Can anyone explain how "HT bypass" works on a preamp and why this feature is useful for you?

[FrantzM]

Hi

This HT bypass thing is straight from the HEA concept of "Signal Purity". IN that view you use an higher quality preamp when you play music.

It works that way:

Sources (audiophile DAC, and audiophile analog such as R2R, Audiophile Vinyl and the not so audiophiles AVR, front channels signal) ----->2-Channel-Preamp------> Amps-----> L + R Front speakers

The preamp controls the SPL and the choice only for pure , unadulterred music . "Pure" signal chain with audiophile cables to link the preamp to the amps, if you are a real audiophile, you would have monoblocks, thus more cables, thus more signal purity ...

Now if for some reason you would need to listen to lowly sound (not music per se) coming from movies or other video or god forbid gaming... then you need an AVR, with all the signal impure DSP and codecs ... You can use the front channel system (the preamp, monoblocks and great sounding cables) but you hit a problem, since the volume level of the front channel is controlled by the preamp ...The solution, the MAGIC solution? !!! The "HT Bypass switch" that basically removes the volume control from the preamp by changing the preamp to a simple unity gain, transparent device , its volume is not in use, what comes in comes out, untouched, ... So the AVR is used like any normal videophile (as opposed to real audiophile) would use it to watch movies and, (god forbid ) play games in some kind of fake, gimmick-y surround.

You get the best of world.... The AVR is turned off for music listening, it is only used for the times when you are forced to listen to low quality sounds (definitely digital) coming from video features things like movies , series , documentaries, and (god forbid) gaming.
...
...

This silliness is carried over in AVR as well, you often find in many models (mine, the Denon X-3400 has it) a "pure" mode that bypass any DSP processing, sending the "pure" signal to the "pure" speakers untouched by the dreaded DSP

Peace.

 

[goat76]

I am quite similar actually.

When I want to listen to music in my 2.2 setup with just the LA4 preamp, only the LA4 needs to be turned on which triggers my power amp.

If I want to do movies or gaming with the AVR, the AVR is preout to the LA4 through rca ht-bypass.

If I want to listen to music with the Freya + tube preamp and roll some tubes, it is connected to the LA4 through xlr ht-bypass

The HT passthrough connection we both use are rather complex when just looking at the connections, but it leads to a much easier and user-friendly experience in the end as it’s just a couple of buttons to press on the remote controls, instead of the need of re-connections or the need of using completely separated systems.

I want to say ‘thank you’ to the persons figuring out and seeing the need for a HT passthrough functionality, as it’s very useful.

 

[Sokel]

Even an old TV with analog outputs does the trick there, you just stick it in and it just follows TV's output level.
Nothing magic or fancy, just a straight pas-through.

 

[Talisman]

It is indeed a useful system.
Before I had an AVR system and a separate two-channel system and to use the front speakers I had calibrated the AVR with the volume at 12 o'clock on the preamp, and to use the multi-channel system I had to remember to select the right input and set the volume to 12 o'clock.
Now I have simply removed the two-channel part and do everything with the AVR.... I don't hear any difference, in fact I hear it better on the AVR which has advanced management of my 4 subwoofers

 

[dlovesmusic]

It is indeed a useful system.
Before I had an AVR system and a separate two-channel system and to use the front speakers I had calibrated the AVR with the volume at 12 o'clock on the preamp, and to use the multi-channel system I had to remember to select the right input and set the volume to 12 o'clock.
Now I have simply removed the two-channel part and do everything with the AVR.... I don't hear any difference, in fact I hear it better on the AVR which has advanced management of my 4 subwoofers

My 2.2 system is the streaming setup which involves a computer with audiolense convolution for room correction. The anthem AVR runs ARC genesis for the 7.2.4.

The computer is the centralized piece that routes music streams to my 5 systems in different rooms with each room has its own audiolense convolution settings, all can be controlled by my iPhone.

I know folks like to sound like there is only 1 best way to do something in this hobby but there are indeed multiple ways to get there and often times it’s a personal preference.

 

[dlovesmusic]

Hi

This HT bypass thing is straight from the HEA concept of "Signal Purity". IN that view you use an higher quality preamp when you play music.

It works that way:

Sources (audiophile DAC, and audiophile analog such as R2R, Audiophile Vinyl and the not so audiophiles AVR, front channels signal) ----->2-Channel-Preamp------> Amps-----> L + R Front speakers

The preamp controls the SPL and the choice only for pure , unadulterred music . "Pure" signal chain with audiophile cables to link the preamp to the amps, if you are a real audiophile, you would have monoblocks, thus more cables, thus more signal purity ...

Now if for some reason you would need to listen to lowly sound (not music per se) coming from movies or other video or god forbid gaming... then you need an AVR, with all the signal impure DSP and codecs ... You can use the front channel system (the preamp, monoblocks and great sounding cables) but you hit a problem, since the volume level of the front channel is controlled by the preamp ...The solution, the MAGIC solution? !!! The "HT Bypass switch" that basically removes the volume control from the preamp by changing the preamp to a simple unity gain, transparent device , its volume is not in use, what comes in comes out, untouched, ... So the AVR is used like any normal videophile (as opposed to real audiophile) would use it to watch movies and, (god forbid ) play games in some kind of fake, gimmick-y surround.

You get the best of world.... The AVR is turned off for music listening, it is only used for the times when you are forced to listen to low quality sounds (definitely digital) coming from video features things like movies , series , documentaries, and (god forbid) gaming.
...
...

This silliness is carried over in AVR as well, you often find in many models (mine, the Denon X-3400 has it) a "pure" mode that bypass any DSP processing, sending the "pure" signal to the "pure" speakers untouched by the dreaded DSP

Peace.

Well it appears you are the only one that talks about the silliness of audiophile dac, audiophile cables, monoblocks...... and put up multiple "cover your face emojis" here.

People here are talking about a common feature found in preamps or integrated amps that helps incorporate multiple systems. I do appreciate some folks will just use one AVR for everything and are happy with it, that does not mean the entire ASR population who watches movies, play games and listen to music must get an AVR and call it the day and stop buying separates in dacs, preamps, amps and integrated amps...... People can choose how they want to set up their audio system(s).