2 channel system

bolelet1

After listening to my HT both for music and movies, I now decided to set up a 2 channel system strictly for audio. My question is: Can I use the same set of speakers that I have right now (RTi10) for this 2 channel system. I cannot figure out how to do this since what I have is a denon 1082 for my HT and I know I need to get an integrated amp (NAD320 or 370) to power my 2 channel system. How do I set this up? Is there some kind of switch or source selector that I can use to choose between HT and 2 channel. Please help! Thanks. Sonny

EDUBAG

i have a niles amp selector that does the job well. i use my rtia7 for both music and ht using the pio elite for ht and the rotel for music.

will eventually completelly separate both systems but so far it works pretty well

Systems

Get yourself a Niles A/B amp..speaker switch they sell for about 90 bucks ..i got mine from J&R's..check them out they are on the web.Works great!..Model #DPS-1.

Erik Tracy

bolelet1 wrote: »

After listening to my HT both for music and movies, I now decided to set up a 2 channel system strictly for audio. My question is: Can I use the same set of speakers that I have right now (RTi10) for this 2 channel system. I cannot figure out how to do this since what I have is a denon 1082 for my HT and I know I need to get an integrated amp (NAD320 or 370) to power my 2 channel system. How do I set this up? Is there some kind of switch or source selector that I can use to choose between HT and 2 channel. Please help! Thanks. Sonny

Yes - you can put together a 'hybrid' system for both HT and 2-channel.

The most elegant way to do this is to get an integrated amp with a feature called "HT direct" or "HT Bypass".

Your DVD or bluray player would connect normally to your AVR as would your subwoofer, center, and any surround speakers.

But you would then connect the AVR front left and right speaker pre-outs to the integrated amp inputs for "HT".

Your Front left and right speakers would be wired to the integrated amp.

Any 2-channel source components, like a turntable, CD player, or even the 2-channel outputs from your Bluray player would connect directly to the integrated amp.

If you want to watch movies- turn on the integrated amp and select the "HT" input - turn on the AVR and use the AVR remote to control the volume for all channels as usual.

If you want to listen to music, turn off your AVR, and just use the Integrated amp 'old school' for input selection and volume.

You can even go to separates for preamp and poweramp as long as the preamp has the HT Bypass/Direct feature.

I do this and enjoy the flexibility.

bolelet1

Thanks for the quick replies. I will follow through with ht direct/by-pass. However, it would seem that the integrated amp I mentioned (NAD) doesn't have this ht direct/by-pass switch. So I guess, in addition to the NAD, I will still need the niles a/b speaker switch if I cannot find an integrated amp with the HT direct/by-pass switch. Is this correct?

Erik Tracy

bolelet1 wrote: »

Thanks for the quick replies. I will follow through with ht direct/by-pass. However, it would seem that the integrated amp I mentioned (NAD) doesn't have this ht direct/by-pass switch. So I guess, in addition to the NAD, I will still need the niles a/b speaker switch if I cannot find an integrated amp with the HT direct/by-pass switch. Is this correct?

There are several integrated amps that have HT Bypass - what is your budget and do you mind buying used - lots of good deals are out there.

bolelet1

$200 - 300 but can go a little bit higher if it is really a good integrated amp with ht bypass. The reason I prefer NAD is my brother recently bought a NAD320B???? and hooked it up to my RTi10 and I was really amazed because that was the only time I heard my RTi10 sounded I think to its fullest potential. If you know of any brand within my range, please let me know. Thanks! Sonny

soundfreak1

If your avr has a " zone" 2 simply connect you 2 ch. Amp there and your avr will do the switching for you. If you want other speakers you can do that too. The niles or I used a adcom gfs 3 ( same thing) will not be needed if you use zone 2. And seperate speakers . I recomend seporate speakers for 2 ch. Due to most HT speakers don't have much base freq. And are made to be used with a sub. Ive done this and it worked perfect. Much better sound than trying to make HT speakers do both.

Erik Tracy

soundfreak1 wrote: »

If your avr has a " zone" 2 simply connect you 2 ch. Amp there and your avr will do the switching for you. If you want other speakers you can do that too. The niles or I used a adcom gfs 3 ( same thing) will not be needed if you use zone 2. And seperate speakers . I recomend seporate speakers for 2 ch. Due to most HT speakers don't have much base freq. And are made to be used with a sub. Ive done this and it worked perfect. Much better sound than trying to make HT speakers do both.

A novel approach for a hybrid rig.

My reservations would be that you are now using 2 sets of speakers - not many folks would have a front stage big enough to accomodate dedicated L/R speakers for both HT and 2-channel. And if the 2-channel speakers are in a different room - may as well take a phased upgrade approach and build 2 separate systems. But I don't think that is what the OP had in mind - rather trying to 'downsize' and create a single hybrid setup.

The other is you would still be using the AVR as a preamp. Just my opinion, but an AVR just won't get you to that next 'level' for 2-channel listening.

You can hook up a separate integrated amp w/o the specific HT Bypass feature by connecting the AVR Front L/R preouts to one set of line level inputs on the integrated.

However, it would mean you need to be careful of the volume setting of the integrated when you switch to the inputs the AVR is connected to.

You would need to pick and set a specific volume setting on the integrated, run the auto-calibration routine on the AVR to set the speaker level settings - then anytime you switch the integrated to watch movies - you need to set the integrated volume control back to that volume setting.

So, the OP can use the NAD he is interested in - but there are ramifications if he has a subwoofer and wants to use that for 2-channel as well.

bolelet1

Thanks for your input. However, I am not very keen on making sure the volume is at its right setting everytime I switch for HT to 2 channel. My AVR do have a zone 2 but from what I heard when I hooked up my brother's NAD integrated amp to my RTi10, it simply was amazing how these set of speakers can belt out a clear (not bright) sound with above average bass. Although, I am planning on adding a separate set of speakers dedicated to 2 channel that way I won't have to buy a Niles amp selector. I am looking for the LSi series which I believed is 4 ohms!!! Would it make a difference if my HT is 8 ohms and my 2 channel is 4 ohms? Again, thank you for all your help. Sonny

Erik Tracy

bolelet1 wrote: »

Thanks for your input. However, I am not very keen on making sure the volume is at its right setting everytime I switch for HT to 2 channel. My AVR do have a zone 2 but from what I heard when I hooked up my brother's NAD integrated amp to my RTi10, it simply was amazing how these set of speakers can belt out a clear (not bright) sound with above average bass. Although, I am planning on adding a separate set of speakers dedicated to 2 channel that way I won't have to buy a Niles amp selector. I am looking for the LSi series which I believed is 4 ohms!!! Would it make a difference if my HT is 8 ohms and my 2 channel is 4 ohms? Again, thank you for all your help. Sonny

If you are planning to get another set of speakers for 2-channel audio and connect them to a separate NAD integrated amp it won't make any difference if your HT is 8-ohm and your 2-channel is 4-ohm - as long as the NAD is rated to deliver 4-ohm connections since you are building separate systems.

But from your original post I thought you wanted to use a single set of RTi10s for both HT and 2-channel?

bolelet1

Yes, that was my original plan, to build a 2 channel system + HT using the same set of speakers (RTi10). But after reading some of the posts about this matter, it looks like my RTi10 is not really meant for 2 channel system that is why I'm having second thought about it. I'm really confused as to how to proceed. But one thing is certain, I'm getting a NAD intergrated amp and more than likely a Niles amp selector. I guess the best thing is to really listen to my RTi10 on a 2 channel system and decide later on if I should get another set of speakers or not. I will no longer look for an amp with a bypass cuz it looks like it is really hard to find. I searched Audiogon but couldn't find one. Again, thanks a lot for you help and advise. Really appreciate it! Sonny