I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

On 8 Apr 2004 01:05:30 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?

Does your present preamp have a HT Bypass input? If so, feed the L/R
line levels outputs of the A/V pre/pro/receiver to these.

Kal

Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function? That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp, and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the pre-pro/receiver.

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function? That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp, and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the pre-pro/receiver.

In article ,
Torin wrote:
Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?

In the absence of a unity-gain HT pass-through on your analog preamp

- I use a passive switchbox which selects whether my tube stereo preamp or
Lexicon processor outputs get fed to my left+right active cross-over.

- You can also run your left+right HT processor outputs into a preamp
input and calibrate for an easily replicated (say 12 o'clock) volume
control setting.

--
a href="http://www.poohsticks.org/drew/"Home Page/a
Life is a terminal sexually transmitted disease.

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

Connect the L/R front channel pre-outs of the surround processor to a
spare input on your 'high end' preamp, then you just select that input
when you want to use the surround option, while retaining your
existing 2-channel 'high end' setup intact. The digital output of your
multichannel source goes to the processor, the analogue outputs of
your 'high end' DAC go to your existing 2-channel preamp.

You may have to note a particular setting on your preamp volume
control as the 'surround' setting in order to keep the channels
correctly balanced when in surround mode, but otherwise you should
have no problems.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

I repeat: Do you have a bypass on the preamp? What preamp is it?

Kal

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function? That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp, and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the pre-pro/receiver.

In article ,
"Torin" writes:
what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

What I did was to leave my existing stereo as is and bought a good A/V
receiver with full DD and DTS decoding capabilities. I then fed the
main L & R preamp outputs to my existing preamp's line level inputs
and let it control them. So when I wanted to listen to music, I just
used my existing system as before. When watching movies I set the
existing system to output the surround main L & R while the A/V
receiver powered the rest of the surround channels. The existing
system will have to be set to a fixed level when used with the
surround system so that the channel levels are correctly balanced.

"Torin" wrote in message
...
I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but incorporate
a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?

I interposed a simple A-B source selector switch between my pre and power
amp. Source A is my pre-amp, source B is the main pre-outs of my HT
receiver. When the selector is set to A, I have my regular 2-channel
system. When set to B, the main pre-outs of the receiver drive the amp and
main speakers while the receiver itself drives the center, mains and sub.
It's a great simple solution, imho.

its a classe 6. eventually to be replaced by a home built tube preamp
(design by Art Loesch)

I appreciate the responses. I like the idea of either a source selector
switch or just using an input on the preamp to route only the front L-R
output through my regular system

thanks!

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:_Hhdc.98464$w54.598926@attbi_s01...
I repeat: Do you have a bypass on the preamp? What preamp is it?

Kal

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that
I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround
decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function? That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp, and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the pre-pro/receiver.

On 9 Apr 2004 04:50:03 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

its a classe 6. eventually to be replaced by a home built tube preamp
(design by Art Loesch)

I appreciate the responses. I like the idea of either a source selector
switch or just using an input on the preamp to route only the front L-R
output through my regular system

The latter is the simplest and most direct route. It does require
that the preamp have an HT bypass input or that it have some way of
setting the preamp gain to a fixed value to enable the MC controller
to control channel balance and loudness.

Kal


thanks!

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:_Hhdc.98464$w54.598926@attbi_s01...
I repeat: Do you have a bypass on the preamp? What preamp is it?

Kal

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning that
I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround
decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function? That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp, and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the pre-pro/receiver.

the problem i see with all this though is that the L_R outputs from the
processor will be devoid of bass wont it? I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:XPBdc.109656$JO3.78417@attbi_s04...
On 9 Apr 2004 04:50:03 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

its a classe 6. eventually to be replaced by a home built tube preamp
(design by Art Loesch)

I appreciate the responses. I like the idea of either a source selector
switch or just using an input on the preamp to route only the front L-R
output through my regular system

The latter is the simplest and most direct route. It does require
that the preamp have an HT bypass input or that it have some way of
setting the preamp gain to a fixed value to enable the MC controller
to control channel balance and loudness.

Kal


thanks!

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:_Hhdc.98464$w54.598926@attbi_s01...
I repeat: Do you have a bypass on the preamp? What preamp is it?

Kal

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp
along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding
without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of
amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but
I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning
that
I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround
decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to
undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function?
That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp,
and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to
another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a
decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the
pre-pro/receiver.

On 10 Apr 2004 05:06:53 GMT, "Torin"
wrote:

the problem i see with all this though is that the L_R outputs from the
processor will be devoid of bass wont it? I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

You didn't mention this complication before. I assumed you had
full-range speakers on the L+R.

I guess you need an external switcher or two (or an Outlaw ICBM).

Kal


"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:XPBdc.109656$JO3.78417@attbi_s04...
On 9 Apr 2004 04:50:03 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

its a classe 6. eventually to be replaced by a home built tube preamp
(design by Art Loesch)

I appreciate the responses. I like the idea of either a source selector
switch or just using an input on the preamp to route only the front L-R
output through my regular system

The latter is the simplest and most direct route. It does require
that the preamp have an HT bypass input or that it have some way of
setting the preamp gain to a fixed value to enable the MC controller
to control channel balance and loudness.

Kal


thanks!

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:_Hhdc.98464$w54.598926@attbi_s01...
I repeat: Do you have a bypass on the preamp? What preamp is it?

Kal

On 8 Apr 2004 14:30:20 GMT, "Torin" wrote:

what i want to do is keep my existing high end phono capable preamp
along
with my existing amp configuration and then add surround decoding
without
affecting the sound quality of the way the setup is now.

if i feed a separate signal to a decoder, i then have 2 sets of
amplifier
outputs to contend with dont I? seems like a rediculous question but
I
would rather not have to spend so much money on a high end standalone
preamp/decoder and then a separate phono stage

thanks

"chung" wrote in message
news:y66dc.213687$_w.2069222@attbi_s53...
Torin wrote:

I would like to keep my existing high end front end setup but
incorporate a
high end surround home theater to my existing system. Meaning
that
I
would
like to add in center and rear speakers and surround decoder.

My DAC has a digital throughput that I can pass to a surround
decoder.

Any recommendations on how to best set this up without having to
undo
and
redo connections every time I watch a DVD?


thanks!

Not sure if I understand what your problem is. Why can't you let the
preamp/preamp-processor/receiver perform the switching function?
That
is, the DAC output goes to one set of audio inputs on the preamp,
and
the DVD player would have its output (digital or analog) go to
another
set of inputs on the preamp-processor (which also acts as a
decoder).

Alternatively, you can use the existing stereo preamp to act as
line-stage for the L/R outputs of the decoder in the
pre-pro/receiver.

On 10 Apr 2004 05:06:53 GMT, "Torin"
wrote:

the problem i see with all this though is that the L_R outputs from the
processor will be devoid of bass wont it?

Not if you set the mains to 'large' in the processor.

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:54:37 GMT, Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.

It will, I think, if he wants/needs the sub for stereo from the
preamp. OF course, I may be imagining his setup and he has not yet
described it in detail.

Kal

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

any other ideas on implementing this without sacrificing sound quality in my
existing stereo front end? I know this has been asked a lot in the past but
I have not been able to find a really good solution yet although I imagine
something exists.

thanks again

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:54:37 GMT, Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.

It will, I think, if he wants/needs the sub for stereo from the
preamp. OF course, I may be imagining his setup and he has not yet
described it in detail.

Kal

Easy. Get a switch to go between the preamp and the electronic
crossover that will select feed from the preamp or the L/R feed from
the surround processor. As long as you can set the levels for all
channels in the processor, this should work.

Kal

"Torin" wrote:

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

any other ideas on implementing this without sacrificing sound quality in my
existing stereo front end? I know this has been asked a lot in the past but
I have not been able to find a really good solution yet although I imagine
something exists.

thanks again

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:54:37 GMT, Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.

It will, I think, if he wants/needs the sub for stereo from the
preamp. OF course, I may be imagining his setup and he has not yet
described it in detail.

Kal

On 11 Apr 2004 15:19:51 GMT, "Torin"
wrote:

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

Hence, as I said before, all you need to do is feed the front L/R feed
(set to 'large') from your processor to a spare input on your preamp -
while as you say setting a fixed volume level to maintain the correct
balance. You will of course need another sub for the '0.1' channel.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

any other ideas on implementing this without sacrificing sound quality in my
existing stereo front end? I know this has been asked a lot in the past but
I have not been able to find a really good solution yet although I imagine
something exists.

thanks again

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:54:37 GMT, Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.

It will, I think, if he wants/needs the sub for stereo from the
preamp. OF course, I may be imagining his setup and he has not yet
described it in detail.

Kal

Easy. Get a switch to go between the preamp and the electronic
crossover that will select feed from the preamp or the L/R feed from
the surround processor. As long as you can set the levels for all
channels in the processor, this should work.

Kal

"Torin" wrote:

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

any other ideas on implementing this without sacrificing sound quality in my
existing stereo front end? I know this has been asked a lot in the past but
I have not been able to find a really good solution yet although I imagine
something exists.

thanks again

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 19:54:37 GMT, Stewart Pinkerton
wrote:

I need to use my external
crossover since I have to cross over my mains speakers at 150HZ (large
ribbons) and have the rest go to my subs.

This will not be affected, if the surround processor main L/R outputs
go through an auxiliary input on your 'high end' preamp.

It will, I think, if he wants/needs the sub for stereo from the
preamp. OF course, I may be imagining his setup and he has not yet
described it in detail.

Kal

will that extra sub add any more information than the 2 subs I already would
be using?

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
news:kdoec.113870$gA5.1463024@attbi_s03...
On 11 Apr 2004 15:19:51 GMT, "Torin"
wrote:

Kalman,
Your are right. I want to maintain my stereo sub setup since I run 72"
ribbons and then cross over to my "subs" that go from 20hz to 150hz as a
stereo pair. I currently feed from my preamp to an outboard elect.
crossover then feed to independent amps for my ribbons and my subs.

so essentially what I need is a surround processor system that can feed
an
unaltered L-R signal back to my preamp -- my preamp has no HT bypass so
I
will have to keep the volume constant as suggested.

Hence, as I said before, all you need to do is feed the front L/R feed
(set to 'large') from your processor to a spare input on your preamp -
while as you say setting a fixed volume level to maintain the correct
balance. You will of course need another sub for the '0.1' channel.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On 11 Apr 2004 17:05:10 GMT, Kalman Rubinson wrote:

Easy. Get a switch to go between the preamp and the electronic
crossover that will select feed from the preamp or the L/R feed from
the surround processor. As long as you can set the levels for all
channels in the processor, this should work.

Ah! That's even better than my suggestion, since this doesn't require
attention to the volume setting on the preamp. The true 'high ender'
might bitch about the extra switch contacts in the signal path, but
IMO this is outweighed by the much simpler channel balancing.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

agreed
that would be the best position to place the switch! as long as the output
for L-R is full range from the processor unit (should be i think if you set
it to no subwoofer??)

thanks

"Stewart Pinkerton" wrote in message
news:nzAec.120547$w54.841162@attbi_s01...
On 11 Apr 2004 17:05:10 GMT, Kalman Rubinson wrote:

Easy. Get a switch to go between the preamp and the electronic
crossover that will select feed from the preamp or the L/R feed from
the surround processor. As long as you can set the levels for all
channels in the processor, this should work.

Ah! That's even better than my suggestion, since this doesn't require
attention to the volume setting on the preamp. The true 'high ender'
might bitch about the extra switch contacts in the signal path, but
IMO this is outweighed by the much simpler channel balancing.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 06:58:54 GMT, "Torin"
wrote:

agreed
that would be the best position to place the switch! as long as the output
for L-R is full range from the processor unit (should be i think if you set
it to no subwoofer??)

Yes.

Kal