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Question For Those That Watch Movies/TV Through Your Two Channel System

Do you leave your Preamp/Integrated in stereo mode or switch to Mono?
Does the dialog lose the clarity that you usually get with a center channel
speaker? 

The reason I ask is because I gifted my son a Node 2i and we connected it
to his entry level Denon AV receiver. He has 3 Mirage speakers LCR, no 
surrounds. Obviously, an Integrated Amp would result in better two channel
sound, but would it be detrimental to watching BluRay movies.

He has a turntable setup in another room with Yamaha, Rega and Harbeth,
but he wanted the Node 2i in the main family room where it would get the most
use.  
 
ericsch
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,906 posts
 
I concur, With mijostyn. :-)
williewonka
3,082 posts
 
@ericsch - I use a PowerNode for my A/V system and it rocks. Imaging is so good that it sounds better than the 5.1 system I had previous.

Unfortunately the imaging on my Denon 5.1 amp is no match for the PowerNode, which is so much better

The sound effects, whilst not coming from behind me, do often make me look to the left and right about level with me.

Hope that helps
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
I just watched a Blu-ray movie in 5.1....could hardly understand the words.   That's true of tv as well.....sometimes it comes through fine...other times bad.  I think they produce it at a low resolution rate.
One thing you could try is disconnecting all the speakers except the center, and then placing your head just a couple of feet away from the center channel, on-axis. From there see if the dialogue you had trouble understanding is clear or muddy.

If it is clear in this situation, then the speaker's location, its interactions with the room, other speakers, and your usual seating location are the culprit. Some of that may be addressable to some degree.
lancelock
1,100 posts
 
I was forced to down size my 2 channel into the same room with my HT. I sold off all HT gear and went strictly 2 channel for TV and music. I added a swarm (4 subs) setup and this really helped fill out the sound stage. I love movies even better now. There’s no going back.
scottscottsdale
103 posts
 
I use an poke TV as source.  A few years’ old HarmanKardon AVR. With a PS Audio S300 amp running L/R JBL 590.  The AVR runs the surrounds and sub.  I know this set up is not ideal but it does sound good. No need for a center channel. And Tidal runs in 2 ch mode.  It works great in 4.1 as well. 
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