[low.pfile]

I am wondering about getting the best of both worlds.....  I would want to share the 2 speakers from a two-channel system (Computer > DAC > Sig 30.2 Int > speakers) with a 5.1 Home Theater system (DVD > Denon AVR-4306 ....???....  > speakers) obviously in the same room. To be clear the goal is for the 2-channel system would share the HT Left /Right Front speakers only.

 - How could these systems be configured?

 - Is a "bypass" mode available on the Signature 30.2 Integrated Amp or upcoming Isabella Pre-amp? 

Yes, the Denon AVR has Pre-outs, though I would think this would be the least preferred from a signal perspective, though I would considet that option.

Thanks, Ed

[Alwayswantmore]

I am wondering about getting the best of both worlds.....  I would want to share the 2 speakers from a two-channel system (Computer > DAC > Sig 30.2 Int > speakers) with a 5.1 Home Theater system (DVD > Denon AVR-4306 ....???....  > speakers) obviously in the same room. To be clear the goal is for the 2-channel system would share the HT Left /Right Front speakers only.

 - How could these systems be configured?

 - Is a "bypass" mode available on the Signature 30.2 Integrated Amp or upcoming Isabella Pre-amp? 

Yes, the Denon AVR has Pre-outs, though I would think this would be the least preferred from a signal perspective, though I would considet that option.

Thanks, Ed

I am not an expert on this topic, but a quick look at your manual reveals a potential solution.

Page 23 of your owners manual states you can tap the Denon pre-out terminals to connect to external power amps for any of your 7.1 channels. In this case your Denon would do its normal HT processing, plus act as preamp for driving the L+R channels to the Sig 30. You would get the benefit of the added sound quality of the Sig 30, plus the set up would be fairly simple. It would however require you disconnect your standard Sig 30 source and replace the source with the preamp out connection from the Denon. If you had Vinnie's passive preamp it could perform the "swap function" without needing to disconnect and switch cables. Hope this helps.

Kent

BTW:

Yes, the Denon AVR has Pre-outs, though I would think this would be the least preferred from a signal perspective, though I would considet that option.

Thanks, Ed

My guess it that the preout + the addition of the Sig 30 would be the best option for getting optimal sound.

[Vinnie R.]

Hi Ed,

- Is a "bypass" mode available on the Signature 30.2 Integrated Amp or upcoming Isabella Pre-amp? 

There is no home-theater bypass mode available.  The Isabella is designed for dedicated 2-channel listening pleasure.  If you are looking to mix in HT, this is probably not the best choice for your needs.  There are other preamplifiers on the market that have the HT bypass feature.

The only other option that I can think of (if you want to use an Isabella and RWA amp for 2 channel listening with the same main L and R speakers that you use for a HT setup) is getting a high-quality amp selector switch.  The switch as L and R inputs for two amplifiers, and the output of the switch is the L and R speakers.  When you want to connect your 2-channel source/preamp/amp to those speakers, you select one input of the switch.  When you want to connect your HT receiver to the same speakers when watching movies, you select the other input of the switch.

I have actually made such a high-end switch for a customer for this very same application.  I used high quality speaker binding posts and a very high quality switch (very low contact resistance, silver plated contacts, high current rated, etc.) all in a fairly small enclosure. 

IMHO, using such a switch will sound much better (or should I say "hurt the sound the least") than using your HT preamp in the signal path to feed your high-end 2-channel amp when listening in 2-channel mode.

Best regards,

Vinnie

[low.pfile]

Hi Ed,

- Is a "bypass" mode available on the Signature 30.2 Integrated Amp or upcoming Isabella Pre-amp? 

There is no home-theater bypass mode available.  The Isabella is designed for dedicated 2-channel listening pleasure.  If you are looking to mix in HT, this is probably not the best choice for your needs.  There are other preamplifiers on the market that have the HT bypass feature.

The only other option that I can think of (if you want to use an Isabella and RWA amp for 2 channel listening with the same main L and R speakers that you use for a HT setup) is getting a high-quality amp selector switch.  The switch as L and R inputs for two amplifiers, and the output of the switch is the L and R speakers.  When you want to connect your 2-channel source/preamp/amp to those speakers, you select one input of the switch.  When you want to connect your HT receiver to the same speakers when watching movies, you select the other input of the switch.

I have actually made such a high-end switch for a customer for this very same application.  I used high quality speaker binding posts and a very high quality switch (very low contact resistance, silver plated contacts, high current rated, etc.) all in a fairly small enclosure. 

IMHO, using such a switch will sound much better (or should I say "hurt the sound the least") than using your HT preamp in the signal path to feed your high-end 2-channel amp when listening in 2-channel mode.

Best regards,

Vinnie

Vinnie,

Thanks for the detailed reply! Great to hear your suggestion. Your approach is what I expected but wasn't aware of what to call the "switcher" and it sounds like a rare item since you had to custom make one for a customer.

IMHO, using such a switch will sound much better than using your HT preamp in the signal path to feed your high-end 2-channel amp when listening in 2-channel mode.

Obviously I can try my HT preamp with the RWA30.2 just to see how it sounds.

Thanks again!! Ed

[Jampot]

have actually made such a high-end switch

Ed,

It was the 'high-end' bit and being created by Vinni that made the switcher special .

I have an old QED (UK manufacturer) box that does the same function in the back of a cupboard somewhere - but I would hesitate to put it between a Sig 30 and speakers!

I think there is still a version available but I have no idea whether it is available in the States.

Jim

[Jampot]

On reflection, I realise that the QED box was to switch 2 pairs of speakers and one amp. Maybe it doesn't make any difference.... providing the amps are isolated one from the other by the switch.

I did a search on ebay and the first item listed is this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-speaker-switching-unit-for-2-pairs-of-speakers_W0QQitemZ260226137622QQihZ016QQcategoryZ116853QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The very thing I was referring to -  cruddy connectors though.

Jim

[stevenkelby]

If I needed something like that I would take an empty box / panel and attach male and female RCA's to it, just plugging and unplugging as required. For speakers obviously I'd use binding posts.