I'm thinking seriously about adding a dedicated integrated amp to my home audio setup. I have Infinity Beta 50's in front and I'd like to feed them as much good power as possible.

My question is connection-related. I have a Toshiba A2 HDDVD player that I'd like to use as my CD audio source. Connecting the player to the amp is simple...but the speaker connections are what I'm curious about. Obviously, I'd like to have my towers available for HT use, too. So how would I connect my HT receiver (Yamaha HTR-5830) AND the amp to the speakers at the same time? The Betas can be biwired...could I just connect one set of wires to one set of posts and the other set to the other set of posts (not removing the "bridge" between the posts) or is that electrically bad?

I've found "half" answers to this question all over the forum but no full ones. Any help would be awesome. I'm SO glad I've obtained some speakers that are allowing me to appreciate 2-channel music again... :cool:

Simple. Get an integrated amp with multiple input sources.

I do this same thing. I have an integrated tube amp with a source selector for my mains. One source is directly from my CDP, the other from my receiver. When I want PURE 2 CHANNEL BLISS I simply run the CD directly to the integrated amp, when HT - through the receiver.

I am not sure you can wire the speakers that way. I would set it up so that for the L/R mains, the Yammi would only function as a pre-pro, letting your integrated amp provide the power for the mains. This will help your Yammi by reducing power demands and increasing available power to the center and surround channels. However, I would look for an integrated amp with a HT or processor bypass feature so that level adjustments will be easier.

The only problem with this setup is that you won't be bypassing the Yammi for the L/R mains, and you may not realize the full benefit of your integrated amp's (assumed) better sonics. If the Toshiba has a second set of L/R main RCA output jacks, you could run those to another input on the integrated for use when listening in stereo.

Thanks to you both for your input.

Schwingding, do you have a recommendation for a source selector?

Maybe what he's saying isn't clear enough ... you just get an integrated with a Home Theater bypass. The Integrated amp does the powering of mains all the time, just with different sources.

irishsammy,

Not a dumb question at all! Another option is to buy a line router (switch box). I will recommend two. One is made by Niles, and can be had for $85.00 http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=23405

The other is a bit more expensive but is built by a very respected builder from Mapletree Audio Design. It sells for $150.00. Also, if you call Mapletree, you will be talking to Lloyd, who builds the devices. Feel free to tell him what your wanting to do, and he can help you understand what to do, and how it works. The line router from Mapletree can be found towards the end of the page http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/ and looks like this

Thanks yat. That's exactly what I was looking for.