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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
kota1 OP
2,706 posts
 

@facten 

By "high end do you mean:

Wilson Audio Atmos:

https://www.wilsonaudio.com/products/alida/alida

Bryston:

https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/receiver-processor/bryston-sp4-16-channel-surround-processor-review/

Kef:

https://youtu.be/Sgu_v8ZOuic?feature=shared

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,097 posts
 

High End sound means "natural Timbre " first... ( then optimal dynamic and transient, optimal balanced sound etc are necessary for this because timbre is a "musical" concept and an acoustic one not a DSP one ) ....

Then it means 3-D holographical imaging, soundstaging ... ( BACCH filters does not degrade "timbre" and for that are my choice )

Two speakers or an headphone is enough...No supplementary cost...

Kota gives much interesting information thanks to him but is biased toward unnecessary tools and a bit provocative... I am a bit too  myself sometimes then i will not advise him about that... 😊

 

 

facten
2,881 posts
 

Sound United umbrella is largely a mix bag of low to mid fi brands targeted to mass market. What high end 2 channel , non-mass market brands are walking away from 2 channel audio? I can’t think of one. You picked Wilson - well read Wilson Audio’s statement about the linked product- new cinematic experiences await those who choose the latest Dolby® systems. Alida is ready. Cinematic is the key word Wilson isn’t targeting this towards their music customer base.Since you selected them, has Bryston announced that they are moving away from 2 channel? No! Has Kef? No! Are they providing a product for those with home theaters and maybe also listen to music via that Yes! I don’t begrudge anyone their enjoyment of Atmos and it’s future may be bright time will tell. But telling folks that everything 2 channel will be a boat anchor in 5 years , maybe amongst the low -mid fi, not happening in the high end.  As the saying goes we'll agree to disagree on this specific.

jeffrey125
282 posts
 

Look this Kota person is not here to spread knowledge, share insights, or to convert the masses to this Atmos format. His entire agenda now is just to be an obnoxious little peckerwood, like an Alabama fan. The best thing to do is ignore this little peckerwood, he is envious and will always be a lo-fi, mass market kind of guy. A picture speaks a thousand words. He should grab a few of these other like minded folks and start their own forum. Total street preachers. 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,097 posts
 

There is a market for any consumers demand...

One market does not replace the others...

Most high end  consumers and music listener invest less time in movies and more in music... ( anyway how many non stupid movies comes from Hollywood ? Some not many )

I listen any non american movies when i listened to one, at least  doing so i learn at least something about other cultures... And i am tired of Hollywood pastiches...

Spectacular CGI matter less for me than intelligent content , then in audio  as in movie, I prefer music to sound at the end...

I invested way more in books and music than in movies... I dont need atmos for movies and for music  only 2 speakers or one headphone is needed...

I am a dinosaurus...

My only phone is a flapping one from 15 years ago with almost no screen and almost no computing abilities... ( phone are useful read me right but i hate them more than i use them )

😊

 

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