I have a 2 channel amp that I would like to use in addition to my current AVR (has preamp input capability). I would like to have the option of running the 2 channel amp to the L/R channels when listening to music in stereo/2.1 mode, and have the flexibility of driving the center channel with the amp in bridged mode with 5.1 audio and movies (L/R would then be driven by AVR).

I'm not sure if this is doable, or if there is a specific product out there which can do this?

Thanks!

You may be stuck rearranging your speaker cables for that option.
Most Amps. with that ability have the 2 connections then the middle of the 2 for the briged. but if you have banana plugs should be easy.

I remember seeing a really clever trick for getting different behaviour between 2.0 and 5.1 back when RCA plugs/jacks were used for carrying signal between DVD/BR and AVR... will try to remember what it was.

Then again all that is probably gone now that everything goes through HDMI...

I guess something like a reverse-speaker selector?

I don’t follow the reasoning....why not power the center from the avr at all times?

There's a lot of content (sometimes) on center channel, more than even the mains (at least more than an individual main). Not sure it justifies using the outboard amp for center rather than pair of mains but interesting idea.

I'm pretty confident that center content can be louder than either main enough to be worth considering, but less sure that center content will be louder than *both* mains together. Something worth investigating.