2. amps-preamps
  3. 985371340

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.
patrick123
oofda
19 posts
 
Your best bet is to buy the amp-pre-amp. Sell your receiver and use the money to buy an out board processor. You will not find a receiver other than maybe one that will cost you more than the seperates that will sound good on music. Believe me I have tried.
reubent
6,935 posts
 
Keep the receiver, buy seperates (or an integrated amp) with HT bypass. Connect your CD player to the new pre/integrated, connect yout HT source to the receiver, power your mains from the new 2-channel rig, and Power your center, surrounds and HT sub. from the receiver.

I use this setup (Arcam Alpha 10 integrated/Denon AVR-3300 receiver) and it works great. You can do this without an HT bypass by just running the L&R-front pre-outs from your receiver into an unused line level input of the new pre-amp. You will have to use a "pre-defined" volume setting on the pre-amp.(maybe Top dead center?). It will work fine that way, but isn't as "elegant" as using an HT bypass.

Tom
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