Hot Setup? Pre/Pro for HT and 2ch

Reubent,
I've been using something like that and I think it works well. My Krell 500i has "Theater Through-put" which bypasses the integrated's volume control allowing one to adjust the volume for HT through the AV processor/pre.

My outlaw 1050 powers the center, r/l surround, rear
center, and sends a LFE signal to my sub. The outlaw is a good home theater receiver at a bargain of a price but.. sounds a little dark.

There has to be a better setup...

What about this:

I am thinking that maybe the BEST setup would be to get an Amplifier with balanced inputs & single ended inputs.
Connect a CD player with Balanced outputs to a two channel pre-amp, and then to the amplifiers balanced input.

This way the 2 channel would only utilize the 2 channel components through balanced connections.

From the HT pre/processor run single ended (RCA) line level outs directly to the amplifier for Left and Right HT.

Wouldn't this work?

IMHO there are a couple of other choices out there. In the budget realm is the Anthem AVM2. Works great for HT and sounds darn good as a stereo preamp. Has direct bypass. On the other end of the scale is the Krell HTS2. I have used them both. While they each have a different sound they are both very nice pieces.

J Thunders, I suggest skipping the AVP not because of the DAC's, and you're right, the R/L are the same in the AVP and PDSD, but the PAV is far superior handling analog than the AVP.

And Chester, I agree, got mine as a one week old demo for $4200 in silver with newest software from Linn. Killer pre/pro, it's a little light though, seems for that kind of money, it should weigh more! It's petty, I know, but....

Isn't the analog bypass essentially the same in the AVP as in the PDSD? Far superior how?