2. amps-preamps
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Leaving HT for 2 channel-Good or Not?

I originally was strictly 2 channel and loved it. Been into the audio for years. Went into HT but still maintained what I thought was decent gear for HT but made sure that I still loved what I heard in a 2 channel application. I did this because probably better than 90% of what I do is music primarily focused on Jazz and Blues. On occasion, the wife and I will rent a movie and run it through the system. Explosions and the such, WOOHOO!!! Plus, not happy with running that junk through some 8k$ speakers. Now I am thinking about dumping the multi channel amp and processor and going back to 2 channel but really don't want to make a mistake.

Has anyone gone this route and had any regrets later on? My dilemma is that I have one big room for both my Big screen TV and my music. Any and all comments would be appreciated.

Good Listening,

Steve Bachman
sbachman
lowrider
32 posts
 
I am 100% with RAMY

The other day the woofer of one of my surround speakers blew, believe me, something important was missing from even CDs, (I use DPLII always), with stereo it just doesn´t feel like being in the room with the musicians, dull...

Of course the system has to be pretty well matched to make 5.1 worth it, otherwise you better spend your money on a good stereo...
dlwask
270 posts
 
Keep select components from your HT set up, sell the rest and put the money towards your 2 channel system. I did that exact thing a couple years back and could not be happier now, absolutely no desire to go back.

I was tired of trying to keep up with the ever changing surround formats and increasing number of speakers. I kept my receiver, DVD player, 2 bookshelf speakers and sub and moved it to the living room for tv, and movies. It's good enough. I'm getting so much more out of my 2 channel system now than I ever could have with an HT setup.

In my opinion, the few multichannel DVD-A and SACDs I've heard in surround systems (some were rather extravagent) still do not compete with straight 2 channel on a quality system.
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
Many companies that have, for years, been producing high quality equipment exclusively for 2-channel listening are starting to use their experience in surround products. if you want to keep surround with 2-channel quality (for music I presume) pursue these manufacturers. You don't need to sacrifice one for another. If equipment sounds good in 2-channel and that company also makes surround stuff, it's likely that surround will sound good too.
mdomnick
332 posts
 
I dropped 5.1 for 2 ch and have no regrets. Movies still have a dynamic impact as well as pretty good surround effects via soundstage and imaging. I'll probably buy a nice reciever some day for 5.1 and use HT pass through on my preamp.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I dropped 5.1 channel music for 2 channel and have no regrets. I do have a Denon receiver with HT capability for when I feel like playing that occasional movie though. My tube preamp has a unity gain input, so I can run the preamp FR and FL outputs from the Denon receiver through my stereo tube preamp and use my stereo speakers as mains. The Denon receiver only drives the center and surrounds so I only need one good stereo amp. I have 95% of my money into my 2 channel system, which is 90% of my listening. Sell the multi-channel amps and pre/pros, get a decent HT receiver with preamp outs and a stereo preamp with HT throughput and your set for the best of both worlds.

Cheers,
John
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