How to incorporate stereo pre-amp in HT setup

[lithoGENE]

Hi all,

I have a 2-channel setup that I use both for music and for HT. The "brains" of the system is the Pioneer Elite VSX21 receiver, but I've added a pair of monoblock amplifiers from Emotiva (UPA-1). I'm using OPPO's BDP-83 as a sourse. My speakers are Sierra-1's.

I'm thinking about incorporating Emotiva's USP-1 pre-amplifier (I don't have one yet), but I'm not sure I'd be able to use the OPPO to watch DVD's while having the audio be processed by the pre-amp. Can that be done? Can I hook up the OPPO to the USP-1 for audio and to the receiver for video?

I've included a drawing of my system...

BTW, I'm loving my Sierra's!

Thanks a ton.

[hearing specialist]

Well technically your currently using your receiver as the pre-amp. Are you using any special receiver amplification bypass processing internally already??? I'm not a Pioneer guy but I'm sure the Elite line has this bypass/pre-amp path your already using triggered thru your outputs to your EMO's.

Any blue ray/dvd/cd would still need to go thru your receiver. I'm thinking of going the EMO route and get their UMC-1 and XPA amplifiers in the future. I dig their EMO-Q and the infinite adjustability within their calibration program with the UMC-1. Awesome stuff and I'm sure your Sierra's are diggin that pure EMO amplification.

ehhh, what do I know, I'm just a Hearing Specialist...:D


Brian in Bakersfield....

[lithoGENE]

Hey Brian,

Thanks for your input. You're correct, I am currently using the Pioneer receiver as a pre-amp (it's got pre-outs for hooking up external amplifiers, which I did using the UPA-1's). But I'm also thinking of getting a USP-1, which would take the place of the receiver when listening to music in 2.0. The Emo has an HT bypass feature, which makes it possible to hook it up to a receiver and then have the receiver handle HT duties and the Emo pre-amplifier - when the HT bypass function is set to off - take care of the music part.

The problem is, how do I hook up the OPPO, which I use to listen to CD's, SACD's, etc. and listen to/watch DVD's. Ideally, I'd like to connect the OPPO to the Emo pre-amplifier rather than the receiver so that the Emo could process audio, but then I'm affraid I would not get video out of it. There are no video inputs/outputs on the Emo as it's purely and audio pre-pro. But I was wondering if the video out of the OPPO can be routed to the receiver and the audio to the USP-1 and have each hadnle their part. Not sure if that's doable.

Btw, hooking up the OPPO to the receiver (which is the case right now) would defeat the purpose of buying a USP-1...

And yes, my Sierra's are definitely liking the Emo monoblocks. I ordered to audition them just for giggles since they have a no-questions asked, no-risk policy, but I ended up really liking them... So now they're mine... :) Certainly a lot of bank for the buck.

Good luck with your Emo gear.

Gene