Home theater and 2 channel setup from same speakers?

Yep.  Usually the way to do it is to keep the speakers and amps the same, but switch preamps.

So you would run pre-out L and R from an AVR  or pure processor, to your 2 channel preamp/integrated which has a bypass input and switch.

Personally I do this with Anthem MRX 520 and Luxman 507.  Works fine except for all the remotes, which I am about to fix.  Hehehhe.

My 2 channel preamp has a bypass where the AVR/AVP plugs in, and those go out to the 2 channel amp when the preamp is off.

When the preamp is on. Then I can select a CD or TT input.

Of course one could just run the AVR/AVP into one of the preamp inputs, and have the 2 channel preamp set to a consistent volume, and have the preamp on.

2-way amp amplifier / speaker selector switch box, stereo audio input amplifier switcher.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOVOhIe

It works well for me but YOU might want to be careful switching it in before firing an amp up, especially tubed.

Home Theatre Bypass

For a list of units that have this feature, look here: <

>

OK, thanks.  I've got some reading to do now.  I've heard about HT bypass but have ignore until now. 

I have an Onkyo rz50 and would like to get the Willsenton r300 for 2 channel 

@johns21 I am running a tube pre, and currently a tube stereo amp.
The other HT channels I am using are on Class-D.

I am seriously thinking of going Class-D on the main L/R pair.
 

I am sure there are arguments both ways, but a tube pre and A/B or Class-D between them and the speakers are not a bad way to go.

Probably better is HT is used for the majority of the time. Otherwise those tubes get used up on HT where one is not listening as intently.

But horses for courses, as they say.

Yes, it is MUCH easier than most people think. And it is NOT a compromise of yoru 2 channel sound. HT Bypass as people have mentioned is the official name for it.

What it really is, is a seperate input to recieve pre-out from your HT reciever for the front 2 speakers. So when you want to watch a movie, you just switch inputs.

What isn’t often made is an amp (not integrated) with 2 inputs. That is what I have. My tube amp is an integrated but I bypass the volume to make it an amp and use the multiple inputs--one for my preamp, and one for my HT amp.  I am having a custom amp built, and one feature I've ordered is multiple inputs.

Jerry

PS You do need an HT amp that has PRE OUT, at least for the 2 front channels. Of course once you hook it up this way you’ll go into the HT setup and balance the speakers in this mode.

I do something similar, but not with amps.  The DAC3 from Benchmark has home theater bypass and multiple inputs - some analog and some digital.  My streamer connects to the digital DAC input and my preamp outs of my receiver connects to the analog inputs of the dac.  Essentially, The dac acts as a pre-amp with volume control and muiltipe inputs.  It even has multiple analog outputs so I can connect a couple subs.  Works great, but only 1 amp powering the front speakers for 2 channel and for HT.    

One other consideration, if choosing a tube preamp, is whether the home theater bypass functions even when the preamp is powered off.  Most don't have that feature, but some do, thereby extending tube (and possibly other circuit components) life.

@sleepysurf  ^good point^  (That is exactly how mine works.)

...  The room I'm in could probably support both sets of L/R speakers but I was curious if I wanted to downsize speakers, is it possible to run a AVR and tube integrated amp without physically moving cables and such?

i would demo the new L/R speakers first to make sure that they are voiced in a way that is compatible with your existing 5.1 speakers (or the remaining 3,1 part).

it is possible that the crossover, and phase, could put a null where you want sound… particularly the center channel and the new front L/R.

9I started with 2.1, so I just went out and got used center and surrounds by the same manufacturer to avoid the issue.)

What are your existing 5,1 speakers?

Another yes. I use the HT bypass feature on my Pass Labs xp22 daily, AVR is an Arcam AV40 which is a pure receiver with no internal amp. My 2 channel source and DAC are totally independent of the Arcam, but all else (amp, speakers, etc.) are shared.

Best of both worlds! Sound quality is excellent for both uses.

I deleted my previous 3 posts. about using the Receiver’s inputs

My understanding is that , only a Receiver, with a HTB ( if there are such Receivers ) could be connected to a external preamp.

p.s. : an AVR is a Receiver ; wihich  is not the same as a Processor

The OP owns a Receiver

@maxwave
I believe that the HT AVR (receiver) or AVP (processor) supplies either RCA or XLR outputs to the amp(s).
It is shown in the white section on photo 5 of 8 on here:

RCA inputs could take in a TT or AM/FM tuner, or something else…
But I think that the OP wanted the HT output to go THROUGH the preamp.

Then they may want RCA to XLR depending on the preamp and amp(s).
Mine are XLR from the HT, XLR at the preamp bypass, but the existing amps are RCA. Ideally those amps would be XLR.
 

@holmz

I thought , the OP wanted the Tube preamp to go THROUGH the Receiver.

Then , being able to use the same speakers he already owns.

If he uses the RCA outputs , to the preamp ; the OP will have to buy

a power amplifier. and a speaker , A/B switch for using the same spreakers.

I have an Acurus ACT4-20 Processor. I am less familiar  with Receivers.

In my knowledge, there is no Receivers with a HTB ( input)that allows to bypass

the preamp section of the Receiver; and then allows , only an external preamp;

and using that way ,only the amp section of the Receiver.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0562/5390/7003/products/TXRZ50_4_1300x.jpg?v=1643250423

Back in the prehistoric days of Dolby Prologic, I bought a B&K HT preamp and two extra amps (one for the center channel and one for the rear speakers channel).  I ultimately gave up on HT and stuck to developing my 2 channel stereo. 

´´Find the AV receiver’s Home Theater (HT) Bypass or Direct In port ´´

I thought , the OP wanted the Tube preamp to go THROUGH the Receiver.

@maxwave i am not sure that is what the OP wants…
And they also ,mentioned new speaker in the second sentence.
 

I currently have a home theater 5 channel setup.  I would like to add a tube based system and some new speakers.  The room I'm in could probably support both sets of L/R speakers but I was curious if I wanted to downsize speakers, is it possible to run a AVR and tube integrated amp without physically moving cables and such? 

Why they want tubes, is somewhat understandable, but I would assume it is mostly to address things that could be addressed in other ways… for instance with a tube pre, and using some other topology for the amp(s).

And when I saw the HT bypass on my preamp, I started looking into what it meant.

I have a AVP, so it is pretty easy to have that go through the preamp, and the preamp relays the bypass connection when the preamp is turned off.

Mut my AVP is XLRs and the preamp bypass is XLRs. The OP has RCAs so the worst case is that they need to run the HT AVR pre-outs through the candidate integrated.

I will likely be going into amps with XLR inputs, and moving the RCA input tube amps out.
Then I will be able to use a trigger and not have to “toe poke” the amp switch on.

there are probably a few ways to skin the cat, and I have run TV output into a preamp for the TV going through a 2.1 .

Back in the prehistoric days of Dolby Prologic, I bought a B&K HT preamp and two extra amps (one for the center channel and one for the rear speakers channel).  I ultimately gave up on HT and stuck to developing my 2 channel stereo. 

Yeah - started with a well established 2.1, and layered in the HT on top of that.
I think it is easier that way, but it should be possible to start with a 5.x.