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Do NOT Blow Your Entire Budget on Two Channel Audio

Yes, two channel audio is here, and is not going away. However, object based audio is delightful, widely available on Tidal and Apple Music, and should be in the listening room of every music lover on the planet, not just "audiophiles. If you plan to be a music fan a year from now start building your object based audio system today. You will need:

1) A receiver/processor capable of Dolby Atmos.

2) A subscription to Tidal or Apple music.

3) A Firestick, ATV, or Nvidia Shield.

4) A minimum of 7 timber matched speakers and a subwoofer.

Once you experienced stereo would you ever go back to only mono? No, you would build a system capable of either mono or stereo. Now that object based audio has arrived do the same thing. Build a system capable of mono, stereo, AND object based audio. When Elton John heard Rocket Man in an object based format for the first time why did he demand to convert his entire catalog to Atmos? If you don’t know, then you need to go listen to Rocket Man in a good Atmos setup ASAP.

So, take your budget, DIVERSIFY, and get a good Atmos capable receiver or processor. Object based audio is NOT last decades surround sound or home theater. It is for MUSIC first, if you need a recommendation on how to allocate your budget feel free to post a question. Most importantly, you don’t NEED two systems, one for music and one for movies. A good object based audio system can play two channel music just fine. A two channel system on the other hand can’t play object based audio without a proper processor or receiver.

Greg Penny talks mixing Rocket Man in Atmos.

https://youtu.be/ggzfcUKDqdo?feature=shared

 

kota1
tablejockey
3,797 posts
 

" When Elton John heard Rocket Man in an object based format for the first time why did he demand to convert his entire catalog to Atmos? "

Is there any possibility EJ’s enthusiasm is more $ale$ AND oh yeah..." immersive experience?"

As mentioned, to each his own.

Honky Chateau by the way, should be in everyone’s EJ collection.

 

carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,384 posts
 

Budget?

 

kota1 OP
2,706 posts
 

@tablejockey

Honky Chateau by the way, should be in everyone’s EJ collection.

+1

That album is like micro chipped in my brain. It started with the LP back in the day, then the CD. I have 4 concert bluerays of EJ which are all stunning Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes. Then you hear the atmos mix and it is like hearing it in a way that is more realistic than anything previously, totally unexpected to what the "microchip" is remembering. I just don’t get tired of playing it.

 

 

uncledemp
715 posts
 

@kota1 

Thanks for bringing it up. My son is a big fan and has recently outfitted his basement with a setup similar to what you describe. I’m happy with my 5.1 theater and a simple 2 channel setup. 
 

His system sounds great to me. In my opinion, same thing some struggle to achieve with 2 channel. 
 

The speakers ‘disappear’ and ‘you are there’. Also, his processor takes away the need to hang room treatments everywhere, and agonize with speaker and sub setup. You have to put in some effort, but that processor and its tuning abilities are not insignificant. Good enough for the girls we run with. 
 

Plus, he wants to spend time with his family, not sitting alone in the sweet spot. 
 

He just bought the Martin Logan streamer/amp w/arc you recommend for his office 2 channel system, I’ll let you know!

 

Best
 

 

fittebd
101 posts
 

I applaud you for trying to open some eyes.  Yes it’s not for all but when starting from stretch it’s not an impossible task.  If you have two rooms even easier.  I have a dual purpose room and use a JL Audio CR-1 as the linch pin to make my room do that. My 2 channel issues it as a xover for my G25HP Rythmik subwoofer.  With a push of a button it’s the 2.1 part of my 7.1.4 Atmos system I can use for both movies and music.  Eversolo now streams my ripped 5.1 library replacing my oppo.  My 2 channel system is waaay more costly than my theater.  About 70k vs 30k.  Don’t forget I count the 2.1 in each system.  So speakers  are a large chunk of the 5.1. 
 

just added my AirLens to compare streaming.  Why not if you can. And yeah if it does not tickle your fancy then don’t.  

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