HT bypass all the way.
As my room is dual use, I struggled and was determined to make my AVR a 2 channel preamp. But, as my own music SQ demands grew, I finally gave in and separated everything, on the same rack, in the same room.
I already went to a separate amp for my front speakers, and that did help. But what really helped (and thank goodness my AVR has pre outs) was finally getting a dedicated 2 channel preamp with bypass which the AVR can pass through in HT mode.
Now, all my 2 channel listening (turntable/pre, CD/DAC, and tape deck) is all through the 2 channel preamp>amp>main speakers. Thus, the AVR is no longer part of the music chain. And yes, everyone was right about it sounding better. Using the AVR as a 2 channel pre cannot compare. And I can change anything in the 2 channel chain I wish, without considering the AVR/HT at all. The one big limitation, and to make things easy, I would prefer a 2 channel pre with bypass. You can do it without, but it is more complicated. I wish more 2 channel pre’s had that option. But many do not, and one of the reasons I did not get serious on a vintage pre.
And, when watching TV, a simple press of a pre remote button, and all except my front/main speakers are driven by the AVR (front/mains are still driven by my separate power amp), where I am extremely less critical about the sound quality.
I think there is almost no way a HT processor can compete with a dedicated 2 channel setup. That is my opinion based on my personal experience attempting to do so. With my current setup, my 2 channel experience has been risen to a level I did not think possible.
As my room is dual use, I struggled and was determined to make my AVR a 2 channel preamp. But, as my own music SQ demands grew, I finally gave in and separated everything, on the same rack, in the same room.
I already went to a separate amp for my front speakers, and that did help. But what really helped (and thank goodness my AVR has pre outs) was finally getting a dedicated 2 channel preamp with bypass which the AVR can pass through in HT mode.
Now, all my 2 channel listening (turntable/pre, CD/DAC, and tape deck) is all through the 2 channel preamp>amp>main speakers. Thus, the AVR is no longer part of the music chain. And yes, everyone was right about it sounding better. Using the AVR as a 2 channel pre cannot compare. And I can change anything in the 2 channel chain I wish, without considering the AVR/HT at all. The one big limitation, and to make things easy, I would prefer a 2 channel pre with bypass. You can do it without, but it is more complicated. I wish more 2 channel pre’s had that option. But many do not, and one of the reasons I did not get serious on a vintage pre.
And, when watching TV, a simple press of a pre remote button, and all except my front/main speakers are driven by the AVR (front/mains are still driven by my separate power amp), where I am extremely less critical about the sound quality.
I think there is almost no way a HT processor can compete with a dedicated 2 channel setup. That is my opinion based on my personal experience attempting to do so. With my current setup, my 2 channel experience has been risen to a level I did not think possible.