HT Bypass pre-amp advice

[tcrossma]

Well, my house still hasn't sold so I haven't been able to pull the trigger on my upgrades, but that doesn't mean it's not running through my head every day. :)

I think i've narrowed down the majority of my upgrades, which are as follows:

Upgrade my Polk Monitor 60's to LSI15's
Upgrade my Polk Monitor 30's (rear) to LsiFX
Upgrade my Polk CS2 to LSiC
Buy a new 5 channel amp -- currently thinking a Parasound 2205AT or maybe a B&K -- 200+ @ 8ohm.
Upgrade my DVD player to a Universal -- thinking Denon 3910
Keep my Yamaha RXV-2500 as a pre/pro for HT
Buy a 2-channel pre with HT bypass

I've given a lot of thought to how I use the system, which is for watching movies, TV, XBox and music. I like the functionality that the AVR gives me for A/V switching and convenience. And for HT, honestly, my current setup sounds decent enough. But i'm not happy with it for music.

So while I use it maybe 70% for movies/tv/xbox and 30% for music, the music quality is 90% important to me.

So first, does this setup make sense? Will the pre with HT bypass give me the best of both HT and Music worlds? And does anyone have any recommendations on what pre I could get?

I'll probably buy the speakers and the pre new, and the amp and DVD player used.

Thanks,

tim

[Ricardo]

What's your budget? And why not buy a used pre? I have gone through several preamps (Dared, Dodd, Cary AES..) until I got to the winner: Audio Research SP16; sweet tubes, low gain, excellent sound and it has a bypass. You can get them used for $1,200 or less without the phono stage.

[tcrossma]

I'm not sure what my budget is going to be on the pre yet. I'm trying to figure out the configuration and narrow down *what* I need first. In the end it'll probably be < $1000 for the pre.

I guess I could go used, it might depend on what model I want to get and how much it costs.

I'm thinking SS and not tubes here. And i've no interest in a TT.

Thanks
tim

[cfrizz]

Well if you get the Parasound amp, you could also get the Parasound pre 850
Others have used it on here & liked it.

[tcrossma]

Well if you get the Parasound amp, you could also get the Parasound pre 850
Others have used it on here & liked it.

I think i'd like to go a little higher up than that. The 850 doesn't have a HT bypass (I do need that, right???) and not even a remote. Can't live without remote capabilities :)

[strider]

The way I understand it is, in lieu of an HT bypass, that you could also use a 2 female to 1 male y RCA adapter on the inputs to your amp. That way, both your 2 channel and HT would be hooked up to your mains at any given time. I just started researching this and haven't found a great deal of preamp options with an HT bypass.

[reeltrouble1]

I would recommend the by-pass, really the best way to keep the music signal away from the nasty AVR IC's, along with all the rest of the blah blah blah circuitry found in the typical japanese AVR.

Still a bit of a compromise to two totally seperate rigs, but that is not for everyone.

RT1

[comet]

a classe would be one way to go

[rskarvan]

I have a Krell KAV250P with HT bypass (unity gain) capability that I use with a Denon receiver. It works for me for movies. And, for 2-channel, I use the Krell and leave the Denon turned off!

[tcrossma]

Thanks for the input guys, looks like i'll add a nice pre with HT bypass to my list then. Parasound has one for around $700 I think, called a Model 2100. Anyone know anything about it?

[pearsall001]

I'm running a CJ PV14LS2 tube preamp that has HT bypass. Works like a charm & is extremely musical & seductive. It really makes running HT & 2 channl systems a no brainer. Best of both worlds without any sacrifice in musical performance.

[Midnite Mick]

Am I missing something Phil?....sorry for the hijack. How are you using the pre with the AVR?

[phipiper10]

I also use pre with receiver in the following manner -

Watch a movie like this:
DVD-> receiver->pre(av input 1)->amp>speakers
This way I can have 5.1 sound for movies. I use optical for audio from DVD to receiver here.

2channel
CDP->pre(cd input 2)->amp->speakers
No receiver necessary and just the audioquest ICs from CDP to pre

The only drawback is turning on two pieces of equipment and making sure the volumes are correct on each when wathcing in 5.1. It's no problem really. It's not perfect but it is a compromise.

[Midnite Mick]

I also use pre with receiver in the following manner -

Watch a movie like this:
DVD-> receiver->pre(av input 1)->amp>speakers
This way I can have 5.1 sound for movies. I use optical for audio from DVD to receiver here.

2channel
CDP->pre(cd input 2)->amp->speakers
No receiver necessary and just the audioquest ICs from CDP to pre

The only drawback is turning on two pieces of equipment and making sure the volumes are correct on each when wathcing in 5.1. It's no problem really. It's not perfect but it is a compromise.

In your case you are using your receiver as a pre/pro. I have had the same setup but with a pre/pro. Phil does not have an amp, so I am assuming he is using the onboard amps of the avr.

[pearsall001]

Am I missing something Phil?....sorry for the hijack. How are you using the pre with the AVR?

I'm running the DAC into the CJ...then from the CJ to the NAD T773 (analog direct imputs, bypasses internal pre) the AVR power speakers in both HT & 2 channel. Sounds wonderful, no complaints here. For HT the CJ is off, only turned on for 2 channel.

[Midnite Mick]

I see

[kkerley33]

Not sure what your budget is and if you are looking for new or used, SS or Tube.

I myself am a Tube guy and would recommend any of the following.

Juicy Music Peach
Rogue Perseus
Sonic Frontiers Line 1

You should be able to find any of those three pre-amps for around $1000 on the used market.

Set-up is simple for all of the above and the HT bypass works while the unit is off.

Hope this helps,

KAK