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While my Denon AVR3803 is no match for listening to 2 channel music versus my Rogue tube pre and power amps, I don't think the latter can outperform the Denon since I would be using DD 5.1. Any many of these 5.1 mixes are very impressive to boot.Are you doing HT with your amps that are dedicated to two channel music listening strictly analog??
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I did many years ago, when my main rig and HT were one and the same. Actually, it was a 2.1 setup; and I was fairly happy with the results.
Fast forward a few years to a new house, and the HT was seperated; it has an Onkyo receiver and NHT superzeros all around with a velodyne sub. The better gear went into a 2.1 audio-only setup. I can honestly say I do not see the big fuss about 5.1 over 2.1, I recommend spending the same $ on 2.1 instead of 5.1 especially if one system has to serve both needs.
Don't know quite what you're asking.I have 2 systems, a 2 channel audio system and a separate HT system. They are in different rooms and do not share any components. I definitely prefer the 2 channel audio system for music.
The HT system is built around a Denon 2910 DVD player and 2807 AVR. I upgraded from a 2 channel NAD L53 receiver to the 2807 last year in order to get HDMI switching and the room EQ functions. Since the NAD was 2 channel only, that system started out as 2 channel also but then I tried moving the sub from my audio system to see how it sounded in movies and discovered I preferred it there so the 2.0 became 2.1. Then I tried adding surrounds and liked that so it became 4.1. Finally I added the centre speaker for a 5.1 system and that's where it's now at. Space prevents me from giving serious consideration to a 6.1 or 7.1 system but I think I would be tempted if I had the room.
As what I regarded as a die-hard 2 channel person, I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed surround sound with movies, both in terms of how much it enhances my enjoyment of many films and also how much I think the sound of the front L and R channels improves when you take the downmixed info from other channels out of them and send it to the intended channel. I've also been surprised by the standard of most modern surround sound tracks which are much less gimmicky than I expected. The HT system didn't sound bad in 2 channels and I enjoyed the sound that better quality speakers than the TV's speakers provided, but I would take a 3 channel system (L, R, and centre) over 2 channel any day for movies and 5 channels over 3. I also think a sub is highly desirable for movies. If I had to, I could go back to 2.0 or 2.1 for movies but I would regret doing so.
I hate the sound of 2 channel music expanded to 5 channels. In fact, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter how many channels are on the recording, playback sounds best when you use exactly that number of channels/speakers. That means 1 channel/speaker sounds best for playback of mono, 2 for stereo, and 5 plus the sub for 5.1. I've come to that conclusion after noticing the changes in both the sound and my enjoyment of it as the HT system grew from 2.0 to 5.1 over a 5 month period. Others may disagree but I think something is lost when you add or subtract channels and speakers to the playback.
The components in the 2 channel audio system sound better to me than do those in the HT system, and the audio system is in a room with a lot of DIY acoustic treatment while the HT system is in a relatively hard and reflective open plan area. Even given the benefit I gained from the 2807's Audyssey room EQ function which I think works quite well, I still prefer the sound of 2 channel music on the audio system in the treated room.
And my point is I would not understand how watching movies in 2 channnel regardless of the quality of that amp they are using for music and then piggyback that in watching movies (with whatever that audio track would be since most of those amps you cannot get a digital signal) would be better than using an AVR in dd 5.1 or DTS.There was an article in a recent publication about doing HT in just 2.0 if you have a high quality 2 CH amp you are using for music.
My audio room is L-shaped which really isn't 'ideal' for anything but it does work well for music with an Audio Physic style setup and a bit of DIY acoustic treatment. The area the HT system is in is an area I rejected for the audio setup. It isn't ideal for HT, but it also wouldn't be ideal for audio and I doubt I could get as good a result with audio in that space as I do where I set the audio system up. At that stage, when my wife and I shifted into this house 5 years ago, there was no HT system. Just a TV in the corner of the area where the HT system now is. Basically I built the HT system around the location of the TV.I could integrate the 2 systems but it would cost money to do so. I could replace the receiver with a pre/pro with video functions, use my current 2 channel amp and speakers for the front L & R channels, and use the speakers from the HT system as the other 5 speakers in a 7.1 system. That would require a lot of moving things around in ways that I wouldn't like, and I really don't think I've got the space in either area for anything more than a 5.1 system. Trying to shift the HT system to the audio area wouldn't work well, it's really only large enough, given the awkwardness of the L-shape, for a good 2 channel setup. Trying to fit a 5.1 system there would be messy, and I don't want to move the 2 channel system to where the HT system is located.
While I know that I could integrate the systems, I really don't think I could get as good results with music as I currently am getting if I integrated the 2 systems in this house. All in all, I'd rather leave things the way they are.
Sometimes, after thinking things through, you end up reaching the conclusion that while something is possible it's better if you don't do it. Combining my audio and HT systems is one of those sorts of decision, at least in my current house. If I ever move again and end up with a suitable room to play with, I would reconsider things at that time because I think that there are advantages in maintaining only 1 system. In the meantime, I continue to maintain a house that looks like its being taken over by speakers.
Well David, in my case it is a 1 bedroom apartment. I have my 50 RPTV in the living room in between two systems: 1) Rogue tube amps with Sony XA777ES SACD/CD player and a Music Hall TT strictly for audio listening. 2) Denon AVR3803 and a Denon DVD1920 universal player for HT in 5.1.I have a number of speakers. The wiring behind the TV and systems looks like an octopus. I have everything plugged into power strips.
I still think that the Denon AVR3803 in 5.1 with my DVD player would outshine me just using my Rogue amps in 2 channel for watching movies.
"I still think that the Denon AVR3803 in 5.1 with my DVD player would outshine me just using my Rogue amps in 2 channel for watching movies. "I agree completely.
that allows two channel or HT using the 2 channel amp and speakers for front left and right for HT with no HT stuff in my 2 channel signal path.
Would this be a downmix from dolby digital and you'r hearing 2 channel stereo? How is it?There are some real decent receivers out there for low prices from Denon, Yamaha, etc. Hopefully someone will respond regarding their experience with that versus the amp they use for music listening.
A HT processor and three channel amp that syncs the volume to your main amp and puts the front L+R out on an RCA output to run through your main rig. I have 2 channel for music and 5.1 channel for HT. the best of both worlds. The only problem is that Vantas went under and hence they no longer offer processor upgrades as promised.
otherwise, you can go into your DVD setup (assuming you have DD decoding in your DVDP), shutting off the center and surround channels.
Thanks though. I forgot about the DVD player's menu. I assume I would need to turn off digital if I'm going to use the Rogue amps. I still think using my Denon though with digital 5.1, I'll smoke the Rogue using only 2 channels for whatever audio there will be.
the front left and right outputs of the DVD players 5.1 outs. Toslink and coax only work for DD if you are connecting to a receiver with decoding capability.
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