2. home-theater
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Many questions about HT pass-through options

I'm trying to consolidate/simplify equipment in my dual purpose (2 channel and home theater) media room. The net is I want to use the same amplifiers and front speakers for both systems without recabling each time I switch.

I'm completely satisfied with my preamp (Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista) and prefer not to swap it out, but want to easily switch 5.1 (via my pre-pro) to 2 channel and back.

I'm considering a new preamp with home theater passthru, or equivalent alternatives not requiring a new pre.

My questions:

1) Exactly how is HT passthrough implemented in audiophile preamps? Is it simply a high quality switch, or is there something more to it?
2) I read in one post that the standard tape loop can be used for bypass. Is this true? Has anyone done it? Isn't there a risk to the internal circuitry of my preamp?
3) In lieu of a new preamp, is there high quality selector switch that doesn't cost a small fortune? Has anyone made one DIY, and if so, can you recommend good switch parts?

Finally - any recommndations for a good quality preamp, preferably Tube, with a really good phone section, passtrhu, and remote controllable. Budget is in the $1500 range used.

any and all advice or opinion is welcome, and appreciated
bdgregory

Showing 2 responses by bdgregory

bdgregory OP
1,724 posts
 
thanks for the responses so far . . .

Let me add a little qualification to my set-up. My listening in this room is probably 85% 2 channel, but virtually all of the 5.1 listening is Music/Concert video. We watch movies in the living room, and I frankly am much less critical of the sound for movies as you all point out.

I still like the idea of trying the pre-input first since it's free and easy. I guess that's where I'll start, and if I find noticable degradation due to the preamp circuitry, I'll try something else.

Anticipating that - any other advice on a switch, or a Tube pre with HT bypass?

thanks again, Brad G.
bdgregory OP
1,724 posts
 
thanks to all of the posters, and I appreciate the additional comments re: the virtues/tradeoffs of using my MF Pre especially.

Last night I did it. I removed the extra speakers and amp, and connected my front channel outs into "aux 2" on the MF. I indeed set the MF volume at 12 o'clock, which is easy to remember and set whenever I switch to HT, and didn't require much adjustment in the pre-pro (ie from 0 db) in order to balance speaker volume levels.

I didn't do an A-B to see if there was any degradation, but really didn't notice anything from the little bit I played last night. It sounded great, except I have a little ground loop problem I need to resolve. Since my existing HT has been a true "bottom feeder" assembly and the sound wasn't really audiophile quality in the first place, so this will be at least as good. More importantly, it gives me the opportunity improve it and approach audiophile. I save $ from one amp, one set of speakers, not to mention removing equipment clutter from the room (yes, I actually had 2 sets of speakers in the fronts - one set for each system).

At some point I'll get the bug to buy a new preamp (yea, just because it's what we do) with HT passthru, but this for now is great, and much easier than I even hoped for to implement.

Next up is to swap speakers. I just picked up a Von Schweikert LCR-15 for my center. I currently have Mani-2s set up in this room and will move them into my dedicated 2 channel room, bring my VSA VR4-IIIs from that room to run as mains, and will have VSA VR3's running in the rear. This will be the first time I've had all channels in the HT running the same brand, closely matched speakers, so I'm really looking forward to the result.

thanks again, Brad G.
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