Changing gears

mule

The more time I spend with my system the more I am thinking of having a separate ht and 2 channel rig.

To me ht is a no brainer, book shelf speakers handle dialoge well and a sub for rumble. No real need for monster speakers or monster power. I'm sure some will disagree but I'm usually sleeping by my second Belvedere and tonic anyway so ht is usually bed time music anyway

Music is a little tougher. I don't really like book shelfs and a sub, I prefer floor standers, I like the full sound without the deep boomy bass and I think they tend too sound better throughout the room where as book shelfs only sound good when you are seated and centered in front of them.

So at this point I am thinking rather than spend 2k on a pro/amp combo to try and make my ht sound better for music I could buy another pair of bookshelfs for fronts to replace my rti 10's and keep my underpowered reciever. Have that as my ht setup in a dedicated room and get a 2 channel rig for music in the main room of my house.

Seems like less of a comprimise, any thoughts?

I'm not in a rush, just kicking ideas around. I'm not really planning on making a move til fall.

honda cber

To me ht is a no brainer, book shelf speakers handle dialoge well and a sub for rumble. No real need for monster speakers or monster power. I'm sure some will disagree but I'm usually sleeping by my second Belvedere and tonic anyway so ht is usually bed time music anyway

Music is a little tougher. I don't really like book shelfs and a sub, I prefer floor standers, I like the full sound without the deep boomy bass and I think they tend too sound better throughout the room where as book shelfs only sound good when you are seated and centered in front of them.

a lot of us feel that way. you are not alone.

music listening is much more gratifying to me than HT, but not everyone feels that way. personally, i would build as good of a stereo rig as i could, and piece the HT together afterwards. since you already have it, you are a step ahead.

incidentally, my HT set is similar in application---- smaller (and older) polk speakers in 6.1 with a reasonably strong sub (nothing like a lot of these guys). and, it is all powered by a mid-level sony (eek!) AVR, with a samsung dlp. really, pretty "budget" as HT goes, but it is setup well and frankly blows most people away (including me, more times than not). effects sound great--- the system being crossed-over at 80hz helps alot--- though sometimes dialog is a little weak.

but honestly, i cant remember the last time i actually watched tv in that room.............. my music room is in a different side of the house.

a

Ricardo

I'm right there with you. I have my RTi based HT with a receiver, a nice sub, and it kicks ****. Upgrade does not even cross my mind.
A separate 2 channel rig is where the money is (my money). Though I do use bookshelves, with no sub, and my bookshelves in my little room give me all the lows I need for music.

Go for it.

Early B.

Here's what I suggest -- take the $2 grand and budget $1,200 of it to replace the front speakers on your HT system with floorstanders. Then use the remaining $800 for a 2-channel pre and integrate your HT & 2-channel systems. Later on, you may decide to slowly build a separate 2-channel system, and you'll already have some nice components for it.

Sure, you could take the $2 grand right now and start building your 2-channel system, but you may make too many concessions on purchases due to a limited budget, and end up jumping on the upgrade merry-go-round.

IMO, it takes at least $4,000 - $5,000 worth of used equipment to set up a helluva 2-channel system (approx. $1,000 ea. for speakers, pre, amp, source, and cables/accessories).

Gaara

I concur with the first two comments, not so much the third. If you like your rig why not improve on its 2ch capabilities instead of spreading the budget across a whole new rig? Many here have had good luck w/ a double duty systems with dedicated 2ch source and pre.

I would focus on the 2ch side of things, it is easier to get a speaker+amp that sound good with 2ch to sound good with HT then the other way around.

Hawkeye

My HT rig fine the way it is and I don't see any upgrades in the future. It is what is. Good for movies, only fair for seious music.

I kinda knew what I wanted in a 2 channel system. I saved for 2 years to buy what I wanted to avoid the upgrade merry go round. I just accepted what I had and waited. I'm glad I did. Even tho I get the bug for a new piece every now and then, I remind myself I'm listening to the music, not the equipment.

I think after a certain point, the upgrade benefit is such a small incremental (if any, maybe just different) improvement that the dollar to improvement ratio for me is not cost effective.

I'd suggest if you want a 2 Channel, spend the long green up front, be done with it and enjoy the music unless your a tweaker kind of guy which in that case all bets are off!!

Gordon

pearsall001

mule wrote: »

Music is a little tougher. I don't really like book shelfs and a sub, I prefer floor standers, I like the full sound without the deep boomy bass and I think they tend too sound better throughout the room where as book shelfs only sound good when you are seated and centered in front of them.


Seems like less of a comprimise, any thoughts?

I'm not in a rush, just kicking ideas around. I'm not really planning on making a move til fall.

I don't know what monitors & sub you were listening to, but there isn't a tower speaker alive that can compete with serious monitors & a well integrated quality sub. Towers are great for HT but can't compete in the two channel arena.

mule

To elaborate further...

The main area of my house where I have my current system is about 24x30 give or take. I removed the walls around the tiny existing kitchen so there is a island and bar separating the kitchen from the dining and living area now.

To have a surround setup, the front speakers are basically at a 90 degree angle to the kitchen area(where realistically I do most of my music listening). If I moved the ht setup into a different room I could have better speaker placement for that system and setup a two channel system in the main area with the speakers directed towards the kitchen area, therefore having better speaker placement for that system.

I am not trying to have the be all end all system and 5k+ is not realistic for me. There will allways be stuff I like more than electronics to take money away from the electronics budget. However I do enjoy music and I do want to improve on what I have now.

reeltrouble1

You are on your way, keep heading the same direction.

RT1

Early B.

mule wrote: »

I am not trying to have the be all end all system and 5k+ is not realistic for me. There will allways be stuff I like more than electronics to take money away from the electronics budget. However I do enjoy music and I do want to improve on what I have now.

That's cool to keep it all in perspective, so be very careful about going down the separate 2-channel system road. It's balls in, dude, or forget about it. Just get yourself some nice floorstanders and call it a day. You'll be glad you did. Otherwise, we're gonna tease and taunt you until you spend your last dime on audio.

markmarc

About 5 years ago I tried switching over to a HT setup for all my listening. Tremendous mistake for me. Typical HT systems just don't provide the listening experience for music that a 2 channel does IMHO. Having separate rigs has given me far more pleasure.

mule

Hawkeye wrote: »

Even tho I get the bug for a new piece every now and then, I remind myself I'm listening to the music, not the equipment.

I think after a certain point, the upgrade benefit is such a small incremental (if any, maybe just different) improvement that the dollar to improvement ratio for me is not cost effective.

I'd suggest if you want a 2 Channel, spend the long green up front, be done with it and enjoy the music unless your a tweaker kind of guy which in that case all bets are off!!

Gordon

I tend to go with this logic.

About a year ago i was checking out speakers and I listened to a setup that I really enjoyed, and is my benchmark to a certain degree. It was a Integra reciever (95% sure with no external amp used) I would say similar level to the onkyo 905, paired with Monitor audio rs-6 or rs-8, I couldn't decide wich speakers I liked better. The 8's hit lower but I couldn't really say if that was better or worse, just differen't.

I know there is a lot better but there is a lot worse to but for me I could justify the price of a setup like that for the pleasing sound it puts out and I think I would have to spend at least $1500 more to get something noticably better.

I guess that a 2channel pre/amp in the same price range of the integra should have better sound because the money is not spread around on all the surround sound bs, am I right here?

Thanks guys, I will be checking back with you as I sort this stuff out :cool:

mule

I came across one of these.. http://www.sunfire.com/Symphonic_Reference.htm

do you think this will be a one and done amp for me?? Given that I am not trying to have "the greatest system ever" and would probably limit myself to a budget of 2 to 3k for speakers.

Do you think it will last for many years?

Thanks guys!

p.s. any tips for a pre

cfrizz

Yup, it will do just fine for years to come on any speakers you run on it. If you want, look for a matching Sunfire Pre to go with it.

Amps can last for a good long time. My first Rotel amp lasted 17 yrs and that was with heavy daily usage from both myself & my brother who I passed it on to.

mule

Now I feel bad for saying "thanks guys" I will have to remember the Gals as well

Gadabout

While not for everyone. I'm running a TVC from Promethius Audio for a Pre on my 2ch system.

I had it upgraded to 2 XLR outs for easy bi amping of my Audes - Souls.

Wish I could answer your question on the amp. Good luck with your search.

Scott

cfrizz

No harm no foul!

mule wrote: »

Now I feel bad for saying "thanks guys" I will have to remember the Gals as well

mule

So I picked up the Sunfire amp today, I bought it off ebay which is something I have never done before. The guy was somewhat local which is the only reason I did it. He was good guy and the amp is perfect.

The only problem is, (I was planning on hooking it up to zone 2 on my avr until I got a dedicated 2 channel pre) I learned that what I thought were pre-outs for zone 2 are actually a direct line off whatever input you are using, so they bypass the pre stage and are designed to be run to another reciever or integrated amp.

What happened to the days when everything had pre outs?

Basically none of my friends are into audio so the only hope for me testing this thing is to hope my brother has some old gear in his basement with pre outs.

I guess I need to get a pre sooner than I thought

The snow ball is rolling down hill and it is out of f'ing control:eek:

Hawkeye

You might look into a cd player with gain/volume knob and run the cd straight into the amp. That way if your not going into vinyl, you don't even need a pre-amp.

Gordon

zingo

I went the otherway on this issue. I had an ok 2 channel and HT and decided to do a little upgrading and combining at the same time. I purchased my Lexicon which is know for it's HT, but also sounds good for 2 channel and ditched the seperate pres. Since my best pair of speakers were being used for music, why not integrate them into my HT so that I have fantastic sounding music as well as movies. I was also able to cut down on the number of components I have and the overall amout of space my audio equipment takes up.

Early B.

mule wrote: »

I guess I need to get a pre sooner than I thought

The snow ball is rolling down hill and it is out of f'ing control:eek:

:D:D:D:D:D:D

Don't feel bad about it, though. The moment you contemplated setting up a separate 2-channel rig, you were f*cked.

Early B.

mule wrote: »

So I picked up the Sunfire amp today, I bought it off ebay which is something I have never done before. The guy was somewhat local which is the only reason I did it. He was good guy and the amp is perfect.

The only problem is, (I was planning on hooking it up to zone 2 on my avr until I got a dedicated 2 channel pre) I learned that what I thought were pre-outs for zone 2 are actually a direct line off whatever input you are using, so they bypass the pre stage and are designed to be run to another reciever or integrated amp.

What kind of AVR do you have?

mule

onkyo 604, the pisser is when I bought the thing I assumed (I know, **** u me) they all had pre-outs. When I was into this stuff in the 80's everything had pre outs.

So with the 604 if you connect speakers to zone 2 you have volume control, but if you connect to zone 2 rca out you have no volume control because the source just by passes everything.