Here's what I'm looking to do. Have two channel want to add on home theater. Years ago Yamaha had a three chanel preamp processor with three amplifiers for the center and rear channels(back in the pro-logic days).

Ideally this would be my first choice since my Sugden would still run the front channels and nothing is changed for two channel music. I can't seem to find such a unit around that is sanely priced. That old Yamaha was $150.00CDN when the were blowing them out.

So, if such a unit is not around with DTS/DD then it forces me to look to a receiver. I'm looking to go as cheap as possible but something that will allow me to keep my Sugden's preamp in the chain for two channel listening(it has tape in tape out 3 aux, cd player, tuner turntable ins. The Sugden has preouts and power out.

Ideally all I'd like their to be some sort of pass through...so when I listen to 2 channel music I'm listening the way I do now, and when I want surround sound on goes the receiver. Again I don't want to convert the Sugden into just a power amp.

I don't wholly mind going with just a receiver. I could buy a second set of speaker wires and when I switch to surround just connect the wires to the speakers(I have easy access to the speakers).

If this last bit is easiest (and I'm looking for cheap but not too cheap) what is the general thought on the Yamaha HTR5640 ($450CDN). There is a $249.00 Panasonic that I think Norm loves which is 6.1.

This is one of those occasions where I really don't want to spend onerous amounts of time researching since I won't be able to get exact voice matching across the front anyway(Cause AN doesn't make a center), nor in the rear so the addition of surround will be more of a toy.

It would be nice if the receiver had a lot of control over the center channel and rears in order to help compensate for the center being of another brand. The Yammie 5660 adds little and the price nearly doubles. There is the RX-V440 but I don't know how much that costs.

If anyone knows of an infinite baffle sealed center channel using Vifa drivers let me know.