Better 2-channel music

Elevick,
I can't agree more. I've been thinking of moving from a receiver to a pre/pro. In this case from SR7007 to AV8801, (not AV8802), and use the price difference to buy the Cambridge Azur 851C, CD player, DAC and stereo preamp. I don't have a sound proof movie theatre, and moving into Dolby Atmos involves replacing and adding 6-8 speakers with cutting hole and wiring in wall. My question to you is that how to connect the Oppo, Cambridge, Marantz, and power amps so I don't have to use some types of switch. T
Thank you elevick.

Zd542, I heard you, and thank you.
My question to you is that people talking about using decent stereo preamp and HT surround pre/pro bypass. How can it be done if I have the Oppo 103, Cambridge 851C CD player, DAC and stereo preamp and a set of Emotiva amps then speakers.
I really need help!

Sorry. I didn't realize that was what you were asking. Its not complicated if you think about it. Just visualize the flow of the signal through the different components.

For stereo, start with the 851C CD player. The signal starts there and goes to the 2 channel preamp, and then to the amp that powers your front L and R speakers. Its a traditional 2 channel setup.

For Theater, start with the Oppo. The signal from the Oppo goes to the HT processor. What's different here is that you can't send signal from your processor to the amp that powers your left and right front speakers because your 2 channel preamp is already connected to it. Instead, you take the signal what would normally go to that amp and you plug the IC's into the the HT bypass input on the 2 channel preamp. Doing it this way allows the 2 preamps to "share" the same poweramp. When you want to listen to music, you just select any input on your 2 channel preamp that has a source connected to it. When you want to watch a movie, you select the HT bypass input in the 2 channel preamp, and that allows the signal from the processor to pass through the 2 channel preamp and on to the amp. Its really just a switch that allows 2 preamps to use the same amp.

Also, you don't have to use one of your sources with just 1 of the preamps. You can connect them to both. An example would be that you would like to connect your Oppo to your theater preamp to play movies and your 2 channel stereo preamp to play SACD's. You would simply run cables from your Oppo to a input on the HT processor for movies, and run cables from the Oppo to an input on the 2 channel pre for music. You can connect all of your sources like this, that way everything will be shared and you won't have to compromise anything. You'll be able to use every feature on every product you have.

That's what I need to know before ordering the Cambridge Audio Azur 851C. Thank you Zd542.

Sorry I made you pull teeth to get it.