2.1 Stereo System for TV Listening
How well does a 2.1 stereo system work for TV listening? As I have been looking at smaller homes, I’ve noticed that in many of those places, the TV would need to be same room where I would be listening to music. In quite a few of these homes, it would be tough to set up a good 5.1 installation anyway. A 2.1 system makes a lot of sense, since sound quality for music is my priority. I currently have a quality 2.1 system with an integrated amp, tower speakers, and music streamer in my living room as well as a more modest 5.1 system in my TV room.
My biggest concern about using a 2.1 system for TV listening would be getting clear dialog audio at both low and high volumes. I would be interested in reading about your experience using a 2.1 system for TV listening. Thanks in advance for your input.
if you are concernedwith dialog clarity you need a center channelwhich means surround sound
we are a shop that caters to both high end stereo and theater
the best solution is a two channel integrated plus a suround receiver plus acenter and mains isw hat you want Dave and Troy audio intellect nj home theater designers |
My experience is similar to a few members above. I ditched surround sound about 15 years ago and I've never had the urge to go back. My TV setup has 2 modest tower speakers and a 10" subwoofer with no center channel. It's only my wife and I that watch TV on a love seat so imaging hasn't been a problem. I don't use a center channel because the dialogue is quite clear but I will admit that a couple years ago I began using subtitles for movies. My wife and I realized that we were missing a lot of dialogue - especially when the actors had foreign accents - and it was silly not to use the subtitle feature. I don't think a center channel would make any difference. Once I went to 2.1 I realized that it actually improved the movie watching experience. For me, surround sound is mostly distracting. We don't watch many blockbusters with whooshy-bang-boom sound effects so surround is really not important to us. And it's so nice not to have to deal with all those damn wires and extra speakers. In my main system upstairs I have a TV on the wall behind the speakers (the speakers are about 6' into the room). I use this for watching concert videos and for breaking news if I'm I'm paying bills or doing something up there. My system images very well so 2 channels provides an excellent "you are there" experience for watching a concert. |
@flyfish77 , is there a speaker switch you found of quality, that you can recommend? I want to slip an older amp in my 5.1 setup (dislike it's 2 ch sound) to listen to 2ch in same room. |
The 2.1 system for movie does not do well primarily because of the less clear / focus dialogue that was distributed to the central channel speaker in the 5.1 or 7.1 AVR system. Creating / wiring a "phantom" center channel into a 2.1 system is tricky based on my limited exposure and the mono center channel created tends to messing up the soundstage of the original 2.1 system. For moving watching, I will suggest just buy a used reputable AVR and a center speaker and select the 3-channel mode. I use Harman Kardon AVR 25 ii for movie and it works great with a 3.1 setup. You could easily buy it or a comparable quality AVR for around $150. |
