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Considering ditching 5.1 for a soundbar; suggestions?

I just built a basement room meant for both TV/media and 2 channel listening. At first I thought I'd split the room and have my two channel at one end, the TV and 5.1 system at the other.

I'm having second thoughts. The room is about 27 feet long and 16 feet wide, and if I divide it, then the most I can get from the front wall for my two channel listening is about 12 feet. Feels a bit cramped.

If I do decide to put everything on one wall, I really need to get rid of my 5.1 system and go with a soundbar and sub — for movies.

I know soundbars are not audiophile things, but I'm wondering how many of you bit the bullet to economize space, ditched the 5.1 and what did you get as a good soundbar? I'm thinking I could spend up to $1k. (I would cut my losses by selling my Klipsch R/L and Center channel speakers.)


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hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,813 posts
 
@soix No, no --I appreciate the suggestion. I have an all tube 2 channel system and I already have a Denon AVR. This might work, though it would run down my tubes in my two channel unnecessarily.

The other issue, I am realizing, is that the room now has a large L shaped sectional. (I didn't consider this when I posted.

IF the two channel and TV are combined on one wall, well, one speaker will be firing directly into the long vertical length of the sectional. D'oh! 
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lonemountain
415 posts
 
Why not use the LR thoughput on a surround receiver or preamp to feed your audiophile preamp which feeds your audiophile amp and audiophile L/R speakers? Most of these receivers/preamps are set up to allow pass through in stereo and then those channels become the L/R in the surround set up when you are in surround mode (watching movies)? All that’s required is to make sure the LR levels are matched with the whole group when in surround.  Your audiophile system is integrated with your surround system and you operate the system differently depending on stereo or surround. 
Brad


hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,813 posts
 
@lonemountain Interesting idea. Might be a good way to trim things down. Thank you!
gabor2525
24 posts
 
I'm in a similar situation.
Our older home had a great  sounding 5.1 system .
We have been in a much smaller space for the past 3 years.
Presently have the Bose soundbar -well,you can kind of hear it .Still better than the putrid TV speaker.
Bought the Klipsch "the fives" and will try out in our new home next month.That air ahed been labeled by one pro reviewer as being the "soundbar slayer".
Anyone have that as a source for TV audio?
ei001h
275 posts
 

I was debating to have a sound bar in my bedroom. I got the Vifa Copenhagen from Ebay for under 1k. It sounds ok. I was also considering Dali Katch 2. Now I wanna get the LS50 wireless 2 to serve as 2 ch and TV stereo sound. 

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