connecting DD decoder to a 2ch preamp

Your main L&R output aside from 5.1 output will contain all 5.1 information. So, without 5.1 input ready receiver or preamp, what you've currently configured is best you can do now.

Think about the Vantas pre-amp, amp, processor. www.vantas.com

Unfortunatley, I think the first guy(Sk on 2/23/00) has the right info for you! Your current setup work's the best. If you try to add other output's dirrectly in to some sort of amp (sans the preamplificatin), I think you'll likely get lackluster (mismatched impedence) dynamics and output from a center channel or rears(my experience over the years anyway!). I think you definitely want to use some sort of preamp or pre/pro, preferably using the digital out of the processor into the pre amp(s)/ pre/pro's, instead of the 6 channel outputs of your digital processor! If you use your DVD as the 5.1 channel processor, and it sounds good for 2 channel music into your 2 channel preamp, you might want to stay with this set up when listening to 2 cannel music (even 24/96). But with DD movie's with 5 speakers, I think the only good way to get the dynamics and output, is to go Digital out in to a pre/pro setup of somekind with sufficient gain levels! Best, Keri