I'll take a stab at this by presenting the architecture recommended for audiophiles. It is as follows:

1. A high end stereo preamplifier with home theater pass-through capability is added to the system. It will receive all analog inputs (phono, DACs, CDP). Its outputs will feed the Left and Right channels of the power amp. Preferably this power amp is a high end stereo one driving full range speakers, but the two channels of a good multi channel amp will do as well.
2. The HT processor will receive all digital inputs and will have its left and right outputs connected to the pass-through inputs of the stereo preamp. This will assure that the left and right channels of the power amp are used by both the surround processor and the stereo preamp.

This architecture assumes large front speakers and gives the best of both worlds. It is, in fact, two separate systems which share the power amp and speakers for the two main channels.

If you don't yet have purchased the stereo preamp and have large main speakers, this might help.

Just the two cents of a fellow outlaw...