Home Cinema Poisoning my System?

Connect your av processor through the tape loop of your analog preamp if you dont have a processor loop. This will let you control volume with the processor when watching movies. If, like me, you are using low powerred tube amps for your stereo system(which are gonna become the two mains in a HT set-up) make sure to set these speakers to the position ''small'' this will send the bass to the subwoofers and free up lots of power. Unlike music, movie playback requires a great deal of power for the constantly varying SPLs, it can really tax your amp to reproduce a loud explosion. As for the center channel it is really unnecessary and highly overrated. Unless your speakers are broken and cannot image properly, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to create a 'phantom' center channel by puting the dialog in between your two speakers(most av pro have a phantom center channel option) . I have a center channel that I don't even use because when I turn it on I find the sound becomes disconnected from the two fronts and the voices sound congested. Save your money don't buy one, or if you really think you need one try it first before you buy, more and more people are changing their views about center channels and are getting rid of them. 'Nough said... I have to listen to the new Sade cd I just bought, but not before I whatch Gladiator with my wife... Happy Holidays!!!

I have a Rowland Coherence 2 pre-amp which has a bypass circuit. I have the HT processer send the output for the mains. This way the processor(Theta Casa 2)controls the volume. I disagree with the previous poster who discounted the importance of the center channel. Using it gives a much more coherent soundstage for dialogue and effects. It's true, most good processors have a "phantom center channel mode" for those systems without a center, but at least in my system it doesn't work nearly as well. You do need a good center, and some HT people recommend a separate subwoofer for it. My main amps are Rowland 9Ti's. The only shared components are the subs. I have dual REL Stentors running off the Rowland monos and I have a second input into each, running off of a Y-connector out of the processors LFE channel. Both of the systems sound great. Next, of course, is taming the room, but that's a whole other issue. David

re: center-channel - newform research sez their speakers eliminate the need for a center-channel speaker in h-t. anyone try 'em in this configuration? if it's true, then they should be decent for 2-channel stereo... ;~)

I think that everyone has covered the solution pretty well. I just wanted to say that I feel the perfect system for music is also the perfect system for home theater. I like the natural charcteristics of my stereo in the home theater. Bloated base may make explosions sound bigger but it also makes everything else sound worse. That said I think you are not skimping on your audio system you are using your money wisely and getting two uses for the price of one. When you are set up you will have a system that sounds so much better then the best of theaters. Enjoy.

Some speakers may lend better than others to providing a good match for vertical placement as center channel. I use an Audio research LS10 ss/pre w/Music Reference tube amp on (now defunct flagship) Soundwaves-(4.5)Point source spkrs by Vero research Inc.-for mains. Alongside Vandesteen 2wq's subs. Theatre is patched into LS10 via a Sonic Frontiers; Anthem AVM2 pre/procc. w/Anthem AVC3 amp powering diolog center & (2.5)-floor standing rears. Sony DVP9000es dvd may replace Audio Refinement cd & tuner. All in all the center is weakest link w/overall integration & synergy its strengths. May add 1-more rear 2wq for theatre bass. All Straightwire Crescendo/Seranade Interconncts & Blacsilc spkrcable. Until I have a home w/more rooms, this is it.