Thinking of ditching the home theater.

StantonZ · February 2017

cfrizz wrote: »

^This. Does it really have to be either or? I'd rather have it and not need it/use it, rather than you go get a bigger tv somewhere down the line and the HT bug hits and you then have to purchase new gear all over again.

^ ^ ^ THIS.

Movie/TV watching tends to go in cycles...and you never know when something like The Martian or The Expanse is going to come along and fire you up! Not only that, I've really enjoyed immersive sound (Atmos/DTS-X) since my AVR upgrade last year.

mikeyb128 · February 2017

Ok guys, thanks for the comments, it has helped me in my decision. My final decision is... keeping my marantz 7702, picking up a marantz 7705 (used) 5 channel amp. Selling one sub, and both sets of lsifx. Going to pocket the money, run 2.1 for a while and when I get the urge, I will upgrade my rear speakers to match my front stage (focal).

tonyb · February 2017

Still think you need a tubed pre in the mix .

mikeyb128 · February 2017

tonyb wrote: »

Still think you need a tubed pre in the mix .

Lol, I don't want to add money to something not being used. I have a tubed pre in my 2 channel rig in the basement. There's a lot of tubiness going on down there.

tonyb · February 2017

Gotcha man, thought for a second you were going to cut back and combine both. Either way....rock it.

mikeyb128 · February 2017

I have dedicated room in my basement, fully treated, im a die hard 2 channel freak. Lol! I think downsizing the theater but keeping it ready for 5.1 will do just fine.

mhardy6647 · February 2017

The arms race in home theater has long been a turn off to me, Luddite that I am.
What are they up to now, like 12.1?
Makes me think of Steve Martin's Googlephonics.

https://youtu.be/Cjjsz14hL48
(Martin's shtick contains a naughty word)

"the highest number of speakers before infinity"

scan0002 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

tonyb · February 2017

LOL Mark, I think it's up to 14.4, who knows, anything to sell more gear. I have to chuckle a bit too when I see some wanting to stick a 9.2 system in a 12 by 12 room.

I like surround sound for movies, don't get me wrong, but after I watch a movie, it can be 6 months later before I want to see the same one again. Music however doesn't have that lag time for me so that's where I choose to concentrate my thoughts.

Others like watching the nightly news in surround sound, knock your socks off, that's just not me though.

mikeyb128 · February 2017

tonyb wrote: »

LOL Mark, I think it's up to 14.4, who knows, anything to sell more gear. I have to chuckle a bit too when I see some wanting to stick a 9.2 system in a 12 by 12 room.

I like surround sound for movies, don't get me wrong, but after I watch a movie, it can be 6 months later before I want to see the same one again. Music however doesn't have that lag time for me so that's where I choose to concentrate my thoughts.

Others like watching the nightly news in surround sound, knock your socks off, that's just not me though.

You're speaking my language here. I don't think I've blasted a movie or even used the surrounds in 6 months.

I'm almost annoyed at how fast home theater tech is evolving. A fiend of mine changes receivers and speakers twice a year. It's ridiculous! The more I talk about it the more I can't make up my mind what to do.

mhardy6647 · February 2017

hmmm -- this thread is fast turning the corner to "hey, you dang punk kids! get offa my lawn!" territory.

PS I am OK with that; I really am a Luddite. It has something to do with having spent a career in "high tech" (including two years as part of a technology strategy group in a very large corporation with a Pfunny name).

nspindel · February 2017

Do it. When I moved to FL I ditched 7.1 and just use a soundbar with a sub. If I want to care about sound I listen to music on the 2-channel.

tonyb · February 2017

mikeyb128 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

LOL Mark, I think it's up to 14.4, who knows, anything to sell more gear. I have to chuckle a bit too when I see some wanting to stick a 9.2 system in a 12 by 12 room.

I like surround sound for movies, don't get me wrong, but after I watch a movie, it can be 6 months later before I want to see the same one again. Music however doesn't have that lag time for me so that's where I choose to concentrate my thoughts.

Others like watching the nightly news in surround sound, knock your socks off, that's just not me though.

You're speaking my language here. I don't think I've blasted a movie or even used the surrounds in 6 months.

I'm almost annoyed at how fast home theater tech is evolving. A fiend of mine changes receivers and speakers twice a year. It's ridiculous! The more I talk about it the more I can't make up my mind what to do.

Twice a year....that's a bit OCD huh. lol Look man, we all have different needs, you decide....but if you can't quite divorce yourself from HT, combine the 2, use the best speakers you have and gear and sell the rest. Easy peasy really, you certainly have enough gear between the 2 to do a combined system.

BlueFox · February 2017

I don't use my HT as much as I used to, but still love it. In fact, the HT around 2007 is what got me back into listening to music. I love well done sound in a movie. I recently rebought the Revenant in UHD, and one reason why is because the sound is great. Can't wait to watch it again, and listen to the wind in the trees, among other sounds, while looking at a 4K UHD picture. As I mentioned earlier, it was buying the 75" TV that reignited my HT interest.

smglbrth · February 2017

nspindel wrote: »

Do it. When I moved to FL I ditched 7.1 and just use a soundbar with a sub. If I want to care about sound I listen to music on the 2-channel.

^^^^Yup, same thing I did (exception of moving to Florida)...

gurot1 · February 2017

I think I am the opposite. I hardly ever get to just listen to music anymore, but do get to watch some movies with the family!

mdaudioguy · February 2017

tonyb wrote: »

I think it's up to 14.4, who knows, anything to sell more gear.

Kind of like this!

https://youtu.be/dHMrESf5vOs

WLDock · February 2017

It's true that technology evolves to sell more gear. Plus, everyone has their own wants, needs, and opinions. Yes, it makes sense for the mostly music lover to go with a 2 channel system single system. However, I think its biased to single out home theater technology as obsession and unnecessary. The current trend of Dolby Atmos with speakers in the ceiling or firing up. IMO, those that "go all out" for home theater are no different than the typical "all out" computer gamer. Have you seen their rigs and how much they pay for them and how often they upgrade! Well, what about the "all out" high-end 2 channel audiophile? They roll gear in and out of their rig as often as any gamer, HT person, etc. Obsessiveness exists everywhere! Yes, 7-12 speakers in a home are excessive no different than two large horn, line array, full range, etc. speakers powered by expensive class A amps, tube preamps, room treatments, expensive wire, etc. The addiction is the same....It's just the form is different.

Choose your addiction!

six-monitor-setup-two-rows-of-three-stacked.jpg?w=800&h=600

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tonyb · February 2017

LOL....Agreed. Different strokes and all. When one moves from one obsession to another though, it's hard to divorce one's self from the previous obsession completely. There's solutions for that too is all I'm sayin'.

Love those big horns btw.

WLDock · February 2017

tonyb wrote: »

LOL....Agreed. Different strokes and all......Love those big horns btw.

Yes, those horns are interesting. At shows I really like jazz and classical on them. I plan to listen to more of them this year at AXPONA. Hopefully a FULL day or two this year. In a fantasy world it would be nice to have two dedicated music rooms. One with conventional speakers and one with horns, open back, etc. Or a room large enough for both to roll back and forth.

I'm trying to figure out my own addictive needs. The HT is in the family room but a 2nd 2 channel system in the living room is just not going to happen anytime soon. So, it looks like one system is it for awhile. So, it looks like my focus is going to change. The BIG full range, open back mid, with ribbon tweeters hopefully will be added this year. Building a matching center channel is not high priority due to time and cost. Plus, I've been wanting to try a tube preamp. It looks I might be headed in the same music focused direction! Plus, I can play with room treatments in the family room. Not so much in the living room...The Mrs. Is not having it!

tonyb · February 2017

I hear ya man, we all have our obstacles to overcome. Horns though, on classical, jazz, orchestra....to die for when done right. Plus a friggin' work of art to look at too.

mhardy6647 · February 2017

even ugly horns can sound good -- just want to add that.

I should also mention that Gary Kaufman either has or will someday go to an all Altec (Voice of the Theater) HT system at his house

He has A8s for his side/rear channels and whatnot.

Joey_V · February 2017

I think the biggest problem for most of us is it is hard to justify or go all out on both ht and 2ch... So we pick our poison and most of the time it is 2ch.

But go to a different group of people and it's the opposite.

I would hazard to say that if none had a budget restriction or space restriction, it would likely be both.

That's where I stand, 2ch first. Leftovers for ht.

tonyb · February 2017

Mikey will pick his own poison, I just get the sense he's not 100% on divorcing the HT yet....and he shouldn't imho. Downsize it, combine it, either way.....you can always make that judgement down the line if you want to totally eliminate it.

WLDock · February 2017

Joey_V wrote: »

I think think I think would hazard to say that if none had a budget restriction or space restriction, it would likely be both.
That's where I stand, 2ch first. Leftovers for ht.

Joey, what about the fella with the crazy expensive Rockport theater? Do you think that is a dual system....Or maybe with that kind of money they will have a crazy 2 channel room also? The music/theater compromise for the wealthy! Damn!
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?7501-Seaton-Submersives-amp-Rockport-Arrakis-amp-Mira-Grands

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hochpt21 · February 2017

Now that my kids are getting older, we are watching more and more movies. I use my HT at least once a week for movies. Honestly, the SVS really contributes to that. Makes the whole experience better. (obviously)

Use it for workout videos also. Extra motivation with a full size trainer yelling at me..LOL.

Also I watch a decent amount of sports on it and prefer the surround as opposed to the stereo setting.

So basically, I'm just hitting my HT stride. That said, it is a pretty budget system and I would rather stick extra $$ into my 2-channel system.

Nightfall · February 2017

If I was only watching TV/Movies on my setup I'd sell all the surround sound stuff I have. For games though, it's key. Like to be playing a first person shooter, just for instance, with 5.1 you can hear that someone is behind you and to your left, turn around, shoot them. With 2 channel you can hear someone is somewhere vaguely to your left, start frantically looking all over the place, didn't find them fast enough, you're dead.

BlueFox · February 2017

Joey_V wrote: »

That's where I stand, 2ch first. Leftovers for ht.

My HT has hand me downs from the two channel system as it gets upgrades. Throw in some new HT gear to complement the previous two channel gear, and it becomes a very nice spare stereo, along with being a nice HT.

Thorton · February 2017

Music it first for me but I have a dual system. And I love the HT system. I can understand if you're not really into it or just throw up a 5.1 system and eventually get tired of it. But many really enjoy the movie/theater experience and when you really spend the time and set-up a nice system for HT it can transform the whole experience. I don't care if I ever go to the movie theater again. Hell, my wife is picking out movies now and telling me it's movie night on the weekend which she never used to do. She even wants the surround system on when we're watching football, college basketball or hockey. She told me last week it's better than going to the game!

Looks like you made a decision. It's difficult since you already spent the money and would probably lose some selling the equipment. Good luck with the ring and starting a family!!! Exciting times!!!

pearsall001 · February 2017

I find both my HT & 2 channel to be quite enjoyable. I can't see myself ditching one over the other. Both formats get quite a workout & are enjoyed on a daily basis.

tonyb · February 2017

pearsall001 wrote: »

I find both my HT & 2 channel to be quite enjoyable. I can't see myself ditching one over the other. Both formats get quite a workout & are enjoyed on a daily basis.

Dang Phil...all this happiness and sunshine, can't you be grumpy about somethin', like the rest of us ?

Thinking of ditching the home theater.

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