My HT Bypass set up
Erik Tracy
Posts: 4,673
I thought I'd share my HT Bypass setup that I've got configured in my rig for both Home Theater and 2 Channel Listening.
This first diagram shows my overall system and how everything is connected up.
The second diagram shows how my system works when I'm watching movies in HT mode. My AVR has all of the bass management configuration. The Integrated Amp is set for the HT Direct input - and the preamp is disabled and the A5 functions as a power amp only. The preouts to the sub shut off, and the sub only gets the sub-out signal from the AVR. I can watch movies with all that 'scary LFE' effects thru the sub and not worry about strain to my mains.
The third diagram shows how my system works when I'm listening in 2-channel mode only. I leave my AVR off, so nothing comes out to the LFE input on the sub. And my source components all connect into the A5 Integrated. The preouts are active and feed the sub. The sub's xover controls the 'bass management'. There is no 'scary LFE' with music and my fronts get the full audio spectrum (just like in the old days before subs and bass management).
The cool thing is I don't have to plug and unplug cables to the sub. And, I get much better SQ from my source components connected directly to my Integrated with the better preamp than my AVR.
This first diagram shows my overall system and how everything is connected up.
The second diagram shows how my system works when I'm watching movies in HT mode. My AVR has all of the bass management configuration. The Integrated Amp is set for the HT Direct input - and the preamp is disabled and the A5 functions as a power amp only. The preouts to the sub shut off, and the sub only gets the sub-out signal from the AVR. I can watch movies with all that 'scary LFE' effects thru the sub and not worry about strain to my mains.
The third diagram shows how my system works when I'm listening in 2-channel mode only. I leave my AVR off, so nothing comes out to the LFE input on the sub. And my source components all connect into the A5 Integrated. The preouts are active and feed the sub. The sub's xover controls the 'bass management'. There is no 'scary LFE' with music and my fronts get the full audio spectrum (just like in the old days before subs and bass management).
The cool thing is I don't have to plug and unplug cables to the sub. And, I get much better SQ from my source components connected directly to my Integrated with the better preamp than my AVR.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
Post edited by Erik Tracy on
Comments
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Very nice!"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Very nice!
Thanks.
Ever since I read about HT Bypass, I was confused on how that worked.
Pictures helped...
It is a really cool feature for a hybrid system setup for HT & Music.
Thought I'd share.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Nice!!!!
Your sysytem has come a long way. -
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Great diagrams. Very helpful to those who aren't sure how it works.
I've been digging my Bypass setup very much. It's a Godsend for those of us who's rigs have to pull double duty. -
Nice, I do the same thing with my pre amp and power amp from my 2 channel inputs... I just do anything with the sub for the 2 channel music.
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
Nice work!
This should be sticked as some kind of template or something in case others have questions on this sort of thing i.e. one system pulling double duty+ht bypass/etc.
Btw, I want your speakers, sub and speaker cables
-FreddyTruck setup
Alpine 9856
Phoenix Gold RSD65CS
For Sale
Polk SR6500
Polk SR5250
Polk SR104Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec. -
Nice work!
This should be sticked as some kind of template or something in case others have questions on this sort of thing i.e. one system pulling double duty+ht bypass/etc.
Btw, I want your speakers, sub and speaker cables
-Freddy
Hustle on over to Audiogon - there is a set of B&W CDM 1NTs with a CDM center - all for a very fair price.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Very nice rig! Enjoy the music.
Really nice diagrams also!
Did you use a particular software to produce the diagrams? Visio maybe?Parasound C1, T3, HCA-3500, HCA-2205A, P/DD1550, Pioneer DV-79avi, Oppo BDP-83, WD Media Server W/HDD,
Dynaudio Contour 3.3, Dynaudio Contour T2.1, Polk OWM3, Polk DSW micropro 1000 (x2),
Pioneer Kuro 50" Plasma, Phillips Pronto Control w/Niles HT-MSU. -
Very nice rig! Enjoy the music.
Really nice diagrams also!
Did you use a particular software to produce the diagrams? Visio maybe?
Powerpoint. Exported as a jpg then cropped down.
I can use both visio & pp, but like Dilbert - I like Powerpoint.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Okie Dokie. Makes for great reference, want to do something similar once all pieces are in place here.Parasound C1, T3, HCA-3500, HCA-2205A, P/DD1550, Pioneer DV-79avi, Oppo BDP-83, WD Media Server W/HDD,
Dynaudio Contour 3.3, Dynaudio Contour T2.1, Polk OWM3, Polk DSW micropro 1000 (x2),
Pioneer Kuro 50" Plasma, Phillips Pronto Control w/Niles HT-MSU. -
Erik, great pictures. Question: I was under the impression that the connections can only be either pre-outs or the speaker connections. the fact that the pre-outs and the speakers are active is that a "feature" of the music fidelity or is this a function of any avr?Current HT setup
Mains: B&W 804s
Center: Polk CSi5
Surround: Polk FXi3
Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
TV: Sony KDS60A2020
DBP: Sony DBP-S350
CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire -
Erik, great pictures. Question: I was under the impression that the connections can only be either pre-outs or the speaker connections. the fact that the pre-outs and the speakers are active is that a "feature" of the music fidelity or is this a function of any avr?
Depends.
My Yamaha AVR manual says NOT to have speakers connected and the preouts at the same time.
The Musical Fidelity A5 - and most other preamps or integrated amps that have preouts - these are active at the same time as the speaker connections (except when the HT Direct input is selected - which bypasses the preamp section internally to the A5 and the A5 is nothing more than an amp - the "pre(amp)"-outs shut off.)
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Thanks Erik. nice to know.Current HT setup
Mains: B&W 804s
Center: Polk CSi5
Surround: Polk FXi3
Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
TV: Sony KDS60A2020
DBP: Sony DBP-S350
CDP: Pioneer DV-48AV
Interconnect cables: SignalCable analog II
speaker cables: SignalCable Ultra Speaker Cables Bi-wire -
Erik Tracy wrote: »Depends.
My Yamaha AVR manual says NOT to have speakers connected and the preouts at the same time.
So I'm confused Eric. Don't you have the pre-outs and speakers connected at the same time on your Yamaha AVR?The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young -
So I'm confused Eric. Don't you have the pre-outs and speakers connected at the same time on your Yamaha AVR?
Yes - but only the center and surrounds. The Fronts at the AVR are only connected by the preouts to the Integrated Amp.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
This is great. I was always confused by HT bypass which I am very interested in. This definitely clears things up!
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I run a very similar set up connection wise. However I do not use a sub for my two channel listening because I figure having two sources connected to a sub would create bad JuJu. I also did not realize that Musical Fidelity shut off the pre-outs when the HT-Bypass source was selected. I may try it although I do not really need a sub for my 2 channel listening.
ScottI like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D -
Nice setup and diagram. I like the fact that the pre outs on the MF are disabled when in HT bypass mode. I'm running an MF A5 pre amp for my 2 channel. I wish I had the option to run my subs in 2 channel like the A5 int. BTW what remote are you using for this setup?
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Nice pictures,
I've been passing along the 'good word' to many users for years, sometimes I think my message was never understood. To those who have AVR's and insist on buying a power amplifier please look at the above example. You'll be THAT much further ahead. -
Nice setup and diagram. I like the fact that the pre outs on the MF are disabled when in HT bypass mode. I'm running an MF A5 pre amp for my 2 channel. I wish I had the option to run my subs in 2 channel like the A5 int. BTW what remote are you using for this setup?
The A5 has a remote so I use that when listening 2-channel mode.
Otherwise, its the AVR remote.
H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music. -
Erik,
Get yourself a Harmony remote and put all those other remotes away. I use the Harmony One.
ScottI like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D -
^^^^^Yes
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Sweet!Linn AV5140 fronts
Linn AV5120 Center
Linn AV5140 Rears
M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
Odyssey Mono-Blocs
SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D -
I just looked on the back of my sub (SVS 20 39 PC+) and it only has 1 set of RCA inputs and no LFE input. So I guess I will continue listening to my 2 Channel with out a sub.
ScottI like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
