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First home theater. HELP

Hi guys,

Luddite that I am, I am in the process of putting together our first home theater setup, and could use some help. It's always been about two channel/analog for me, and I am way behind the times when it comes to video. I want to keep it as simple as possible, not too expensive, and want to use some of the gear that I now use as a second system in our weekend country get-away place. I am interested in a basic surround setup (5.1), for prerecorded movie playback only (DVD's, movie downloads , but no cable or network tv), and the kids' video games. The
system will be also used for two channel music listening, which is why I would like keep the current gear and hopefully simply (?) integrate the new video and additional audio gear.

The current sound system consists of Meitner PA6i preamp and Meitner 101 mono blocks, Totem Arro speakers and EAD transport and DAC. I will probably add a turntable to the system at some point, which is one of the reasons I want to keep the Meitner gear (good phono), as well as the fact that it sounds great with the Arro's, is small and looks great.

My thoughts so far are to add a Totem Dreamcatcher center, rears and subwoofer for 5.1 use, an appropriate 5.1 surround processor, and a Meitner MTR50 stereo amp for the rear channels. Video will probably be handled by a Panasonic or Samsung 60in plasma. First question:

Is there a good, reasonably priced surround preamp that has a "pass-through" feature so that I can use the Meitner pre for two channel music listening with minimal sound degradation? BTW, the Meitner has two sets of outputs for whatever that's worth.

I have no illusions about getting sound that comes anywhere near SOTA, but would like to enhance movie viewing, and retain the sound of the existing second system for music listening. I welcome any thoughts/suggestions re processor, speakers, set-up, etc.

Thanks in advance.
frogman

Showing 7 responses by frogman

frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. OK, let me see if I am understanding this. I could use a HT receiver to do the processing and power the center and rears? So, the receiver would have the capability of sending a line level, processed signal to the left/right amplifiers for the mains, while at the same time sending a high-level processed signal directly to the center and rears? Please help me understand the hookup scheme. Thanks again.
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Actually, I just corresponded with John Wright, and he tells me that, as Islandmandan suggested, I could use the extra set of outputs on the PA6i as a passthrough as long as the preamp is turned on and is not playing any other source. Curious, as I thought it would have to be turned off, but he explained that when off or muted, the outputs are shorted to ground. It's an inconvenient setup either way as the PA6's volume is set via remote only, and it does not have a way to visually reset a particular volume setting. I am still looking at all the options. Thanks.
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Aha! In-line attenuators. Brilliant! These, in conduction with I just discovered (remembered?) about the Meitner should do the trick. From the owner's manual:

****Input Gain Adjustment- There are three trim pots to adjust the gain of phono, tuner and AUX/CD relative to the tape input and relative to each other. Access to the trim pots is through three holes on the metal top chassis panel. The wooden sleeve can be removed by removing the two screws at the bottom of the unit. Each trimpot can then be used to adjust input sensitivity for the corresponding input. Phono, Tuner and CD/AUX
can be adjusted relative to Tape, which is fixed. If Tape is not used, two inputs can be adjusted relative to the third.****

Thanks again for the great suggestions. I will order some Rothwells.
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Thank you for chiming in, Al. I confess to being confused myself as to how connecting the line level front L/R outputs of the receiver to the extra output of the Meitner preamp would work; seems improbable. Nonetheless, the idea seems to be that this allows the Meitner to remain connected to the front mono's for critical music playback, and that for video, the two outputs of the Meitner, being connected in parallel, would allow the front L/R line level signals from the receiver to "pass through" from one set of RCA jacks to the other set which is permanently connected to the two front amplifiers. Please shed some light on this.

As I think about it further, why not simply send the receiver's two front channel signals to one of the aux inputs on the Meitner, which would send it to the front amplifiers? The Meitner has the capability to adjust the volume of each input relative to the other inputs. Would the volume of the two front channel signals not be controlled by the volume control on the receiver as it passes through the Meitner?
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Minkwelder, just read your post, thanks for confirming what I had in mind.
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Thank you Al for the great info and resources, and thank you Minkwelder for your contribution.

Al, you initially interpreted my description of the Meitner's volume control correctly. The PA6 was available with either a wired remote (which I suspect is what you saw a picture of), or an infrared remote (the "i" designation). I have the infrared remote which simply has +/- buttons with no way of replicating a particular volume setting; other than aurally. What do you think about the idea of using a simple passive volume controller (passive preamp) in line with the L/R front outputs from the HT receiver?
This way, for HT use the volume on the Meitner can simply be set to max, and the appropriate (and repeatable) volume setting can be set with the volume control on the passive pre. The L/R front signals would be routed through the Meitner as Minkwelder suggested, and be volume controlled by the passive controller.
frogman OP
7,494 posts
 
Minkwelder, out of curiosity, what receiver did you use, and how do you like it?
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