|   How to connect an AV Pre-Amp through a 2 Channel Amp to AMP? | jjqiv
May 6, 2002 2:04 PM | | I am currently running a Dennon 3300 as preamp to a ARAGON 8008X5 AMP and this is connected Martin Logan SL3/Cinema/Scripts. This is sufficient for Movies. However, for music, I would like to have a real nice 2 Channel set-up. My wife will kill me if I spend more big bucks. If I bought a nice, used 2 Channel pre-amp with a good phono stage, like an AR SP-6, how can I cable it up?
Please help a former Home Theater Junkie who has turned into a Vinyl Junkie.
Thanks!!! |
| I had the same dilemma!! Sort of...... | foreel
May 6, 2002 3:28 PM | | I posted a similar question a little while ago and an audioreview member (Screename - Chuck G) gave the idea of using Sony's TA-P9000es preamp to "tie together" everything. The P9000es has dual 5.1-channel analog inputs, 5.1-channel and 2-channel analog bypass inputs (where the input signals truly do pass through without being altered even in the slightest bit, and preamp outputs for all channels: front L/R, (2) center, surround L/R, and (2) subwoofer. What you would do is run the Denon's pre-outs into the 5.1 channel bypass input on the 9000es, and your new 2 channel preamp into the 2 channel bypass input on the 9000es, and then run the pre-outs from the 9000es to your ARAGON amp. The 9000es also has dual 5.1 channel analog inputs, which you could use for DVD-A, SACD, or whatever else comes out in the future (surround TV - I don't know!!). I was seriously considering going this route myself, but then had a different idea, which I posted in a further down topic. I'm not sure if I'll go with my new idea or Chuck's idea yet. (here's exactly what I wrote in that post).........
I already own a Morrison ELAD 2 channel preamp, and don't want to stop using it when I finally buy an AV preamp for movies. Could I just connect the cables from the L/R FRONT pre-outs of both the ELAD and whatever AV preamp I buy together using a female/female to male connector (the male end of course going into the amplifier's input). If that didn't make any sense - let me try to explain a little better. Basically the LEFT FRONT cable from the 2 channel preamp AND the LEFT FRONT cable from the AV preamp would join together using a female/female to male connector before going into a single amplifier channel. The same thing would be repeated for the RIGHT channels. Would that mess up anything electronically or sonically? |
| I had the same dilemma!! Sort of...... | Chuck G
May 7, 2002 5:18 AM | | He could just use the P9000es as the 2 channel preamp. Of course he would need an outboard Phono Stage. If you want a good 2 channel preamp with tone controls (the P9000es has no tone controls) and a phono stage built in, check out the Cambridge Audio C500 (I think) at audioadvisor.com. You can add a good phono card to this preamp for $50. So you could get the CA c500 with phono card for about $300 or so. This by itself would not have the Home theater bypass function the P9000es has however...Here are some possible mix and match setups.
1. Use the P9000es as the 2 channel preamp $475 from oade.com (adding a outboard phono stage anywhere from the $50 radio shack battery stage, Parasound PP1 phono stage $100, or the Creek OBH-9 phono stage $200...Total of $525 to $675 depending on Phono Stage.
2. Get the P9000es and the Cambridge Audio C500 with built in phono card. Total of about $800. This would give you more flexibilty than the first choice, which only allows 2 inputs.
I pretty much use setup 1. I did try the C500 by itself (before I had the P9000es) and it was very good for 2 channel but, by itself, if you run the left and right mains thru the C500 (which you could do) from the home theater preamp, it screwed up the HT sound. I ended up with the Creek OBH-9 phono stage as well. If I could do it all again, I'd probably go route 2 as it gives you the ultimate flexibility for 2 channel (using the C500) and 6 channel audio (using the P9000es) and ties them altogether with the home theater. |
| Just another idea | StevenSurprenant
May 6, 2002 10:32 PM | | Place your new pre-amp between the output side of the Dennon and the the input side of the Aragon. (two front channels)
The downside of this is that you have to have you new preamp on when watching movies, but on the flip side, your Dennon will be off when listening to music. |
| Just another idea | Chuck G
May 7, 2002 5:22 AM | | This was what I was talking about above. IMO, this method WILL screw up your home theater sound as the left and right main signals (coming from the AV processor) are processed twice. No way around this without a unity gain feature found on the P9000es (and a few expensive 2 channel preamps as well, most in the $1500 range and over). Some people do this and are happy, but I wasn't one of them. YMMV. |
| re: How to connect an AV Pre-Amp through a 2 Channel Amp to AMP? | jjqiv
May 7, 2002 1:45 PM | | Thanks for your help. But, I need a little more clarification.
Can I safely connect the Denon's LM and RM pre-outs to a two-channel pre's inputs if I adjust the output to the minimum for those two channels without damaging the two-channel pre or is there still to much amplification from the Denon? |
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