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How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1?

24.6.17.251

Hello,

Not a new member here, but have been away for awhile and had to re-register.
Thanks for your attention!

I�d like to keep my strictly 2-channel rig to drive only my front mains, and buy a 5.1 receiver to drive only the center, subwoofer, and 2 rear channels only when watching movies.

Can this be done? Should I be looking for an older surround receiver? I don�t have a clue frankly.

My system consists of: Wright WLA-12A tube preamp, Smart systems hybrid stereo amp, Panasonic DMP-BD60 blu-ray player (has analog audio out L+R, not 7.1, one HDMI), Panasonic plasma TH-50PX600U (two HDMI), BG Radia speakers� fronts, center, rear, and ACI Force subwoofer. Subwoofer is currently hooked up to one of the Wright�s preamp outputs.

Follow Ups:

RE: How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1? - blue_z 15:19:17 12/28/13 (3)
You could use the existing 2-channel rig as the front L&R of the full HT setup. Use either a pre-pro or 5.1 AV receiver (but the receiver must have preamp outputs for the front channels; low-end receivers do omit these outputs to save some pennies). You'll need to allocate a stereo input on the Wright preamp for the HT front L&R channels.

Since the subwoofer is part of the 2-channel rig, you need to make sure that the pre-pro or AV receiver has flexible bass management, and you can direct all bass and LFE to the front L&R channels.

If everyone will be sitting close to the sweet-spot, then you might not need a center-channel speaker. Assuming that your stereo rig can produce proper imaging, you can use the L&R front speakers as a "phantom center". That reduces one less integration issue: speaker matching.

Regards
- RE: How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1? - ^Shrike 12:15:34 12/30/13 (2)
  "You'll need to allocate a stereo input on the Wright preamp for the HT front L&R channels."
  
  I'm not clear on preamp inputs? I would have thought that I'd use one of the outputs from my preamp?
  - RE: How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1? - blue_z 18:17:14 12/30/13 (1)
    > I would have thought that I'd use one of the outputs from my preamp?
    Not if you want to keep the 2-channel system intact.
    My HT system is a superset of the 2-channel system.
    The line-level audio connections are:
```
  
                         pre-pro   
 5.1 audio source  -->      or        --Lf-->    preamp_L_in  -->   L pwr amp 
                         AV recvr    --Rf-->    preamp_R_in  -->   R pwr amp 
                                     --Ctr-->        not used  
                                     --Lr-->         rear power amp 
                                     --Rr-->         rear power amp 
                                     --LFE-->        subwoofer amp  
  
```
    Regards
    Edits: 12/30/13
    - RE: How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1? - ^Shrike 07:57:15 12/31/13 (0)
      Thanks for the clarification! I'm actually starting to get it, lol.
RE: How to incorporate 2-channel system into 5.1? - grantv 12:06:57 12/24/13 (0)
For how often I use the HT portion in my room I simply unplug the 2CH and plug in the HT (IC from HT pre front channels or DAC only channels to Xover). 30 seconds max and my HT has no way of interfering with what's most important to me.

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