Just my opinion, this is from previous experience.
Stick with Two channel!
You can try out home theater if you would like, everybody has their preference.
I went from Two Channel to home theater back in the 90s and promptly returned to the better sounding 2 channel and of course the constant upgrades to the latest processor.
But for some reason I thought that with th advent of HD, Blu-ray players and HD sound along with the fact that a lot of hi-end company's were producing surround sound processors, I would jump into the band wagon again. I went with a 7.1 system, after spend countless dollars buying large, full Range Speakers for all channels including a pair of floorstanding full range speakers for the center channel. Purchasing big Tube amps for All channels, including bi-amping the main speakers. Top of the line Blu-ray player and hi-end Processor and yadda yadda yadda.
Brands varied as I tried to tweak in the system ranged from, Von Schwiekert, Vandersteen, Acoustic Zen, Cary, McIntosh, Denon, Jolida, etc.
Yes, the system did play movies and to the laymen it was most likely awesome. But for me the surround processing varied so much film from film it made it hard to get things right with out constant adjusting of the settings. The processing also robbed the full range speakers from doing their job and would take information away from them, what I mean by this is if your listen to the movie in surround and then switched to stereo the sound would change. No matter what I tried I could never get things just right. So I went back to 2 channel and haven't regreded since.
So besides the cost factor of going multi channel, I don't think you really gain anything over a quality 2 channel set-up.
But if you want to go the home theater route, all I can suggest is that you buy a McIntosh Processor. I have not tried them all but I have tried out various budget models (Outlaw, Marantz, Rotel) and I have tried out some hi-end models (McIntosh, Cary, Theta). The Newer McIntosh Processors are quite expensive but as long as you can due with-out HDMI switching then I would recommend the MX-119. Wonderful sounding and probable the easiest to adjust. If the McIntosh is too much and you want to go budget, i liked the Outlaw Processors (no HDMI switching). If you have a nicer Blu-Ray player with 7.1 analog out you can still benefit from the HD sound.
Of course if you want have a dedicated theater room designed and built, i am sure your results would be better than mine.
Regardless of what you do I hope you enjoy the music and or movies!
Stick with Two channel!
You can try out home theater if you would like, everybody has their preference.
I went from Two Channel to home theater back in the 90s and promptly returned to the better sounding 2 channel and of course the constant upgrades to the latest processor.
But for some reason I thought that with th advent of HD, Blu-ray players and HD sound along with the fact that a lot of hi-end company's were producing surround sound processors, I would jump into the band wagon again. I went with a 7.1 system, after spend countless dollars buying large, full Range Speakers for all channels including a pair of floorstanding full range speakers for the center channel. Purchasing big Tube amps for All channels, including bi-amping the main speakers. Top of the line Blu-ray player and hi-end Processor and yadda yadda yadda.
Brands varied as I tried to tweak in the system ranged from, Von Schwiekert, Vandersteen, Acoustic Zen, Cary, McIntosh, Denon, Jolida, etc.
Yes, the system did play movies and to the laymen it was most likely awesome. But for me the surround processing varied so much film from film it made it hard to get things right with out constant adjusting of the settings. The processing also robbed the full range speakers from doing their job and would take information away from them, what I mean by this is if your listen to the movie in surround and then switched to stereo the sound would change. No matter what I tried I could never get things just right. So I went back to 2 channel and haven't regreded since.
So besides the cost factor of going multi channel, I don't think you really gain anything over a quality 2 channel set-up.
But if you want to go the home theater route, all I can suggest is that you buy a McIntosh Processor. I have not tried them all but I have tried out various budget models (Outlaw, Marantz, Rotel) and I have tried out some hi-end models (McIntosh, Cary, Theta). The Newer McIntosh Processors are quite expensive but as long as you can due with-out HDMI switching then I would recommend the MX-119. Wonderful sounding and probable the easiest to adjust. If the McIntosh is too much and you want to go budget, i liked the Outlaw Processors (no HDMI switching). If you have a nicer Blu-Ray player with 7.1 analog out you can still benefit from the HD sound.
Of course if you want have a dedicated theater room designed and built, i am sure your results would be better than mine.
Regardless of what you do I hope you enjoy the music and or movies!