So, just to clarify what has been said above in case it's not clear, rather than have your stereo source go into your prepro and then to the stereo pre it would be the reverse. Your stereo signal would go directly to your stereo pre, and the front L/R outputs from your surround source would go to a HT bypass or other unused input on your stereo pre and then output to the front L/R inputs on your prepro. This way, for stereo your prepro is completely out of the system and to go to surround you just change the input on the stereo pre (if no HT bypass you just need to set a reference volume level so your fronts are at the proper level for multichannel duty). Installing a stereo pre after the prepro, as mentioned above, basically defeats the purpose. Hope this helps and best of luck.
High quality pre-amp improve sound processor
I'm building a high quality 2 channel rig in my home theater. I'm wondering if I have my sound processor go into the 2 channel preamp does the sound quality improve or take on the flavor of the 2 channel pre-amp? I read about tube buffers and such that's placed before the amps give more tube like sound. I'm wondering if it's the same going through a high quality pre-amp with the volume still controlled by the sound processor. I would think the pre-amp would affect the sound kind of like op-amp rolling.