If you must integrate, probably the best of both worlds is as hinted above, and that is use a high quality 2 channel preamp, using it's auxillary or bypass input to loop the L/R outs from a high quality n much more budget friendly AV receiver or pre/pro for the HT swiching dubties. This allows you to connecdt high quality CD player or pure sources to the 2 channel preamp, and shuts out the AV for 2 channel dubties all together. Then, your AV sources simply connect to the AV pre/receiver, and the L/R are simply passed through the 2ch pre's pass-through during multi/movies and such. (Even $200 HK AVR 354 on used market with EQ and latest DD/DTS HD Master audio will thrill your for HT dubties, fed to more powerful amps certainly!
If you simply strive for a higher end AV receiver to handle both music and movies, and you are after the purest 2 channel dubties possible from that, you'll typically find a bit of a compromise (if you can find one with dirrect bypass, you'll have some advantages with purity of sound), at least through the analog inputs.
That said, doing the latter route here, your best bet is typically a digital connection ,using the othewise very good quality dac's in the AV receivers these days! (all the digital processin the AV receiver/pre!) Another benefit here, especially wiht multi-ch dubties, is that you can get the EQ circuit involved in teh digital domain on many offerings these days! And believe me, most rooms need this assistance, badly! -and considering most don't know how to optimmally place the speakers, seating, and acoustic treatments, to compound things! - EQ's help!
If you're leaning to simplify, and simply want the best AV receiver with great 2 channel analog connectivity, digital processing, etc, and overall great 2 channel purity, ya might check into the Arcam's, Anthem's, and anything from some high end essoteric company out there (i.e, Krell, Macintosh, Theta, and similar), to see what they're offering in the AV receiver route???
On the budget, I always was pleased with what I got from the Harman Kardon line! I used to run the HK AVR354 to a Parasound HCA1205a, and it was VERY NICE! - at least for mid/hi-fi budget gear! Movies and music were just terrific on this setup on the cheap! ($250 for the receiver and $400 for the amp, great deal!)
If you simply strive for a higher end AV receiver to handle both music and movies, and you are after the purest 2 channel dubties possible from that, you'll typically find a bit of a compromise (if you can find one with dirrect bypass, you'll have some advantages with purity of sound), at least through the analog inputs.
That said, doing the latter route here, your best bet is typically a digital connection ,using the othewise very good quality dac's in the AV receivers these days! (all the digital processin the AV receiver/pre!) Another benefit here, especially wiht multi-ch dubties, is that you can get the EQ circuit involved in teh digital domain on many offerings these days! And believe me, most rooms need this assistance, badly! -and considering most don't know how to optimmally place the speakers, seating, and acoustic treatments, to compound things! - EQ's help!
If you're leaning to simplify, and simply want the best AV receiver with great 2 channel analog connectivity, digital processing, etc, and overall great 2 channel purity, ya might check into the Arcam's, Anthem's, and anything from some high end essoteric company out there (i.e, Krell, Macintosh, Theta, and similar), to see what they're offering in the AV receiver route???
On the budget, I always was pleased with what I got from the Harman Kardon line! I used to run the HK AVR354 to a Parasound HCA1205a, and it was VERY NICE! - at least for mid/hi-fi budget gear! Movies and music were just terrific on this setup on the cheap! ($250 for the receiver and $400 for the amp, great deal!)