Stereo or Home Theater?

I agree with all of the above. I do feel that home theatre or surround sound for that matter is really in the future. Combining the two has problems. Putting a video monitor between your stereo speakers is not ideal for stereo. This trade off might very well be the best compromise. Except for listeners out side the sweet spot, the center channel is usually an anethama to good stereo. The exception being those rare recordings with a discrete center channel played on an exact replica of the equipment used for stereo and placed equidistant from the listener. Ironicaly, this usually prohibits said video monitor. Playing back stereo recordings is bound to excite the drivers of unused speakers (unless strategicaly covered) causing added unwanted sound. The best way to make HT/SS work is to have all channels identical in equipment and placement. This requires an extremely large room with listener in the center. Using a good audiophile room the channels will have different speaker to side and speaker to rear relationships. As such the bass and wall reflections will differ giving different signals re: original sound vs. reflected sound which can smear and confuse the listening experience not to mention giving ample clue as to where the sound is originating from and thus putting cracks in the imageing. I have never heard any (at any cost!) rear channels sound natural. All is not lost. I think we can make HT/SS work. IMHO the best way would be using all an discrete channel media format, in a large room with flat monitor, all identical channels, equidistant from listener, omnidirectional speakers, room treatment and digital room correction. As for me I will continue to go with the best two channel system I can afford with tv in the center. If and when there is enough quality multichannel media format I will consider either upgrading my system ot incorporate it or using another room for HT/SS. As of now there is not enough software to justify the cost, which at current prices for the quality that I would expect is beyond my means. Any thoughts on using a round or (lets get really crazy) sphere shaped room (with listeners head centered)?

I love music and I love movies. Practicality has led me to have the best system I can that serves both these purposes as best as possible. There are definitely compromises, but having bought a couple channels of really excellent amplification for the L/R channels, I figure it's easier to just use them for both purpose. Hence, a single system, where there's a bit of a sonic compromise (though I still have a smile glued on my face when I'm listening) as opposed to a budgetary compromise. -Kirk

There is more activity taking places in your brain when you are asleep than when you are watch tv/ht! Listening to music is far more of a mental activity. I took my HT down and it's sitting in boxes or piles around the house. I'd much rather listen to music and exercise my brain than numb it with unimaginative or contrived movie plots.

For me, my system has to sound good with music first and foremost. With that said, I have been disappointed with pretty much every piece of home theater gear I've owned. I have owned pieces from the likes of Lexicon, Citation, Bryston, Marantz, EAD, and Proceed. I found myself rotating processors and amps about every 3 months because I grew tired of the sound. Just on a side note...the best "compromise" that I found was with a 5.1 upgraded Madrigal/Citation 7.0 THX processor and 7.1 THX amps. They were the most musical of any home-theater gear I tried, but still a fair disappointment in the end.

I agree with most people that have responded- they are two seperate beasts. I ended up going back to nice tube gear, although I do have a nice 32" TV and DVD/DVD-Audio player. My DVD player has an unusually good virtual surround processor. No, it's not as good as a full set-up but I'm more than satisfied since my main interest is music.

I have never cared for multi-channel music. If recorded well, i.e. the surround channels reproducing ambient sound and not distinct kick drums, guitars, and the like coming from behind you, it can sound good. Unfortunately, 90% of the multi channel discs ( both DVD-Audio and SACD) are poorly mixed. Most multi-channel discs drive me crazy with so much information in the rear channels. Call me a purist but this is NOT natural.

So there you have it...my 2 cents worth. Enjoy the music!!

HT is the bastard sibling of stereo music. Personally, I don't find the DVD + rear projector to make for pleasant viewing, I am not in to film like I am in to music, and i just get bored watching movies at home. So I frequent the three great(one sports a bar:) theaters in the city that show independent films. -I usually have a few unused Blockbuster GCs running around from Xmas, etc. I send them to my Dad, the man loves movies.-