there's lotsa 2-channel preamps that have pass-thru for surround, which defaults the pre's controls to your processor when yure partaking of that dreadful movie-watching biz... ;~) when doing what ya *should* be doing, which is listening to music, your main speakers are not corrupted by all the ancillary electronics. pre's that *i* know of that do this are made by linn, vtl, sonic frontiers, audio research. i'm sure there are many others. i would recommend going this route, as opposed to getting an all-in-one unit.
doug