Hi Patrick. I would only try this if I had a pre amp with the HT Loop and here's why. The ease and sense of security when you are changing inputs or in this case, switching to a movie will be lost when having to pre adjust your recievers volume with the 2-channel pre amps volume. I know some people will say "when you adjust it once you should leave it alone" but I say you can forget that as soon as you have to turn it down for whatever reason. Wondering if the levels are right and touching this and measuring that grows old quickly. I used to have a setup like that and it pissed me off. My suggestion to you is to purchase a pre with a HT loop switch. This allows your 2-channel pre amp to get out of the way totally when watching movies and let your receivers volume control all of your 5-6 channels for movies. One volume, one setting! I went with the Anthem 2PL and eventually moved to the Sonic Frontiers Line 1 Pre amp with both being tubed and excellent performers in 2-channel music as well. The Line 1 has the sweetest remote in the business and the overall build is always noted in any review given to this piece. Once again, going through a line level means you have to control 2 volumes as opposed to one and since you are concerend about music quality know one would question your choice of the SOnic Frontiers Line 1.
How to have great HT and 2-CH Stereo
I have a home theater system using a Rotel A/V RSX-972 receiver. The system works great in home theater but lacking in 2 channel audio CD quality. I'm thinking of introducing a pre/power amps (Plinius CD-LAD and SA-250) for my front L/R speakers. However, I don't know what is the best way to connect this together without having to plug and unplug cable everytime I switch from Home Theatre to audio CD listening. This is because there will be two pre amps (Rotel and plinius) in the system and plinius CD-LAD does not offer by-pass mode.
An alternative will be to upgrade to a high end A/V processor (thinking of proceed) but was told that even the most top-of-the-line 5 channel A/V precessor/preamp cannot match the sonic quality of a good 2 channel stereo preamp in 2 channel CD mode. Do you agree? Is anyone facing the same problem as I am? Please help comment.
An alternative will be to upgrade to a high end A/V processor (thinking of proceed) but was told that even the most top-of-the-line 5 channel A/V precessor/preamp cannot match the sonic quality of a good 2 channel stereo preamp in 2 channel CD mode. Do you agree? Is anyone facing the same problem as I am? Please help comment.