Thanks to ArthurDent and MichiganMike for the input. I'll read through some manuals as noted to understand it more thoroughly, but I think I get it now.
I love the idea of setting it up this way, but hate the idea of adding MORE gear. I really do like the idea of simplified set ups for everything but yet my gear list continues to grow and grow. My growing love for 2-channel music keeps tempting me to forego all this surround stuff which I've had for years and just get a stereo preamp/amp, source components, and a good pair of mains. However, I'm one who loves to hear tracks unprocessed. This is ideal for music but now all my movies will have to be downmixed on the fly.
Any, I feel I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. What I really need is a HT and a separate music room. However, like many, is tough to accomplish with house size and WAF.
I've seen several posts by folks in here suggesting getting a 2-channel preamp with HT bypass along with a HT receiver. I've been going over it in my head and can't seem to figure out how this works. Call me stupid!
If my sources go to the preamp and is hooked out to my receiver and my receiver goes to my amp then on to my speakers, how does one bypass the receiver for 2-channel music? Speakers and amps only have 1 output. What am I missing?
mchuckp - don't think anyone here is going to call you anything. As one of the frequently befuddled, I've found only helpful folks at this oasis.
You pose a good question. Having read thru this thread, if that is what your referencing regarding the 2 ch + HT setup, specifically Nuance's comment, note that he says a good preamp & amp for 2 ch. Then the HT system adjacent. Frank Van Alstine has a diagram his AudioBasics August 2000 issue that provides the configuration for a 5.1 HT in conjunction with a dedicated 2 channel system, it's what I used to put together my system. A little more involved wiring & equipment-wise than a simple 1 unit setup, but imo eliminates compromise in either set-up if the two are combined in one location.
MichiganMike covers it well for your receiver setup I believe. Frank's Ultra Preamps also have EPL for such a setup.