CC speaker absolutely necessary?

tbyrne

Or, in most movie DVDs (from chick flicks to LOTR to Die Hard), how much dialogue goes to CC versus L-R channels? If I do not use an AV receiver, and simply route the audio signal from the DVD to an integrated amp, will the dialogue that would otherwise go to the CC be re-routed to the amp or would it be "lost"?

With the logistics of our room and system, it would be would much easier for me to just run the DVD audio signal through my 2-channel stereo system. We are 95% audio, 5% video.

Thanks!

shack

A center channel is critical in a good HT setup IMO. 90%+ of the dialog goes through the CC. I know there are some here who have gone with 2 channel system for movies...but part of the HT experience is the surround sound effects created by a 5.1 -7.1 systems. The newer films are recorded with this in mind. Some of those that went 2 channel only have gone back to multi-channel. You can watch movies with a stereo setup and a phanthom setting on an AVR. It just isn't that good IMO.

zingo

bump what shack says

Gaara

Q1. Most
Q2. Rerouted

Do a search, many here use 2ch HTs, and some use 5.1 or more HTs with a phantom center.

danger boy

if you have all the speakers in your home theater except a center channel.. run the center channel sound to your left and right fronts.. it won't be nearly as good as having a separate center, but it would be better than none at all.

Sami

If you're putting the L/R output of the DVD player to the L/R input of your integrated, you're getting the 2 channel mix of the soundtrack. You'll get all the dialog so don't worry. All DVD's have 2ch and 5.1 surround track(s).

mantis

Again...
you have to decide on what you want. do you want the ability to replace movie soundtracks or is 2 ch good enough???

Every single speaker in a home theater is nessary to get the job done. If the movie is recorded in 5.1 then you need 5.1 to replay it if you want that experience. You can do it with 2 channel but it's not the same.

You can also listen to music in mono. A single mono speaker with the 2 ch mixed in. It works..

ben62670

A lot of us have SDA's, and can get away with not running a center. Even some of the better speakers if setup properly can run 4.1 (phantom center). What do you have for speakers, and amps? Seeing you are 95% music is the extra money, and speakers worth the upgrade to you? No sub?

tbyrne

Thanks for the advice, folks.

I'm mostly into 2-channel music via B&W 684s and Marantz HT receiver, but my wife sometimes asks why we can't run TV/DVDs through our (expensive in any sane person's eyes!) system. I have a nice sounding Paradigm CC, but no place to put it - old walls/stairwell prevents easily hanging a flat screen, the TV sits on top of audio furn and there's no room for the Paradigm on top or inside the furniture. Hence my desire to drop the CC. We use the HT system so seldom that I can't be bothered letting the cc tail wag the dog.

bobman1235

I went phantom for a long time, and as long as you're usually sitting directly in front of the TV, and not off to the side, you can get away with it. It's not ideal, but it works fine, again as long as you're in front of the TV.

shack

It sounds like you really don't want/need a home theater but the ability to watch movies using what you have. As others have said you can certainly make it work. I believe that most DVDs have a dolby stereo option. Selecting that will get you most of the audio information to your two speakers. If that works for you and your wife...that's great.

IMO it will be a compromise at best. When I watch a movie on my HT system, I want a big screen, I want full surround and full LFE. Anything else is unacceptable. But that's just me.

Sami

I have been watching movies in 2.1 config for some time now, rarely on the FP and 5.1 although I have both. Maybe the little boy sleeping has something to do with it but sometimes I do miss the surrounds. Centre isn't that big of a deal to me but if you have an option to put in surrounds, do it!

tbyrne

Surrounds I can do - it's the CC that's the problem. Need that clean looking TV stand -

Eric W

Not absolutely necessary- you can do as you describe, run the analog L/R audio output from the DVD player to your stereo. Most external 2 channel systems will sound light years better then the TV speakers.....

Infact, in situations if you can't fit the PROPER MATCHING center channel to the front L & R (same brand, same series) at a proper position, I'd rather use no center channel over a non-matching one.

Sami

tbyrne wrote: »

Surrounds I can do - it's the CC that's the problem. Need that clean looking TV stand -

Then all you need to do is make sure your receiver supports phantom centre channel. That way all the centre channel information is divided into your Left and Right channels. Surrounds are worth it, and 4.1 will sound very good.

Face

I've tried running a Phantom center. It can sound good depending on the room, speaker placement, and seating position. As long as I sat in one spot, it sounded great, anywhere else in the room it didn't work. It's worth a try.

reeltrouble1

a phantom center sounds like nothing. kinda like the shadow, except the shadow did not know what he did not know.

RT1

Ricardo

mantis wrote: »

You can also listen to music in mono. A single mono speaker with the 2 ch mixed in. It works..

Great post!!!!!! I need to save it for all of those that say that their 2 channel HT is not taking anything out of their movie experience.

How good would imaging/soundstage be for 2 channel music listening with one speaker???

shack

Ricardo wrote:

How good would imaging/soundstage be for 2 channel music listening with one speaker???

Be careful...there is ALWAYS another opinion....:D

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49713

shack

Wait a minute Ricardo...YOU posted in that thread. Remember?

Ricardo

Just saw it; and I said exactly the same thing

Face

So my father has been right all along by having a few of these?
http://www.oldcrank.com/collection/victrola_xvii/victrola_xvii_closed.jpg