Question about HT bypass..

[Parabellum]

Hi there,

Since last July, my what was once a listening room/bar has been fully gutted as I am slowly building what is soon going to be a hybrid HT room and listening room. Currently drywalling now. Okay, that being said, I can now start thinking about the toys that will be incorporated into this room. I want a 2.0 system that will be able to be used as a home theater. I don't want a typical receiver fearing that sound quality will be sacrified compared to a true hi-fi preamplifier.

I have been weighting in some options, like the Bryston SP-3 or Anthem AVM60. For sure I want a separated amplifier/preamp combo. As of yet, my speakers are Totem Mani-2 Signature but I am looking at other options like Dynaudio Focus 260 (not sure this will be an upgrade but a sidestep..).

Now as I am browing the forums and online reviews, I came accross the PS Audio BHK Sig Preamp. It states that each input can be used as a HT bypass. Now the big question, what does a HT bypass really do? Is it that I can plug let's say a receiver like Anthem MRX-720 and use the MRX to feed my HDMI devices to the screen?

The thing with hybrid setup is HDMI. And to integrate it in a 2.0 hi-fi system is no easy task me believe.

I don't want to "invest" too much in a pre-processor as they tend to loose their value too quickly (maybe Bryston SP-3 is an exception) so I was considering the PS Audio BHK Sig + whatever receiver.

BTW, I no longer have my McSetup as I sold it recently to fund other project. I kept my speakers and cables.. Too lazy to edit signature oh..

Thanks for any input,

Serge

[doggiehowser]

HT Bypass can be implemented in many different ways.

In some implementations, it is a unity gain volume level that sends the input signal unmodified to the output -> which is the power amp. Effectively this turns is like hooking the power amp directly to the AVR.

The way the BHK Pre works is by assigning a fixed volume level for any of the inputs. By default it is 77.

When you run AutoEQ the AVR/AVP will just see it as a power amp at a set gain.

Bear in mind there is a slight flaw in the way HT bypass is implemented - and PS Audio hasn't addressed them yet in the last firmware I have. When you change inputs from an HT input to a regular input, the preamp takes a split second to dial down the volume from say 77 to the next input. So it could be pretty loud. Just a split second. I've addressed it by setting the next input empty. So input 5 is HT bypass. Pressing input switches to input 1 which is not connected. And the volume now gets to the right level. And pressing input 2 gets to my DAC.

With my Audio Research 5SE, switching from a HT bypass to a regular input mutes the output. So this fixes that sudden volume jump.