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Need help with system connection

Hello audiogon members, 
I am in a bit of a delima. First my components: Simaudio W5 power amp (2 channel), Earthquake power amp (3 channel), OPPO BDP-105, Marantz AV7701 preamp processor, Von Schweikert VR4, LCR15 center, and NHT surrounds, Benchmark DAC1. Sources: Apple TV, Fire TV. 
I recently purchased the DAC1, which I am using as a preamp connected directly to Simaudio. Love the sound! I am getting the details, soundstage and clarity which was missing in OPPO 105 DAC (more musical). 
Delima: When watching movies using my Apple TV or Fire TV in Dolby Digital, how do I use the FR/FL speakers? Since the Simaudio is now ‘taken up’ by the DAC1, I am only left with the Earthquake 3 channel amp and Marantz to watch movies in Dobly Digital since DAC1 does not play that coding. 
My 3.1 channel works - but how do i run the signal through the DAC1 for the FR/FL channel. Even through the sound will be out of sync, I’ll be okay. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, ghulamr
128x128ghulamr
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,108 posts
 
Obvious question: will there be a sound degradation of any sort?
Not to my ears, I use a xlr switcher on ML-26S preamp to DAC and phono pre years ago.
caphill
665 posts
 
I think any sort of switcher will degrade signal purity and sound quality since it has to go through another circuitry. 

@ghulamr 
You will need to get an analog stereo preamp that has HT bypass input. And you can run your Benchmark DAC1 directly to the stereo analog preamp, and run the front LR channels pre-outs of your Marantz HT processor to the HT bypass input on the stereo analog preamp thus bypassing the volume control on the stereo preamp when using your Marantz HT processor for surround sound movie playbacks. And simply connect the stereo analog preamp to your Simaudio power amp for your front LR speakers. 
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,108 posts
 
I think any sort of switcher will degrade signal purity and sound quality since it has to go through another circuitry.
@caphill, There’s a switching circuitry in the analog preamp for HT bypass!
DAC1 > analog preamp input selector > volume control > HT bypass switcher > analog preamp output > power amp
ghulamr's avatar
ghulamr OP
104 posts
 
The shortest direct path is always better no doubt. But purchasing another piece of equipment (analog stereo preamp) may not sit well with my wife and the DAC1 works really well with the Simaudio W5. 
Hate to sell my DAC - will play around with the jumper setting inside my DAC while in the calibrated mode and go through the Marantz pre to see if the sound improves. 
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