Going 2 Channel (HT Withdrawl?) [Archive]

Lsi9

01-21-2009, 06:48 PM

Pauly

01-21-2009, 06:49 PM

IMO i love 2chnl. Granted i love my HT, but find myself listening to more music. I say start somewhere and work your way from there.

Good Luck

Pauly

nikolas812

01-21-2009, 06:51 PM

Wait until you can afford both.

Keep the HT and start saving for a badaas 2 channel rig..

I've have been back and forth a few times and each time i eventually end up missing one or the other.

Thats my opinion....

Nick

Lsi9

01-21-2009, 06:52 PM

Thanks, I see it like its simplification and purification, but I wonder if I wil regret it down the line for whatever reason

Cant it just be a 2 channel HT?

wingnut4772

01-21-2009, 06:54 PM

Yes. I loved my 2 channel but I missed the HT, sold all the 2 channel and rebuilt the HT. If I had my druthers though I would have both but I won't go without the HT again.

suprafantx

01-21-2009, 06:55 PM

I must have both. Two channels for late night music, HT for movies and some DTS music DVDs.

george daniel

01-21-2009, 06:58 PM

HT is very nice,,Ted's HT at Polkfest 07 actually scared me,LOL,, but I could sit for hours listening to a good 2 channel system,which Ted had as well,, 2 or 3 to be exact.I'm just a L&R guy.:cool:

tcrossma

01-21-2009, 07:01 PM

My system is a combined 2-channel and HT system, with a very strong emphasis on 2-channel. The key (for me) is a good 2-channel pre with HT bypass. My receiver drives my surrounds while my amp drives my fronts.

When watching a movie, I have only my receiver + amp + dvd player turned on and the pre is in "bypass" mode. When listening to music I have only my cd + pre + amp turned on and the pre is in "regular" mode.

For me, I need HT for some basic movie / TV / XBox 360. But what I really *enjoy* is 2-channel music listening, so that's where my emphasis lies.

Early B.

01-21-2009, 07:16 PM

Lsi9 -- you have a good strategy -- it's called "downsizing to upgrade." Sell your HT and put the money into a killer 2-channel system. Later on you can always rebuild your HT system, and when you do, it will be much better than it is now.

A couple of years ago I went in the opposite direction. I downsized the 2-channel system to focus on HT. In the long run, it was a good decision. Now both systems are much better than they were. Unless you have deep pockets, it's hard to build both systems simultaneously.

Igo

01-21-2009, 08:13 PM

I have a very nice little 2-channel set up in my bedroom but I really only have space for one great system. HT is for beer and popcorn but music is for, well, everything else. I started buiding my system for music but decided that I'd invest 20% more for HT. Yeah, for a long time everything was the 2 channels and the rest of the HT was scabbed in. In a way, it is still that way. I spend the dollars on the 2 front speakers. I put expensive wire on the front 2 and run monster to the rest. LOL. That kind of thing.

pearsall001

01-21-2009, 09:32 PM

I'm finding myself drifting more towards the HT side as of late. As a family we all enjoy the HT audio where I'm the only one with an interest in 2 channel. My listening time is usually at night when I have the room all to myself. But I am just not as emersed in 2 channel as I was. Maybe this is a cyclical thing that might reverse itself down the road. But it is nice to know that when I'm in the mood for some 2 channel listening that my system is rareing to go.

Cardinals-1

01-21-2009, 09:38 PM

My ears are trained for 2 channel. I have some large Polks and Vintage Adcom. I am looking into HT currently but find auditioning systems difficult.

mantis

01-21-2009, 09:48 PM

Anybody here go 2 channel and regret it or viceversa? I am thinking of ditching my HT inorder to enhance a 2 ch. rig

With a limited budget I feel I am limiting my scorps so I am thinking the HT has to go, since I dont enjoy it like I used, plus watching movies in really good 2 channel may seem just as good, I need opinions, Thanks
I completely understand where you are going and why. Over the years I have kicked around both sides. I also try to use one system to suit both needs. As it can be done and done well, theater gear is more expensive to get to a Musical level then a 2 channel due to more parts not that a 2 channel system can't cost crazy money but dollar for dollar you get what I mean.

Right now I'm still on the fence if I should ditch the musical abilities of my theater rig and make it pure theater but I enjoy multichannel music from time to time. I love a musical theater rig but it gets costly.

If you can afford to have both, have both, Music and movies as you know are recorded differently so the need for both replay systems is necessary if you want to hear it how it was recorded. Some do theater with 2 channel and like it but I don't. I think it sucks.

Dan

Midnite Mick

01-21-2009, 10:01 PM

My story...I needed some funds and required to make a choice in selling some gear...2 channel vs. HT. In all honesty it was an easy decision, I sold the HT gear. Having said that I was surprised at just how much I grew to miss the HT. If I had to make the decision again I would make the same decision but once I get settled in my new place and finish building the 2 channel I will definitely be putting a very good ht together.

My 2 channel has been boxed up since last July and I miss it very, very much. In fact there are times I am quite irritable because of it. Music is my therapy session and it is not the same without top gear.

Thanks,
Mike

dudeinaroom

01-21-2009, 10:01 PM

Yes. I loved my 2 channel but I missed the HT, sold all the 2 channel and rebuilt the HT. If I had my druthers though I would have both but I won't go without the HT again.

Isn't that the truth. I packed away the HT a couple of years back so I could reclaim room in the living room. It lasted about a month(I am so happy I have an audio tolerant wife). After that I just switched interconnects that went to the amp between the receiver (for ht) and preamp (for 2 ch) .. Best of both worlds:D

pearsall001

01-21-2009, 10:16 PM

.

Some do theater with 2 channel and like it but I don't. I think it sucks.

Dan

I couldn't disagree more. A combo system can perform side by side with superb musical enjoyment. I think that whole separate room bit is way over rated. Pretty much room & system dependent.

Midnite Mick

01-21-2009, 10:30 PM

Phil, I think that he means watching movies using just 2 channels....and I have to agree....not the same.

Bob Richards

01-22-2009, 02:07 PM

For me it's 2 channel. It's what I began listening to 40 years ago. I know many of the younger folks like the HT, but I was never able to really relate to it. Music is my main entertainment. Just my 2 cents.

ND13

01-22-2009, 02:17 PM

2.1 all the way for video. I've had 5.1 and really don't misit at all. I still get shit wizzing around in all directions.

There's nothing multi-channel left in the house, except for the PS3's(original 60gb version) ability for multi-channel.

2.0 for music

Mike Kozak

01-22-2009, 02:57 PM

I am struggling with the same question. I have a killer 7.1 system in the living room with 4 ceiling speakers for the surrounds....but I so want to remove the Onkyo receiver and put my mint Technics SA-600 in its place and hook up my Monitor 7Cs. Xbox would not sound the same though..... maybe for a little while

steveinaz

01-22-2009, 04:12 PM

Welcome to the dark side young Luke. Music has always been my #1 priority, and I'm very happy with my 2 channel HT.

cnh

01-22-2009, 04:20 PM

What about the new formats in sound with HD DTS Master Audio and Dolby True HD. Considering the fact that these are lossless formats and could or may be used for Audio...perhaps even 2 channel audio? Would it be a wise idea to abandon HDMI/HD-audio capabilities at this point?

Can't you see a market for a Blu-ray audio disc in 2 channel?

I think the jury may be premature on this one; maybe..

cnh

thuffman03

01-22-2009, 04:25 PM

I have both. When I want to listen to music I am upstairs were my 2 channel system is and when I want to watch a movie I am down in the game room with my HT. Best of both worlds!

Face

01-22-2009, 04:29 PM

steveinaz

01-22-2009, 04:41 PM

I connect my Bluray via S/PDIF for lossless PCM. My video sources (Bluray & HDTV receiver) are completely electrically isolated from my 2-channel audio by way of toslink to a toslink switcher (Inday DA4X-R). Then I use the Toslink out to my DAC Toslink in. My CD transport is connected via Coaxial cable to the DAC.

Go here for my diagram: http://members.cox.net/stepheninaz/audio_connection_scheme.xls

I love this setup as my HDMI connections go straight to the TV, not having to route thru anything else I think gives the best possible picture quality. This way, I can also just simply watch video sources with or without the stereo on.

Gaara

01-22-2009, 05:18 PM

Anybody here go 2 channel and regret it or viceversa? I am thinking of ditching my HT inorder to enhance a 2 ch. rig

With a limited budget I feel I am limiting my scorps so I am thinking the HT has to go, since I dont enjoy it like I used, plus watching movies in really good 2 channel may seem just as good, I need opinions, Thanks

I tried going 2ch only for a week with my HT. I was VERY surprised at how good it sounded, but did find myself missing the surround effects. I just missed the ambiance, wind blowing, random chatter, crickets , etc. I missed feeling enveloped in sound during movies, and especially for games it was lacking. Games like COD4 really pull you in with the sound, and without surround it felt lacking.

Money has been tight recently so the route I went was to downgrade. I got a cheaper amp, and downgraded my speakers. Sound quality didn't take much of a hit, and if push comes to shove I would rather get rid of the surround all together then downgrade my 2ch.

So you could try running 2ch in your current system, if you like it then you can dump the HT and upgrade the 2ch. If you like but don't love it, you could downgrade the ht and upgrade the 2ch w/ the funds. If you hate it, do nothing.

del44

01-22-2009, 05:25 PM

It's possible to share sources by running the analog outs to the 2 channel pre and the optical/digital out to your receiver.

That's how I have mine set up. Even have the SACD player running 5.1 analog and digital audio to the HT processor and 2 channel analog running to the 2 channel pre. That way, I can enjoy music in 2 channel or multi-channel hi-rez.

acsubie

01-22-2009, 05:45 PM

i have been looking to get into 2 channel, but i also enjoy my surround system, i wouldnt mind get a dedicated 2 channel pre amp, any good suggestions for one with HT bypass?

cfrizz

01-22-2009, 06:08 PM

I will always have just one system & listen to both on it. I love both formats, but I refuse to become that anal over 2 channel listening.

Lsi9

01-22-2009, 08:35 PM

Thanks! All great responses

I will take my time deciding but after reading this thread I am leaning towards keeping the HT

tcrossma

01-22-2009, 08:57 PM

i have been looking to get into 2 channel, but i also enjoy my surround system, i wouldnt mind get a dedicated 2 channel pre amp, any good suggestions for one with HT bypass?

I've been extremely happy with my Adcom GFP-750

Igo

01-22-2009, 09:02 PM

It's not hard to have the best of both in one rig/room.

Get a 2 channel preamp with HT bypass. Set everything in the front end up around the two channel rig since it's more difficult to set up.

It's possible to share sources by running the analog outs to the 2 channel pre and the optical/digital out to your receiver.

The only other tricky part (IMO) is doing your best to make sure your center and rear speakers timbre match your mains.

I run this bedroom system, in part, by an optical input from my living room HT. I have best of both worlds also. And when I really want to rumble, I have RCA from the living room CD player to living room amp and 40 feet of optical from same living room CD player to the bedroom amp so the house will rumble with two audio systems playing in tandem. LOL

http://www.polkaudio.com/images/showcase/522_10_big.jpg

organ

01-23-2009, 12:19 AM

I missed HT a lot when I went 2ch. After about 6 years or so, I've just completed my HT again. If you like both HT and 2ch, there are ways to have both in one set up. That's what I'm doing now. Just think about your room layout, what you can move around to make more room, etc.

Lsi9

01-25-2009, 09:49 PM

Well as of today I am going two channel only, planning on getting the Jolida JD100RC, went to my pal's house yesterday and he is running B&W 804S with a 600 watt a channel mac, I knew there and then I needed to step up the power, anyone here with the 1000rc? any opinions?

Braddles

01-25-2009, 10:20 PM

2 channel was my first love and i have gone back that way for now. I still have most of the HT stuff but sold my reciever to fund my 2 channel amp. Do miss the HT sometimes and will get back there one day but for now we enjoy putting the kids to bed, turning off the tv and putting on some nice tunes to unwind. I like to sit with my laptop and see what all you guys are up to while i listen.
I use my old luxman amp for some 2ch HT for now and with the SDA2's up front it's pretty good. I am lucky enough that i have 2 living areas to devide them up.

I think that as your life goes through it's different stages (kids etc) you will use one format more than the other and then it will change again, and again, and again.

wingnut4772

01-25-2009, 10:26 PM

I don't know..if you have to ask the question something tells me you will miss it but good luck and enjoy.

Gadabout

01-26-2009, 12:19 AM

About a year and a half ago, I was doing some 2 channel listening on the HT, and it was just missing the presence of music I was looking for. From past experiances, I also knew that I preferred HT in at least a 5.1 setup. 2ch sounded OK but I missed all the ambiant sounds coming out of the surrounds. To me it just wasn't HT in a 2ch setting.

While I do enjoy immediate gratification, I decided to just start saving and working on a 2ch system. It took me a better part of year to save up the funds and acquire the sytem. I'm really happy that I did. I much prefer having a 2ch system and an HT system. The only time mucic gets played on the HT system is when we are having a get together or for background music while we are working on projects.

Save your HT and save $'s for the 2ch... IMO

Scott

treitz3

01-26-2009, 12:32 AM

I got rid of my HT about 15 years ago. Went with a 2 channel HT rig for all those years. About two years ago, I got rid of all of the video components altogether and went with a strictly 2 channel rig. Did I think I would miss HT and all video? Yes. In actuality did I? No.

I actually had the complete opposite reaction. When I got the new rack that was built specifically for a 2 channel rig, I noticed that the sound improved. When I took all of the video crap out, the sound improved. I have enjoyed my two channel rig for these two years now and I haven't missed HT once. YMMV and you may have a completely different reaction, I don't know. I do know this, you won't know until you try.

NewHTguy

01-26-2009, 06:49 PM

Nice to know that I'm not alone in wanting to downsize. I've been thinking of moving down to 3.1, but do not have the heart or the money to sell my Rti 10's and Csi5. Frankly, there are times that I find the surround annoying, especially when it consists of clapping and laughing.

nikolas812

01-26-2009, 08:03 PM

Lsi9

01-26-2009, 08:13 PM

I'm think Doro had one.:confused:

It might not have been the remote controlled one though.....

Yes just did a Jolida search here and saw that...

My speakers are rated at 4 ohms and 91db, you guys think the 1000rc is overkill? I have a baby and love that the tubes can be seen but cannot be touched, so even if it is overkill I probably wont mind, but for my own knowledge what does it mean in terms of tube watts when you have very efficient speakers at 4 ohm?

Peter Fleming

01-27-2009, 05:41 AM

I can pretty well relate to all the posted comments in this subject. Most of us seem to reach the crossroads. After numerous upgrades (and inadvertant downgrades) I learned the worst lesson of all was the huge loss in money. My loss was somebody else's bargain - and it hurts!

In this situation I would keep the HT, and do something our parents use to do years ago - save up and go without other stuff to reach your goal!!

If you sell off the HT you'll loose money that you will not recover. If you retain the HT, enjoy it, and save for your stereo system giving you the best of both worlds.

I went secondhand on my stereo rig, saved a bundle and picked up some nice bits and enjoyed them, then sold them and made money on all of them, and kept upgrading slowly and had fun along the way! If you buy secondhand and upgrade later you will lose very little money, if at all??

I also use the main speakers in my HT for my 2 channel rig. It's not perfect but I have two great systems to enjoy.

reeltrouble1

01-27-2009, 07:27 AM

The measure of an audio system's sound quality is directly porportional to the influence of compromise the signal encounters along its path.

RT1

nikolas812

01-27-2009, 08:35 AM

Yes just did a Jolida search here and saw that...

My speakers are rated at 4 ohms and 91db, you guys think the 1000rc is overkill? I have a baby and love that the tubes can be seen but cannot be touched, so even if it is overkill I probably wont mind, but for my own knowledge what does it mean in terms of tube watts when you have very efficient speakers at 4 ohm?

No I don't think it would be overkill at all.

I like this even better.....:D

http://www.jolida.com/catalogue/models/Envoy.shtml

I've always wanted to hear the Envoy system from Jolida....

Nick