You can have your cake and eat it too.
Home Theater with Tube Amp for the Front Only. (two solutions)
..................................................................................................
Solution One:
"BETTER FRONT" for BOTH Video and Music
1. existing Revel f35 front speakers, they are 90 db/m/w, thus efficient enough for tubes of moderate power.
2. existing Integra AVR
a. controls volume of all video including it’s front pre-outs
b, powers only center and surround speakers
c. pre-out for front L & R to your 2 channel front system
3. new 2 channel front preamp/amp (must have HT Bypass INPUT).
a. Tubes, now or eventually. I say NOW!
b. 2 channel music sources direct to it.
c. it powers the front L&R always
c1. controls volume for 2 channel inputs
c2. AVR controls front volume for video via it’s front pre-outs and the 2 channel front system’s HT Bypass Input.
c3. AVR powers center and surround speakers
.............................................
A separate 2 channel pre-amp with HT Bypass can be tubes, small tubes, not too much heat. Modern feature means recent, nearly new or new. Then off to Amp: SS or Tubes.
A separate 2 channel amp can be SS, less heat, or tubes which is what you say you might want. Vintage; Used; New.
.....................................
Blackhawk
does not have HT Bypass, so it cannot be used without a separate preamp with HT Bypass INPUT for Video surround content.
2 channel sources can go directly to Blackhawk, thus it works as integrated EXCEPT for Video.
.........................................
Solution Two:
EXISTING VIDEO (no change) and NEW MUSIC using the existing front revel f35’s for both
Alternate simple solution: 2 way switch for the FRONT speakers (only).
position A: Integra drives ALL speakers for video as it does now.
position B; new 2 channel music system drives the front speakers
This means no HT Bypass is needed, thus any Vintage/Used/New Integrated or Preamp/Amp combo can be used.
Blackhawk has built-in crossover to send the low bass out to self-powered sub(s), thus it's 20 wpc no longer needs to power woofers, and the front mains smaller bass drivers no longer try to make low bass. Raven says low bass is about 65% of power needs, that is how it's 20 wpc can do such a great job.
Home Theater with Tube Amp for the Front Only. (two solutions)
..................................................................................................
Solution One:
"BETTER FRONT" for BOTH Video and Music
1. existing Revel f35 front speakers, they are 90 db/m/w, thus efficient enough for tubes of moderate power.
2. existing Integra AVR
a. controls volume of all video including it’s front pre-outs
b, powers only center and surround speakers
c. pre-out for front L & R to your 2 channel front system
3. new 2 channel front preamp/amp (must have HT Bypass INPUT).
a. Tubes, now or eventually. I say NOW!
b. 2 channel music sources direct to it.
c. it powers the front L&R always
c1. controls volume for 2 channel inputs
c2. AVR controls front volume for video via it’s front pre-outs and the 2 channel front system’s HT Bypass Input.
c3. AVR powers center and surround speakers
.............................................
A separate 2 channel pre-amp with HT Bypass can be tubes, small tubes, not too much heat. Modern feature means recent, nearly new or new. Then off to Amp: SS or Tubes.
A separate 2 channel amp can be SS, less heat, or tubes which is what you say you might want. Vintage; Used; New.
.....................................
Blackhawk
does not have HT Bypass, so it cannot be used without a separate preamp with HT Bypass INPUT for Video surround content.
2 channel sources can go directly to Blackhawk, thus it works as integrated EXCEPT for Video.
.........................................
Solution Two:
EXISTING VIDEO (no change) and NEW MUSIC using the existing front revel f35’s for both
Alternate simple solution: 2 way switch for the FRONT speakers (only).
position A: Integra drives ALL speakers for video as it does now.
position B; new 2 channel music system drives the front speakers
This means no HT Bypass is needed, thus any Vintage/Used/New Integrated or Preamp/Amp combo can be used.
Blackhawk has built-in crossover to send the low bass out to self-powered sub(s), thus it's 20 wpc no longer needs to power woofers, and the front mains smaller bass drivers no longer try to make low bass. Raven says low bass is about 65% of power needs, that is how it's 20 wpc can do such a great job.