I have an integrated system using the Anthem AVM20 v2 as my HT pre/pro running into the Cary SLP2002 2 channel preamp. The Cary has a HT bypass input. The Cary can be found for under $2000 used and when paired with the right tubes it is to die for at this price. It also has a tubed headphone output which may or may not be of interest. It has both balanced and single ended inputs and outputs. I too was heavy into HT but once the HT started sounding better as a 2 channel system, things went the other way quickly. I will say that the 2 channel preamp is probably the key component next to good clean power to make the 2 channel really start to shine. Of course a good cd player, proper amplification and the right mix of cabling plays a part as wel, but a good tubed 2 channel preamp gives the system dynamics, depth and a huge presentation.
Seperating 2 channel and HT in the same system.
I am trying to go from 50/50 music/ht to 70/30 music/ht. I want to use the internal DAC from my CD player instead of the DAC from the pre/pro.
Should I get a pre/pro with a true analog bypass or add a preamp for 2 channel listening? If the latter, how would you hook up a preamp so that the CD player signal does not get routed through the pre/pro and still be able to listen to HT through the same main speakers?
Doesn't a preamp have to go out to the amp? If I route the preamp to the pre/pro, the pre/pro will run it through it's own DAC again. The only way to cure this would be to constantly change the connections from the preamp to the pre/pro whenever I want to change from CD to HT.
Isn't there a better way to integrate a system?
Should I get a pre/pro with a true analog bypass or add a preamp for 2 channel listening? If the latter, how would you hook up a preamp so that the CD player signal does not get routed through the pre/pro and still be able to listen to HT through the same main speakers?
Doesn't a preamp have to go out to the amp? If I route the preamp to the pre/pro, the pre/pro will run it through it's own DAC again. The only way to cure this would be to constantly change the connections from the preamp to the pre/pro whenever I want to change from CD to HT.
Isn't there a better way to integrate a system?