2 channel processors vs. HT receivers?

Just did this once and now have to do it all over again because I forgot to put a title on it.

Short and sweet: I just heard Veritas 2.4s playing through Parasound equipment which included an $800 2 channel processor. The sound was awesome. My feeling is that the 2 channel processor was the primary reason this set up sounded so good.

My question is: How can I use my M60s to play as mains in my HT, but also play as L and R channels in a separate 2 channel set up without disconnecting and reconnecting the speakers every time I switch sources? Can it be done?

What do you currently use as a processor?

I have my M60's hooked up to a Rotel RSP-1066 processor and a Rotel 1075 5 channel amp. It's as easy as selecting "2 Channel Stereo" on my 1066 processor if I want to hear 2 channel audio.

When I want to hear 5.1, I throw in a dvd, and the processor automatically switches to DTS, Dolby Digital, etc, and then puts out 5.1

fyi...those Veritas 2.4's will sound good regardless, because they're simply great speakers!

Yes Mark, as Craig mentioned you can simply select the stereo mode on your 2802 and the sound will go to your M60s alone(or sub too, if you want).

I think the original that I wrote and accidently deleted would have explained my question better. I currently have a Denon 2802 receiver which I really like. I usually listen to music in the "direct" mode rather than "stereo" because it sounds a little cleaner.

But how to switch my receiver from stereo to Dolby Digital, was not my question. I remember reading a post from a guy either here in the Axiom forum or on AVS forum, who complained that every 5.1 receiver he tried, HK and Denon included, didn't play simple 2 channel stereo well. I dismissed that, but after today I'm not so sure.

A few weeks ago I heard those Vienna Acoustics Beethovens ($4500 each) powered by a Denon receiver. What struck me was how similar that set up sounded to mine. What I heard today was much cleaner than either my system or the one with the Beethovens. I believe what I was hearing was very transparent speakers (like my Axioms, like the Beethovens) display the characteristic sound of their source. In the case of the Parasound separates, a very clean source.

If I hook my M60s up to a 2 channel processor like the one I heard today (with outboard amps) my M60s will no longer be hooked up to my Denon for HT. I lose my HT, and have to buy some M22s to replace the M60s. Or, and this was my question, is there some way to utilize the M60s in both setups without having to disconnect and reconnect the speakers everytime I want to switch sources? Like an A/B switch for speakers but used to switch sources instead.

That Parasound separates setup should sound better than a Denon 2802. If you really want the best sound possible for both 5.1 and 2 (2.1) why not buy separates such as the Rotel gear I use. You'll get the 5.1 you want, but won't suffer any quality degradation when you listen to 2 (2.1)

Where do you live? You're more than welcome to come by my place and hear my M60's through my Rotel gear. If you want, you can even bring your Denon and we could listen to both.

This was posted bt Curt Wishman of IRD on audiocircle.com in the IRD forum-

"Many people use their 2CH system and their HT receiver system together. The 2CH system becomes the front L&R channels in the HT. The HT receivers amplifiers provide the center and Rear L&R surround channels. This way you can get the best of both worlds.

The HT receivers front L&R preamp outputs are feed to the 2CH systems preamp and given a gain of x1 (OdB) either by using a HT pass-through input or standard input and setting the 2CH preamps gain to 0dB. Not the HT receiver controls the HT volume.

The HT receivers front L&R preamp outputs are feed to the 2CH systems preamp and given a gain of x1 (OdB) either by using a HT pass-through input or standard input and setting the 2CH preamps gain to 0dB. Not the HT receiver controls the HT volume." link

I believe the 2802 has preamp outputs so this should work for you.

Hope this helps. Dave

But wouldn't that still be "filtering" things through the HT system? I mean, the more layers in the mix, the more chance for loss, innit? I'd just go for high quality separates, if you're concerned about it. I'd say definitely try it out before going out and spending a fortune on them, though.

Yeah, Wishman's suggestion sounds to me like passing the signal through a totally "unnecessary" layer of additional electronics.

In reply to:
Short and sweet: I just heard Veritas 2.4s playing through Parasound equipment which included an $800 2 channel processor. The sound was awesome. My feeling is that the 2 channel processor was the primary reason this set up sounded so good.

BigWill, so what exactly is that "2-channel processor" supposed to do? Anything unusual?

I'm guessing here, as I'm not an electronics expert, that the surround circuitry in the HT receivers negatively impacts the recievers ability to play clean 2 channel stereo.After reading the link provided above, it appears others think the same thing.
I suppose it could also be that I just liked the sound of the Parasound processing equipment better than that of Denon. Maybe their 5.1 processors would do simple stereo just as well as their 2 channel processor does?

Your theory makes sense. Why else would many HT receiver makers offer the "Direct" option that bypasses all circuitry extraneous to a stereo signal?

On the other hand, passing it through a tape output would take out the processing part that it would go through on the pre-outs. But it would still be an extra layer of wires (or whatever).

I use the tape outs to pass unprocessed sound to my TV speakers (for casual watching, mind you, not movies)

The true "Direct" mode should bypass all A/D and D/A converters and associated circuits in the receiver, so that it works like a good'n'old pure-analog integrated amp. But many of today's AV receivers don't do that anymore. For example, my Elite 45TX leaves the bass management (done in the digital domain) engaged even in the Direct mode. So, my take is, the availability of the "Direct" mode is often for the marketing purposes only.

Back to BigWill's experience, my first guess would be that the remarkable difference in sound quality was mostly due to difference in room acoustics and speaker placement. Or was it heard under identical conditions with respect to the room and placement?

No scientific listening conditions. The room appeared to be heavily dampened with sound absorbing material and it was smaller than both my family room and the listening room at Tweeter's where I heard the Viennas.

I looked up Parasound gear on the web and found the model # - P3 with an A23 amp. MSRP was $800/900 respectively. Saw the P3 for as low as $600 plus shipping on the web. Their multi channel preamps are definitely out of the question $4000-$6000.

So it sounds like I would need to add some M22s or M80s into my family room in order to have two separate systems. Don't know if the wife will let me get away with that one.

In reply to:
I looked up Parasound gear on the web and found the model # - P3 with an A23 amp. MSRP was $800/900 respectively. Saw the P3 for as low as $600 plus shipping on the web. Their multi channel preamps are definitely out of the question $4000-$6000.

Those Parasound Halo amps look astounding. I found some on audiogon for about 10-20% off the retail price and the units were not that old (less than a couple of months). However, they sold rather quickly. Perhaps something to drive a future system with...

There...did it.

(pmbuko will understand!) LOL!

I understand only too well.

In reply to:
There...did it. (pmbuko will understand!) LOL!

TELL US TELL US!!!! Suspense is evil!!

Hi Sushi
I think the direct mode is best suited for DVD Audio and SACD. There are many 2 channel SACD recordings as well as multichannel offerings.

Will, "it" is being on top of all 5 boards simultaneously. Craig, Peter, Ken and a few others have achieved this distinction. The prize is a lifetime free subscription to the Axiom Newsletter.

In reply to:
Will, "it" is being on top of all 5 boards simultaneously. Craig, Peter, Ken and a few others have achieved this distinction. The prize is a lifetime free subscription to the Axiom Newsletter.

Ahh, cool enough. Heh - kidding though right? Because the newsletter's free.

I thought the newsletter was free though - hmm; or is there another newsletter besides the email one?

Too much brain activity on a Saturday morning

.

I did that once. It's kinda easy when you're the only one working at 4:30 am!

Indeed.

I will have that pleasure - one day.