Thanks for all the responses guys. I agree that I do want a home theater bypass input if I can get one. I don't want by mistake for different signals to feed the Anthem and I don't realize it. Not sure if anything bad would happen or not, but I'd rather not find out. I'm pretty limited on space of where I can keep it (height more than anything) , but I did see a Parasound zpre3 would be small enough in size and has a HT bypass. I'm not sure if the sound quality would a marked improvement at that price point. Im also not sure if I would want the tube sound or not. I'd probably need to good to a store and hear some stuff with SS vs Tube. I listen to a lot of funk/jammy/rock music, but also electronic music which I don't think would be great with a tube preamp but I also haven't listened before
Preamp vs Av receiver preouts
So I have a pretty good setup going on for myself, but my weak point is still my receiver on the music side of things (I use it for HT but I'm talking stereo right now). I have the Martin Logan ESLs, a 15" rythmik sub, yamaha aventage rxa-1060, Anthem mca225 hooked to the preouts of the yamaha (and a splitter to connect the sub L/R), and a schiit modi+. Would a separate preamp make much difference instead of the preouts on the receiver even though I use the yamaha in pure direct mode or is it not worth the addition? And if so what ballpark preamp are we talking to make said difference? Something like the parasound zpre3 looked interesting to me, but I haven't heard a separate preamp in a system before and don't know what difference it would make. I can't do much more in terms of room treatment in my room either. Thanks in advance!