Mixing Tenor hybrid with SS multichannel for HT ?

D edwards,

Any suggestions ...

I still can't make up my mind ...

right now I don't have any equipment ... I have a room that is half ready (framed, awaiting completion of electrical rough-in, HVAC almost complete, speaker wire still to be installed for future surrounds, then insulation, the double gyprock, sound isolation clips, oh I forgot the poured concrete for the floating floor, the light valance etc.) So, to be honest there is still no rush on picking speakers, amps, or a source component.

I haven't even firmly decided on the Tenor hybrid, but it remains my favorite of the things I have auditioned (of course the Kharma Exquisite Midi's and Audio Aero Capitole probably helped out when I listened to the Tenor in Montreal in the factory).

Thanks for the responses so far ...

I should add (stupid as it may sound), that for now I will be putting in a DLP front projector and retractable screen in the room and running the movie sound track as 2 channel (I am not into adventure movies, as much as artsie films). Like Mike I will be pre-wiring the room with in-wall speaker wire for possible future 7.1.

Stenersr you're right, I don't want to compromise on the 2 channel preamp section. So, down the road, I would envision buying either an affordable separate pre/pro and multichannel amp vs. a high-end A/V receiver and use either the separate pre/pro or the the pre/pro section of the receiver to control the volume for all 7 channels. That is, I would run the front L and R channel through the music 2-channel pre-amp's HT passthrough input, so that all the volume control would be from the pre/pro.

My concern now is going to be a problem if my kids want to watch a film NOW, would it be OK to start playing the soundtrack for the film through the Tenor hybrid amp with it virtually cold, rather waiting for its usual warm-up. You know, kids aren't going to wait 20 minutes to watch a film. Is this going to stress the tubes/amp ? (sorry for the stupid question ???)

Mike thanks for your very helpful suggestions. As I don't have any equipment now (the reno probably has almost 2 months to go),

If I went with the DCC2, it doesn't appear to have a HT pass-through input or unity gain input. Is that correct ? I wonder if the Audio Aero Capitole MKII has a HT pass-through on it's preamp section ?

you guys are great !

yeah, the 99 volume scares me (a disaster waiting to happen) ... how much does a Jena switch box go for ? are there other high-quality switchers that are cheaper than Jena that are unlikely to degrade the output ?