I have a dual purpose room. I have an Anthem AVM70 with nice anthem multi channel amps for center surrounds rears and 4 ceiling. I have a dedicated PSAudio front end and Focals all the way around. I could easily use HT bypass but what to do with the sub? LFE with anthem or RCA out of pre. How to set volume and tune? After much ordering I ended up with a JL Audio CR-1 xover. It also takes care of xover for 2 channel and adds bypass for for HT at a push of a button. Allows for 1 sub. HFor the cost of the cr1 I could have bought more subs and used speaker outs to run but I do not have the room for it at all.
HT and 2 channel in same room? 1 or 2 systems?
Hi all, I wasn't exactly sure where to post this but hoping someone here may have some advice for me. This dilemma has been stressing me a bit so would appreciate any advice. I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
I have recently put together a multichannel system as do a lot of movies/PS5. System is Onkyo RZ50 AVR, Klipsch RF7-iii, RC-64iii and RP-600 for surround. I plan on adding in ATMOS speakers and some big DIY subs soon.
I have always wanted to get into 2 channel audio also. I have a fairly big room, 21x28, so I have also purchased a 5 year old pair of La Scala II's a few weeks ago and I just had a Willsenton R300 tube integrated amp delivereda day or two ago.
I thought at first I would have 2 separate systems in the same space. I started doing some research into how to add a sub to that tube amp and found out I can do this via high level inputs, however, for every 1 discussion that seems to like that idea, I find another discussion or two that says you really need RCA out/bass management to make everything fit together.
So..my dilemma is do I push forward with 2 separate systems? I'll have to find a way to fit another pair of subs for the 2 channel system via high level. But this way I'll be able to enjoy the La Scala's via tube (thru Bluesound Node streamer) which I have been really looking forward to and then have a whole separate HT for gaming/movies.
But.....more than a few people have suggested this might be way over-thinking and over-complicating this and that I should just listen to music thought my multi-channel setup and forget the 2 separate systems. If I did this, I guess I would just sell the RF7's and just listen to everything through the La Scalas. And then I'd only need 2 subs, which would be a plus but then also kind of lose the dream of having a tube setup for music. However, I have more often than not done upgrades and not heard any difference so I'm kind of expecting this with the tubes, too. I have alot of hard surfaces in this room, which I'm working on rectifying, but I am def worried that if I hook up this tube amp, its not going to sound any different to me than going via Pure Audio/Direct thru the AVR.
So plusses to keeping separate, I get to listen to tubes. Plusses to going down to 1 system, I can consolidate and sell extra set of speakers, only need 1 set of subs, get to return the tube amp. I'm just not sure if saying I have tubes is worth that or not.
Appreciate any advice anyone may have on this situation.
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I have been a cinephile almost as long as an audiophile. If you want them to share rooms, then you probably have to chose which one takes precedence. Putting a big monitor between your mains is a pretty horrible thing to do. I use a projector and a powered screen.
For me, this was my 2 channel system. I use the pre-out and I have used both HT bypass and and RCA switch (there are some very good ones, Manley probably makes the gold standard one). I have the typical stereo - server > DAC > pre > amp. My HT uses the same server, an AVR, and uses the pre-out to drive the amps. I have very sensitive corner horns and I have used 25W amps to power these with great results in the past. My current amps are Manley Snappers (100W tube amps). As for stereo using primarily reflection and HT using primarily absorption - this is pure rubbish. Both require pretty much exactly the same thing in terms of room treatment, and both require alot of it. The main difference is in speaker placement, and how the speakers interact with each other and the room.
When I set up my system, I focused on front speaker placement. The rest of the speakers went where I could fit them, and I let the DSP figure out the timing. Not ideal, but still extremely good. | ||||
OP, plenty of viable strategies in this thread. Start with what you got already IMO. These Klipsch Reference RF7 speakers can sing, get them singing with great setup and room treatments. I have an Onkyo receiver, the amps are Onkyo’s strengths, now you also have Dirac. Nobody else can tell what this combo will sound like in your room. Look how sensitive your speakers are:
Now look how much power your receiver has:
How does it sound so far? | ||||
One system vote here. Have an Arcam AV40 handling all multimedia on the HT side, which goes through the HT bypass on the 2 channel preamp. Have two subs only used in HT. Room also has basic treatment but it is my living room so had to compromise with my fiancé.
That's integrated in a full 2 channel music setup and everything works great. |
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