Best Pre/Pro for 2 channel

You can do a search here on the 'Gon for "HT bypass or Theater bypass," and probably come up with quite a bit of reading on 2 channel preamps with bypass. To name few off the top of my head...Audio research, Adcom, and Parasound.

But.....it isnt a must to have theater bypass. You can use any input on your preamp. The bypass is just convenient. Using a "non-bypassed" preamp will mean you have to adjust both volume controls.

You can even keep your Creek. For example, without touching the wiring on your current setup, using a HT Receiver with preouts---connect the front L/R preouts from the Receiver to an input of your Creek---connect the center and surrounds normally to the Receivers internal amplifier---connect your DVD to receiver.

During HT playback your Creek will only perform the duties of front left and right amplifier. The Receiver does all the rest. Decoding and passing the HT signal and amplifying the center and surrounds. You simply adjust the volume on the Creek to obtain "unity gain." Usually this means turing it up to approximately "half way." Once the Creek's volume is in "unity" you use the volume on the receiver.

What if my DVD player is my source for 2 channel as well? It looks as if I would have to go with separate sources in that type of setup. Or am I off base.

Excellent question but not a problem. Run the "digital out" from the DVD to the Receiver and the "analog outs" to the Creek, presumably as they are now.

Dolby Digital and DTS are transferred from the DVD player to the decoder (which is integrated into the Receiver) via a single digital cable. Usually a RCA type connector, but some use an optical type as well. If you decide on this interim solution, make sure the Receiver selected can accept your DVDs available output. Most Receivers and DVDs can accept/output both but not all.

The Receiver will decode that digital signal from the DVD and pass the front L/R, via the preouts, on to the Creek and simultaneously feed its (receivers) internal amplifier with the center and surrounds.

This setup is very acceptable if your goal is good 2 channel sound. As a matter of fact, your 2 channel sound will NOT be compromised in any way.

I would like to stress that I am not recomending this setup over another. It is simply an alternative. Especially taking into consideration your priority (2 channel), that you presumably like your current sound, and only need to add HT.

Conversely, you can get very good 2 channel sound from an HT processor but it will cost....Money, system flexibility, and increased complexity. Not just the processor, but also an amplifier/s, powercords all around, a wad of interconnects, etc., etc. Just some things to ponder as you decide the future of your system. If you're like me, its no worries, I love this stuff.

Thanks. I think I will try that for the time being until I can afford the components that can top my Creek.

I really appreciate the help.