2.1 Stereo System for TV Listening

@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.

I've used my 2-channel hi-fi system for my television sound for decades. My system also throws a very sharp center image, so dialogue sounds clear as long as it was recorded clearly, which often is not the case, and music and sounds are a lot better.... 

My two main speakers were 14 ft apart with minor toe-in for music listening.  As such the person not sitting in the middle listening position could not get clear dialouge when watching movie without a Center channel...

I have a pretty small home, not "tiny home", but damn close enough.

I use 2.1 since there is no room or anywhere to have a dedicated stereo listening room, and I watch a lot of movies and shows, and Youtube music/concerts/video, nearly equal to just listening to music.  Though NEITHER is perfect, they are both great mixtures, and suit the space and lifestyle perfectly, with what ever compromises more than willing to be paid.  I can't say that I experience the dialog issues others mentioned, but I am betting I am experiencing 'some', but it's not as bad due to my speakers being only 7' apart.

Honestly I wouldn't watch "TV" of any kind any other way.  Regular shows suffer some, but in general I feel like I am getting way better experience. Things like NPRs "Tiny Desk" concerts are literally, live performances in my tiny living room.  I've never had surround 5.1 so I can't speak to that, but 2.1 has been a mainstay and a must for me for years.  Though I would bet a 5.1 would be a better movie experience, a solid 2.1 system will do really damn good I would think in 'most' living rooms. 

I use a Rega Elex-r integrated amp, fed by a Black Ice FX DAC, and a REL TX5 subwoofer.  The DAC gets TOSLINK from the "TV" (I stream to a Google Chromecast Ultra puck on the TV), and an older Pioneer Elite PD64 CD player.  The Chromecast Ultra Puck will receive 24/96khz, so 'high res' from Qobuz/Amazon Music etc, videos, movies etc, and display the app the TV being broadcast from computer or phone.