HT and 2 channel in same room? 1 or 2 systems?
Hi all, I wasn't exactly sure where to post this but hoping someone here may have some advice for me. This dilemma has been stressing me a bit so would appreciate any advice. I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
I have recently put together a multichannel system as do a lot of movies/PS5. System is Onkyo RZ50 AVR, Klipsch RF7-iii, RC-64iii and RP-600 for surround. I plan on adding in ATMOS speakers and some big DIY subs soon.
I have always wanted to get into 2 channel audio also. I have a fairly big room, 21x28, so I have also purchased a 5 year old pair of La Scala II's a few weeks ago and I just had a Willsenton R300 tube integrated amp delivereda day or two ago.
I thought at first I would have 2 separate systems in the same space. I started doing some research into how to add a sub to that tube amp and found out I can do this via high level inputs, however, for every 1 discussion that seems to like that idea, I find another discussion or two that says you really need RCA out/bass management to make everything fit together.
So..my dilemma is do I push forward with 2 separate systems? I'll have to find a way to fit another pair of subs for the 2 channel system via high level. But this way I'll be able to enjoy the La Scala's via tube (thru Bluesound Node streamer) which I have been really looking forward to and then have a whole separate HT for gaming/movies.
But.....more than a few people have suggested this might be way over-thinking and over-complicating this and that I should just listen to music thought my multi-channel setup and forget the 2 separate systems. If I did this, I guess I would just sell the RF7's and just listen to everything through the La Scalas. And then I'd only need 2 subs, which would be a plus but then also kind of lose the dream of having a tube setup for music. However, I have more often than not done upgrades and not heard any difference so I'm kind of expecting this with the tubes, too. I have alot of hard surfaces in this room, which I'm working on rectifying, but I am def worried that if I hook up this tube amp, its not going to sound any different to me than going via Pure Audio/Direct thru the AVR.
So plusses to keeping separate, I get to listen to tubes. Plusses to going down to 1 system, I can consolidate and sell extra set of speakers, only need 1 set of subs, get to return the tube amp. I'm just not sure if saying I have tubes is worth that or not.
Appreciate any advice anyone may have on this situation.
@elliottbnewcombjr ideally, that would be best, but I just don't have anymore room. Its really in the man cave or nowhere else. Again, the room is not well treated, but really getting a lack of bass from the LS. I've only had them for a couple weeks and the sound is nice and wide, but just not anywhere near enough bass for me to really enjoy 2 channel music, I don't think. |
This may not be for many but it works for me. I don’t use my HT system that often so I didn’t want to spend a lot on it. I have a midfi Pioneer Elite 7.1 HT system that I added a nice tube DAC, streamer with optical and Fritz main speakers. Sounded really nice in analog direct amp mode. I then added a second tube amp sharing the Fritz speakers with a (2 amp to 1 speaker switch box) and moved the DAC and streamer to the tube amp. 1 amp for HT and a second amp for 2 channel. Now I can enjoy nice sounding music or HT in this room. I do have a separate main 2 channel system in another room. Nice to have options. |
@johns21 I recently went through this and think I've nailed it. Of course the best option is to have 2 rooms but most of us don't have that luxury. To put them in the same room, here is my strategy: build your 2 channel system exactly like you like it. with a couple of caveats. your amp needs to have an HT bypass or just 2 inputs. the way I do it is I use an integrated amp with the volume turned all the way up. So it is becomes an amp with multiple inputs. I run my preamp into one of them and this is my 2 channel system. Note that most volume controls for integrated amps have a contact at full volume that fully bypasses the potentiometer or resistive ladder, whichever you have. For my HT system, I run all the surrounds and center from the HT receiver but for the fronts I run a pre-out signal from the HT receiver to the 2 channel receiver (different input from the 2 channel preamp). Set up levels in the HT amp just like you normally would. Now to go back and forth between HT and 2 channel you just select an input. This is basicly HT bypass and if you have an integrated with HT bypass it works the same. A lot of people think that ht bypass is a compromise and puts extra circuits into the signal path for your 2 channel system. You can see that it doesn't. Jerry |
i have 2 separate rooms. prefer that approach. since the ideal 2 channel room uses diffusion to retain energy. whereas the ideal Home Theater uses mostly absorption to reduce comb filtering. reflections are kept to a minimum. acoustically combining both requires considerable compromises if you desire state of the art from each. but certainly combining can be just fine and work well for both. a matter of expectations and preferences. Home theater room; in my house. 9.3.6 object based dolby atmos speaker system with Trinnov processor and 4k projection. not yet finished the acoustical treatment in the home theater room. https://www.avsforum.com/threads/official-funk-audio-thread.1682418/page-95#post-60708790 2 channel room. in my barn.
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