Receiver vs. processer?

Thanks for the help. My main speaker system is Martin Logan Aeons and a Muse 18 sub. My room is fairly small, and running two systems in the same room is out of the question. With my budget, I'm thinking that the receiver looped through my existing system would be best as it will power everything.

You know what I have done, and been very happy with, is integrated my 2 channel (Cary SLP98p F-1, Bel Canto Ref 1000, Maggie 3.6Rs, etc) into my 5.1 channel movie rig using a reciever (Denon 3808ci) to process, switch video, and power the rears and center channel (also power and distribute to a second zone). It's worked great. The Cary passes through HT and I feel like a have the best of all worlds.

So I say, keep your system as is, and add a nice reciever. If your Classe doesn't pass through home theater, call them and they can probably change that for you, or you can get one of the mod-shops to do it. Or if that doesn't work, trade/sell your very nice preamp for another one that does pass through HT.

Good luck.

Unless you have a huge room with speakers well (not just a few feet) you're likely to do better with a receiver with Audyssey equalization as a preamp even on two channel sources.

Use your existing power amp to get more headroom than you would with an inexpensive receiver.