AV Pre/Pros are not the most spectacular two channel performers...
of all the pre/pros I've heard over the years, the closest I've heard to really good two channel performance was from the Bel Canto PrePro through the analog bypass inputs. That's the best I've heard from "sanely" priced units (not that the price of a PrePro is considered sane by some individuals!! :) hehehe).
Even as I say this, I have to admit that I have heard better two channel preamps than the PrePro... so the idea of a two channel preamp with home theater pass through is a good idea, or something like the Pre2 or Pre6 from Bel Canto whereby it remembers volume settings for each input upon switching to it. Then you just set the volume level for that theater input and switch to it upon wanting to listen to surround sound...
of all the pre/pros I've heard over the years, the closest I've heard to really good two channel performance was from the Bel Canto PrePro through the analog bypass inputs. That's the best I've heard from "sanely" priced units (not that the price of a PrePro is considered sane by some individuals!! :) hehehe).
Even as I say this, I have to admit that I have heard better two channel preamps than the PrePro... so the idea of a two channel preamp with home theater pass through is a good idea, or something like the Pre2 or Pre6 from Bel Canto whereby it remembers volume settings for each input upon switching to it. Then you just set the volume level for that theater input and switch to it upon wanting to listen to surround sound...