2. speakers
  3. 1144164465

Dumb question about Speaker Positioning

I have one room that is a dedicated dual purpose music room - 2 channel and Home theater. Virtually all of my home theater use is for Music DVD (concerts)and I probably 10-15% of my time in the room is video, the remainder all 2 channel listening. I need to simplify (and hopefully upgrade) my equipment in the room by installing a new 2 channel preamp with HT passthru.

Here's the question: If I optimize the positioning of the front main speakers for 2 channel music, is there any reason this wouldn't also be optimized for music video 5.1? If not would there be much compromise in the HT quality?

thanks in advance!
bdgregory
newbee
4,824 posts
 
Acoustically speaking, I would think the ideal position of your speakers based on 2 channel performance, would work equally well with all sources, as the proper positioning controls very critical sonic considerations such as bass response (flat - no boom), 1st reflections, and a good sense of space. In fact, I would think that the introduction and of extra speakers and multichannel recordings would have a greater potential for damaging the sonic's of a 2 channel system than the opposite.
jgiacalo
446 posts
 
I second Newbee's response.
IMHO a really good 2-channel setup - two good speakers, well placed and backed up by good electronics - obviates the need for additional speakers; with the possible exception of a well integrated subwoofer.
mdhoover
695 posts
 
"I second Newbee's response.
IMHO a really good 2-channel setup - two good speakers, well placed and backed up by good electronics - obviates the need for additional speakers; with the possible exception of a well integrated subwoofer."
Jgiacalo
I very strongly agree, although not everyone would. For example, one person gave the example of hearing the helicopters coming from behind him (i.e. thru the rear speakers) before they appeared on the screen in the movie, "Cliffhanger." Obviously impossible in a two channel set-up. I wouldn't really care. Others would.
knollbrent's avatar
knollbrent
528 posts
 
Two Channel- IMO- Absolutely......Getting yourself set up in the front will give you a great perspective on where you want to go as far as "surround"...My room has been treated sonically and everything else is pretty darn good- with that in mind, i hear the "dog barking behind the shed", the "dinosaurs doing back flips"; it's all there: two channel....If you feel, hopefully after your room is treated, that you need more- then add more...

I say this without knowing the sonics in your room... Cheers, Brent
bdgregory OP
1,728 posts
 
thanks everyone for the input . . . I somewhat fully subscribe to the 2 channel school of thought, but I'm still intrigued by some of the more well recorded 5.1 videos. I'm not ruling out clearing out the multi channel equipment at some point, but since I have another pure 2 channel room, I want to continue playing with the multi-purpose media space.
More to discover