2. home-theater
  3. 1033239358

How do I merge home theater into my 2 chan setup?

2 channel is my first love and I'm not willing to tamper with the 2 channel sound that I have at the expense of a home theater. I want to make a move to home theater and integrate it with my current system. I live in a loft...my room is 70 ft long by 22 ft wide and my ceilings are 25 ft high. My next move is a pre/pro that I will only use for video. I love the sound of my 2-channel preamp, so the pre/pro only has to do a good job when watching movies. I've heard good things about the Outlaw 950 pre/pro. This seems like a good match because of its low cost and I won't need an audiophile preamp section. After I settle this pre/pro issue, I will set about getting myself a projector, screen and subwoofer. Does the Outlaw seem like the best bang for the buck in what I'm trying to do here? I've borrowed a pre/pro and I like the sound my amps and speakers can deliver in a home theater setting....even without a subwoofer.

My 2 channel setup:

Preamp..............Audio Research LS-10 solid state (no phono input)
Preamp..............Carver C-19 Tube (I have it connected to the AR LS-10 and use it for a phono preamp)
Speakers............Infinity Kappa 9 (bi-amped)
Amp.................Carver Silver 9-t monoblocks (low pass)
Amp.................Sunfire Signature (high pass)
Phonograph..........Oracle Delphi Mk-I
Cartridge...........Grado Reference Platinum
CD Player...........Carver SDA/360 5 disc changer
Tuner...............Sansui TU-X1

My home theater stuff:
Rear speakers........Infinity Kappa 7.1
Center speaker.......Infinity Kappa Video Series II
Rear amplifier.......Carver TFM 45
Center amplifier.....Carver TFM 45
Television...........Sharp 32 inch
DVD player...........Samsung M-301
128x128mitch4t

Showing 3 responses by slipknot1

slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
Scotty910-

if you are passing digital signal to HT processor, and analog signal to preamp from same unit, just keep the HT processor off and feed the analog signal through your pre and straight to the amp? Vice versa for DVD digi signals.

If I understand your situation, you have both a preamp and an HT processor that can operate independently of each other, amplification that processes signals from both, and a common pair of front speakers. Correct? I also assume that your DVD/CD player passes digital either via TOSLINK or S/PDIF or AES/EBU and also has a set of analog outs, either 5.1 or stereo L/R.
slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
Mitch4t-
I have my 2 channel system merged with my HT. The only thing they share besides the room is the Magnepan MGIIIa speakers (2 channel/Front), and the front channel L/R of my Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature amp. I use the Sunfire Theater Grand II as a processor only for film, another pair of Magnepan MMGs for the rear surrounds, and all 5 of the Sunfire CGS channels. There is also a Sunfire True Sub Superjunior sub connected to the processor for film LFE.

I use an ARC SP 9 mkII preamp to drive my phono and CD/SACD.

The Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature amp is perfect for this setup in that it has both balanced and single ended inputs.
I am using both: the balanced connections connect all five channels of the pre/pro to the amp, and the main outs of the SP 9 connect to the front L/R on the amp via the RCA inputs.

I also use a modified Sony DVP NS500V DVD/SADC/CD player that does double duty: The digital output feeds into the TGII for 5.1 film processing, and the 2 channel analog outs feed the SP 9 for music.

It's the best of both worlds: the processor is off during 2 channel listening, the SP 9 is off for films, AND no switching of cables!
slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
Edesilva-
I can't speak for other mfrs., but Sunfire doesn't use shorting plugs or switches between the Bal/SE inputs on the CGS. Both are "hot". You are correct re: the chance that both processor and pre could be sending signal to the amp at the same time. In my situation, it would only occur when the NS500V was in use, resulting in a 2 channel analog signal and an S/PDIF signal being routed to the amp, from the same source. Not a great idea to be sure, but not a hazard. The danger would lie in sending phono source material through the pre to the amp at the same time digital based material were being routed through the processor. I for one, never have ANY digital equipment powered up when listening to my phono. I would further hope that someone whose system was at this level of complexity (and judging from the above posts, I assume that IS the case), would be smart enough and aware enough to avoid that tragic string of events.

Your method is very effective and accomplishes the same goal, and I would use it myself if I couldn't go the route I have. I would want to avoid the preamp vol. calibration and preset as I would have to remember to do it every time we used the processor, and what that setting is.

A perfect example of arriving at the same place by taking 2 different routes!
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