Considering that most Receivers or processors have poor analog to Digital converters I would recommend using digital out (Coax over Toslink) and let your processor do the work. Later when HDMI 1.3 becomes the norm your receiver will strip off the enhanced audio track off that single cable that barely stays clipped in (new standard for locking HDMI connectors are also making their way into the arena).
Jmcgrogan2: Unless your Preamp has DAC's or unless your Receiver has really poor DAC's. You should route your source through your Receiver digitally (coax) and then run out of the reciever to your via preamp outputs (analog) into your preamp if it has a HT pass through. Otherwise you will have to make the volumn that you calibrate your Receiver output to. If it is your main source then your current method will work but will make you constantly adjust the volumn of both the receiver and preamp while watching a movie to level match the Center (not sure if you are running one)
Chris
Jmcgrogan2: Unless your Preamp has DAC's or unless your Receiver has really poor DAC's. You should route your source through your Receiver digitally (coax) and then run out of the reciever to your via preamp outputs (analog) into your preamp if it has a HT pass through. Otherwise you will have to make the volumn that you calibrate your Receiver output to. If it is your main source then your current method will work but will make you constantly adjust the volumn of both the receiver and preamp while watching a movie to level match the Center (not sure if you are running one)
Chris