2 channel setup for HT

glenm16
glenm16 Posts: 10
edited October 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
Does anybody out here use there 2 channel for Ht. Im trying to gather info on how to setup a 2 channel using a blu ray with built in decoder for DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby Tru HD. 2 channel rules!
Post edited by glenm16 on

Comments

  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited October 2008
    I use 2 channel in my TV rig. You won't get all the fancy Dolby stuff that is designed for surround setups. I just use the audio outpts from my player and run them to my preamp. The sound is excellent, but not like a 5.1 or 7.1 arrangement by any means.
  • glenm16
    glenm16 Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    Thanks! Im using the Multichannel output at the back of my BP then to the processor with RCA. So that I can let the decoding done by the BP instead of bitstream via HDMI. My procesor is old and does not do the decoding of the new format. I wonder how much difference Im missing with my 2 channel using the setup I have right now compare to full 5.1 speakers. BTW my system consist of Maggies 1.6, 2 Vandersteen 2Wq with M5 High Pass filter balance powered by Pass Labs X250. I cant afford to go all the way 5.1 since I need two more amps and 3 maggies. But as what they say 2 channel rules.
  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited October 2008
    Personal opinion only, and I'm sure others feel diferently, but for music i much prefer 2 channel. Surround only impresses me on movies which are designed to take advantage of the different sound sources. It's distracting to my tired old ears to listen to music and hearing sound from the sides and rear. It just doesn't sound natural.
  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited October 2008
    skipf wrote: »
    Personal opinion only, and I'm sure others feel diferently, but for music i much prefer 2 channel. Surround only impresses me on movies which are designed to take advantage of the different sound sources. It's distracting to my tired old ears to listen to music and hearing sound from the sides and rear. It just doesn't sound natural.

    +1 on that

    SDA,s do a real nice job for 2ch HT.
  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited October 2008
    glenm16 wrote: »
    Does anybody out here use there 2 channel for Ht. Im trying to gather info on how to setup a 2 channel using a blu ray with built in decoder for DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby Tru HD. 2 channel rules!

    Why waste your money on a BD player & not take full advantage of it's audio capabilities by only using a single pair of speakers? Two channel rules for music but falls flat on it's **** for HT.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited October 2008
    glenm16 wrote: »
    Thanks! Im using the Multichannel output at the back of my BP then to the processor with RCA. So that I can let the decoding done by the BP instead of bitstream via HDMI. My procesor is old and does not do the decoding of the new format. I wonder how much difference Im missing with my 2 channel using the setup I have right now compare to full 5.1 speakers. BTW my system consist of Maggies 1.6, 2 Vandersteen 2Wq with M5 High Pass filter balance powered by Pass Labs X250. I cant afford to go all the way 5.1 since I need two more amps and 3 maggies. But as what they say 2 channel rules.

    This could be problematic. Make sure that what's coming out of the L&R of that multichannel output is a downmix and not the discreet L&R data. Let's say all the dialog is coming out of the center channel- you won't hear it at all with your setup. On the other hand, if you're sending a downmix, the center channel data will be matrixed onto the L&R channel outputs and a good setup with throw a center channel image, even though it's just coming out of the L&R.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
  • glenm16
    glenm16 Posts: 10
    edited October 2008
    As for now guys when I set it up for 7.1 direct there is no setting for matrix or discrete. Its just 7.1 direct. All I noticed is when the Blu ray disc is PCM 5.1 as the audio source, Sound is so good and clear. But when its Dlby Tru HD or DTS master Audio not so much as detailed as the PCM. My player does not internally decode DTS MA on Dolby Tru HD. I dont know if its just me, By using the optical or coaxial in Dolby or DTS you can hear that the sound is being hold back or there something missing. You would not hear the real sound of a car crush or the canon that is being fired (Master and Commander) Thats why in the multichannel output I can hear whats sound is really like. This is just my 2 cents. BTW I have a phantom center no center channel.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,965
    edited October 2008
    I do also,but added some surround speaks,was the only thing I missed.No center channel either as my two fronts do so well with the front soundstage,I didn't notice any difference.That being said,would I prefer a full blown 7.1 or 7.2 system? Probably,but I do more 2 channel listening than movie watching.Haveing come from a full blown SRT system,I could never find that happy medium between movie's and music and was always makeing adjustments.Needless to say,and most here would agree,if you sink the most coin into building a good 2 channel rig,you could add on to it for HT,rather than building a HT rig and trying to enjoy music from it.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's