reluctant about home theater

A couple of things are required: 1. you must have enough room for correct speaker placement...many people do not. 2. You must have enough knowledge to set the system up...many people do not.

As some of the others mentioned above...If you do things correctly you will be a step ahead (not a step behind)...ie, you can have your cake, and eat it to.

Dave

I don't know guys, I have a decent 5.1 system and I've watched and listened to MANY great 5.1 concerts on it. It still does not have the transparency and purity of either of my other two-channel systems (although if you just listen to the 5.1 by itself without comparing, it sounds quite impressive and decent enough).

What could be different, hmmm, let me think, maybe it's the extra digital processing required for surround sound....

Anyway, here's a challenge for all the multi-channel afficionados. I live in the Tucson area and can get up to Phoenix as well. If anyone thinks they have an exceptional multi-channel set up that competes with an excellent dedicated 2-channel system, well -- I'm all ears...?!

I started out trying to buid a audiophile quality HT system. By that I mean I used the same amps, speaker, cable, etc., that I would use in a two channel system. The only exception being the digital processor which didn't have the by pass option like most do today. IMHO it was exceptional but paled from a strictley music listening perspective. The 5.1 and ADVD's were awsome and I really enjoy watching concerts and music videos. However I ended up building a separate two channel system to enjoy just listening to music (redbook CD's and analog). A lot had to do with having the digital processor in the loop and the rest, room setup wasn't the same because of the TV in the middle and the center speaker not to mention the rear speakers. So I would say that a properly dialed in home theater system with excellent components is certainly capable of producing audiophile quality sound. It just won't give you the holigraphic naturalness of a dialed in two channel system. This is just my opion after having tried it both ways. I must add that I set up a two channel room specifically for listenuing to music, so I am obviously biased. The good news is that I can have my cake and eat it to. My wife can watch movies while I can listen to my jazz collection. Life is GOOD.

I'm an old timer but still have decent audio acuity. I was early to quadraphonic hence began my L.R. H.T. setup w/4 Audio Analyst A-200ax three way speakers. I added a ctr. channel, an HDTV and Pioneer Elite rcvr/
Pioneer Elite DVD Player. I primarily listen to SACDs, DVD Audios and CDs in classical and jazz. Yes, there are "over-boosted" multichannel discs just as there are oppressive sound tracks for "action" movies. In my den I have "Golden Oldie" Bozac B-302Bs, a record player and c.d. player. I can tolerate people who are 2 channel purists but believe that a carefully chosen H.T. system, properly set up, can provide much joy to audiophiles.