Sharing LR speakers between AVR for movies and stereo amp for music - worth the hassle?

[heartattackandvine]

Looking at the Marantz Cinema 60 with preouts for a new HT setup, but I've got an Arcam FMJ A38 gathering dust. The Marantz likely has decent stereo, but probably not better than the Arcam.

Running Triad In-Ceiling LCR speakers with single binding posts. I understand I'd need a speaker selector to switch between Arcam (for music) and Marantz (for movies). Bit of a faff, but this is a multipurpose room where the HT will only see occasional use.

Not certain it's worthwhile to try reusing the Arcam this way. Is this a common approach around here?

I briefly considered separates (processor + multi-channel amp) but I've been down that road with 2-channel gear and don't want to go there again. Too many boxes, would need to buy second-hand to meet budget, and likely miss out on easy room correction.

Am I on the right track? Complete HT newbie here - I've actively avoided it for 20 years, but it makes sense for this room

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

Typically integrating a 2ch integrated into a ht system requires a 2ch integrated with a ht bypass function so you don’t need a seperate switch. Your a38 can be used this way, checkout the manual for details under “processor mode”
 

I don’t know your triads well but the LCR in ceilings I looked up just now appear to be hard to drive at 85db so they will benefit from more power.

 

Your A38 can also be used as a power amp by using the rear switch, so using the preouts of the marantz into this for the front LR would probably give you a performance upgrade whilst using the marantz for all of your sources, no switching required.

whether that all nets you better performance you’d really need to try out to confirm, but there’s two options to try.

[heartattackandvine]

Thanks @Hi-Fi Whipped

I had no idea the A38 can operate in power amp mode. That is cool. Will try it. 
 

Processor mode is also interesting. I read the instructions about that and  am slightly confused. Does it mean the A38 is always driving the L/R speakers? With an AVR driving centre, sats and subs?

 

I know nothing really about HT, except it seems like having LCR balanced through 1 processor/signal path is probably a good idea? 

 

 

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

No worries, I actually owned an A38 and P38 and did pretty much what you were thinking about 8 years ago. Using Processor mode (HT Bypass) I wanted to try and maximise HT and 2Ch listening in the one system with the budget I had at the time. There were two things that became apparent to me when I tried:

 

1. It wasn't really easy and seamless for me or any of the family to just start watching TV or listen to music, as easy as I tried to make it, it was more complex than it should be. This reduced the enjoyment of the system from a usability POV.

 

2. Now this forum is full of people that have a 2ch system and they love it. I found that when I had a 2ch system that SHOULD sound better than a HT system for 2ch music, that I was critiquing the sound a lot more searching for that perfect sound, rather than just listening and enjoying the music.  When I started to head down that rabbit hole I realised for me it was time to revert back.

 

This meant making my system easier to use for the whole family, accepting that the perfect sound is actually impossible, so going for system that nailed 80% of everything.

 

This did point me down another avenue though, I realised how important room eq is (Dirac) and how much of a game changer integrated subs are for both HT and 2ch. Those two things have been a game change for me and although my system has changed since then I have found they are the keys to the all-round sound I was searching for.

 

Sorry for the ramble on, but if I was on your position with the speakers you have id focus on decent power, good room eq, and integrating your subs (room eq does that). Get that right and you'd go a long way to maximising your setup.

 

1 hour ago, heartattackandvine said:

Processor mode is also interesting. I read the instructions about that and  am slightly confused. Does it mean the A38 is always driving the L/R speakers? With an AVR driving centre, sats and subs?

Yes but not the subs. Subs are usually active, what subs do you have?

 

1 hour ago, heartattackandvine said:

I know nothing really about HT, except it seems like having LCR balanced through 1 processor/signal path is probably a good idea? 

In Processor mode (HT Bypass) when you are using the Cinema 60 to play a source, it will be in control of all speakers, it just uses the Arcam to power the front L&R, it will power the rest.

[heartattackandvine]

 

10 hours ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

it just uses the Arcam to power the front L&R, it will power the rest.

Ah! Got it. Yes, in HT Bypass, the A38 is becomes a power amp for LR speakers, both AVR is doing the processing. Makes sense. 
 

10 hours ago, Hi-Fi Whipped said:

what subs do you have?

I don’t have sub(s) yet. I’d take a recommendation though! 
 

I know what you mean about simplicity = more enjoyment. I recently did a big simplification and upgraded to Naim streamer/pre + power amp. 1 remote! Never looked back. 
 

Should be fun to mess about with room eq. I use Roon, so can DSP there if I want. Although I haven’t so far because I don’t have mic for measurement. The new room should sound really good. Cork flooring, autex  acoustic treatment to the main wall, and nice big space with asymmetric ceiling. Not a studio, but it should be pretty good! 

[surprisetech]

@heartattackandvine I’ve been happily running similar setups in my main system for decades now!

I’ve always permanently driven the front L&R / Stereo speakers from the stereo amp & the centre & surrounds from the AVR or processor.  It just makes sense to use the best amplification for those speakers, and switching speakers between amps is problematic.

My current setup is a Marantz NR-1508 driving centre & surrounds with the front/stereo speakers driven by a Rotel RA-1570 which has a HT bypass option available on most inputs.  It works a treat!

First combo in 1991 was an AudioSource SS-3 Prologic processor/amp + Marantz PM-65 which I modified to convert the mute switch to a HT bypass switch!

That was followed by a Yamaha DSP-E800 DD/dts processor/amp + Rotel RA-870BX where I used the ‘CD Direct’ input, which had its own dedicated volume control, as a HT Bypass facility. 

Needless to say, it became a bit easier when more stereo amps started appearing with the HT Bypass feature!

 

So, in answer to your question, I think you’re on the right track.