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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
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.
geek101
284 posts
 
@atownkeep I do not understand the concern about option 1 you have.

When you say "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" what you mean by "Sound is going to sound different?." 

Different compared to?. Don't you have room correction?. It should adjust the right / left SPL level due to the gain applied by your Luxman AMP?. Won't it?, apply HT bypass and calibrate then you are good.

Won't this work?.

atownkeep OP
19 posts
 
I do not have room correction at this time despite several people telling me to download Dirac. 

My concern is that if I put a Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz HT Integrated to power center and rears the sound produced by it will sound different than the the left and right speakers being powered via Luxman. 

Or if I went with separates with HT preamp and a 3 channel amp that again the sound would be different. 

I could be way off base and it may be fine. 

At this time I am thinking that buying two more M-900u one for the center and 1 for the back and pairing it with a Krell HT preamp may be the best way to go. However that is another 30k and I do not really want to drop that amount of coin for just HT. 30k buys a lot of trips to movie theater!

Or I am going to go 2.2 HT and just keep on rolling.  
geek101
284 posts
 
Doesn’t your avr have distance or SPL setting per speaker ?. You could use that to compensate. I think at a crude level this is what room correction will automatically calibrate for you among other things perhaps.
ricred1
1,412 posts
 
atownkeep,

My Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amp drives my Monitor Audio PL500 II front speakers. My ATI AT523NC 3-channel amp drives my center and rears. I'm not doing "critical listening", so when I watch television or a movie I don't notice a significant difference. When I'm listening to music(2-channel) my ATI amp and AV preamp are turned off.
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