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First World Problem in need of Solution

My problem is that I would like to upgrade my system to a 5.1 system however I am worried about matching sound to what I currently have. 

Gear
AMPs Luxman M-900u run as mono blocks
PreAmp Luxman C-900u
Subs - SVS SB4000 - these are run via XLR from PreAmp to Sub so listening is speaker A+B
DAC PS Audio Directstream 
Fronts Focal Sopra N 3 
Rears Focal Sopra N 1 
Center Focal Sopra center

Possible Solutions 
1)
Buy a HT Processor and run rear and center out of it and use the HT Passthru on the Luxman Preamp. 
Concern
Sound is going to sound different from the rears and center than the front left and right
Thoughts: This seems like the best solution because my 2 channel listening will not be compromised

2) 
Buy a HT Processor and run rears and sub out of it. Convert the mono blocks into a normal 2 channel amp and run the center speaker into a dedicated amp. Or I could run front and rears off of the mono blocks and the center off of the the HT Processor 
Concern Potentially losing the subs in 2 channel listening. Center sounding off. The N. 3 only have one amp drive them
Thoughts: This just seems like a nightmare

3)
Sell all my gear and replace with another brand that also has HT lineup so I could accomplish all of my goals
Concern: 2 Channel Listening is going to be compromised
Thoughts: Maybe the best option? 

4) 
Scrap the 5.2 and go to a 3.1 setup. Run an optical out from the TV to the DAC. Run the monoblocks as regular amps. 
Concern: 2 Channel listening compromised, NO BASS! Unless I could run them out of the DAC? Maybe
Thoughts: UUGGGGHHH

Can some of you who have more experience weigh in on which way you would go or which option seems "best to you".

Also any suggestions for HT processor would be helpful. 

Thanks  in advance 

G
atownkeep
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d2girls
641 posts
 
My advice is build your home theatre in another room and get a couple of Jbl m2 and half a dozen subwoofers and some Jbl 1400 as sides and rears 
auxinput
1,538 posts
 
Sorry, nekoaudio, but I disagree here.  A large power supply in the amp is very important, yes, but the sonic signature and how it reacts to signal/load is another important factor.  I have worked with several different amps (Bryston is one of them) and when you combine a very fast/clean amp like Bryston with a very warm/full amp such as Luxman/Parasound, what happens is an imbalance in sound and impact.  In that case, while the Bryston is a very high resolution amp, it will just not keep up with the Luxman/Parasound in volume/body/impact.  I have tested and experienced this personally.  The Bryston does have it place, but also in this case, I think it would be a very bad pairing with Focal speakers.  The Bryston would excel with a very warm preamp (such as Marantz) and paired with warmer type speakers (NOT Focal).  In my situation, the Bryston could not even keep up with my Emotiva XPR-1 amps, and I was testing the big 7b3 600 watt monoblocks.  I probably could have gotten the Bryston to work, but I did not want to re-work all my cabling back to gold-plated connectors and such.  The Brystons were powering left/right and the Emotiva was powering the center -- and the difference was very obvious.


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The Focals are very fast and clean speakers.  If you pair them with a high resolution amp such as Classe, the sound is not bad, but it is very apparent that the bass/midbass are somewhat thin and hollow sounding.  This pushes the emphasis to the high frequencies, which makes the speaker sound somewhat bright (bordering on harsh).  Pairing Focal with Bryston would create a very thin/bright sound with no body and impact.  The Focal definitely needs a very warm full amp because the speaker is such a fast responding speaker.
wakethetown
38 posts
 
How do you like the Focal Sopra center? I have the No. 1’s in my dual audio/HT set-up. Thanks. 
atownkeep OP
19 posts
 
So the rabbit hole continues to grow:

Based on others opinions I was looking at the Parasound equipment and they have a 3 channel amp as well as a 7.1 preamp. However it does not have ARC or HDMI. Here is a link to the back of the unit. 
http://www.parasound.com/p7.php

So it looks like I would still need an additional preamp to marry to the two Parasound pieces. 

I think the Marantz may be the best bet however I have not been super stoked with their products in the past. Maybe the Rotel RAP 1580?

2) I love the Focal speakers, they hit my ear very well, they look great and fit my room well. The only speaker I have liked more is the CLX Art but they wouldn't work in my space. 


auxinput
1,538 posts
 
The Parasound P7 is not really a true HT Processor.  It's a 7 channel analog preamp.

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For HT Processor, I would recommend getting the highest resolution processor possible, depending on your budget.  If 4K is a requirement, maybe Krell Foundation 4K UHD.  If you don't need 4K, then maybe Krell S1200U or Classe SSP-800. 

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The Rotel RAP-1580 is like a HT AVR Receiver and it's probably a very good product.  But it is higher resolution and faster.  It may not be the best match for your Focal speakers, and would definitely sound different than the Luxman amps for left/right.  The Parasound A31 (or JC1 + A21 combo) would sound closer to the Luxman than the Rotel would.
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