Tired of HT

There is no reason your two-channel sound from an HT system should be inferior to any equivalent 2 channel system. There is no fundamental difference at all.

The only problem with HT is that you have five speakers and a sub - six speakers in all - and if you want equivalent high quality sound to a good two speaker system then you must plan to spend THREE times as much for HT. (If a good 2 channel to your ears can be achieved for 10K then you need 30K for just the audio part of your HT in order to achieve the same)

Cost is the big difference but quality can be found in both.

Very enlightened thinking Shardone, I like it!

If you don't like what you're getting change what you can...

I'm seldom big on wholesale changes and feel Shatern is onto something... so I'd suggest perhaps a really nice tube int. amp with HT bypass or without it for that matter and your current level of HT remains... and the stereo/music improves perhaps substatially without the marked expense of a complete swapout of the HT.

I fully appreciate your sityation. I've found too, that to have separated the music from the TV/DVD arena is best, and way less money in the end.

Put it this way.. if you drop say $3 to $4K on a tube int or SS int, for that matter, I bet you come out way ahead musically than if the same amount is fed into all 5 channels instead.

Does the sound coming from the surrounds and rears really matter that much to you, OR is the majority of your musical interests ALL multi ch?

If so, this upgrade is gonna be costly IMO.

Good luck.

After much experimenting, I found that I needed 2 totally separate systems. The Surround sound is in one room, and the high end stereo in another.