7.1 ch as good as a 2 ch?

[pwrmx24]

If you had the $$ would you buy a seperate 2 CH preamp to listen to stereo seperately form HT or just buy the one 7.1 pre-amp for both HT and stereo?

example: Is the rotel 1070 just as good for listening to 2 ch as the Rotel 1069?

Thanks