solution if he doesn’t care as much about tv/movie sound quality. However, like everyone has agreed, the center speaker should match as closely as possible to the left/right speakers.
@czech82 – I see that you do not have a preamp listed in your system, so I am assuming you are connecting the PS Audio Directstream DAC directly to the REF600M amplifiers. If this is the case, you can add a receiver, but you need some sort of switching mechanism in the middle (such as a normal preamp or a passive preamp with at least two inputs). Then make it into a “hybrid” system.
A passive preamp is the cheapest way to do this. Just connect the PS Directstream and the new receiver to the inputs of the passive preamp. Then connect the outputs of the passive preamp to the REF600M amplifiers. You can run the passive preamp at full volume all the time since you are controlling volume from the Directstream or receiver. Then just switch the passive preamp back and forth between the Directstream and the receiver to use as sources. Khozmo and Goldpoint are two companies that make excellent passive preamps (in the $400 to $600 price range). Alternatively, you can get the Goldpoint SW4 input switcher for $376 (does not include a volume control). The only problem with passive preamp is that you are limited to RCA interconnects. HT receiver will only have RCA outputs (they will never have XLR outputs) and the passive preamp CANNOT convert an RCA signal to a balanced XLR output.
If you want to use XLR for the Directstream and the REF600M amps, there are two other options. One option is that you will need to get some sort of active preamp that has both XLR and RCA inputs. This needs to be a very high end and transparent preamp, such as the upper end Krell Illusion or Phantom, or something like an Ayre Acoustics preamp. There’s a Krell Illusion II on audiogon for $3400, which is about the minimum I would recommend for a highly transparent preamp. DO NOT get a Krell Phantom III (only the I and II models are good). Keep in mind that no preamp is truly transparent and it is going to add some sort of color or sonic signature anyways.
The other option is to get a fully balanced XLR passive or switcher, then get a HT Processor and a third REF600M amp (or equivalent).
So, three options:
Option #1:
Sonus Faber center speaker
Receiver
RCA passive preamp or switcher
3 sets of RCA interconnects
Option #2:
Sonus Faber center speaker
Receiver
High end preamp (Krell/Ayre)
2 sets of XLR interconnects
1 set of RCA interconnects
Option #3:
Sonus Faber center speaker
HT Processor
Monoblock amp (like REF600M)
XLR passive preamp or switcher
4 sets of XLR interconnects (one for center)
There is a fourth option, but it means spending a whole lot on a new HT processor that is at the level of a decent audiophile preamp and using that HT Processor as the “preamp” for the Directstream DAC. Options could be Bryston SP, Classe SSP-800 or Krell Foundation. All three of these have balanced XLR inputs and outputs and make decent preamps. However, they are not going to be as good as a passive preamp or a Krell Illusion preamp.
So, Option #4:
Sonus Faber center speaker
Very good HT processor
Monoblock amp (like REF600M)
4 sets of XLR interconnects.