The best way to do a music first home theater is to use an anologue 5.1 preamp without any processing. They are the Macintosh, MacCormack Map-1, and Audio Refinement Pre-5. These are high quality 2 channel preamps with 5.1 channel pass through that uses the volume control to control the master volume.
To make this system works you will use a high quality DVD source or universal player that has 5.1 anologue outputs with internal processing (dolby digital, DTS, etc). You will NOT use the digital outputs of your source. The source also has to have bass management (most do) to control the output gain to your speakers in the menu so that you can balance al your speakers. Use a radio shack SPL meter to balance your speakers.
You can then use your tube power amp for your L+R channel and a high quality 3 channel amp for your C+RR+LR. The truth is you can skip your center channel and use full tube for your rears as well if your front speakers image well with a good soundstage. You will go into your sources menu and turn off the center channel. When it processes the multi channel music or movie it will send the center channel info to your L+R channels.
You can have your cake and eat it too.
To make this system works you will use a high quality DVD source or universal player that has 5.1 anologue outputs with internal processing (dolby digital, DTS, etc). You will NOT use the digital outputs of your source. The source also has to have bass management (most do) to control the output gain to your speakers in the menu so that you can balance al your speakers. Use a radio shack SPL meter to balance your speakers.
You can then use your tube power amp for your L+R channel and a high quality 3 channel amp for your C+RR+LR. The truth is you can skip your center channel and use full tube for your rears as well if your front speakers image well with a good soundstage. You will go into your sources menu and turn off the center channel. When it processes the multi channel music or movie it will send the center channel info to your L+R channels.
You can have your cake and eat it too.