2 Channel Rebound?

jaxwired

I'm sensing a possible trend where people are downsizing from 5 and 7 channel home theater back to 2 channel or at least 2.1 channel. Is it possible that people are finally burnt out on that insanity?

Home theater never appealed to me in the least. I don't knock it for people that enjoy it. I can see how it would be a fun hobby and could definately add to the movie experience. For me it never made sense since I'm not an action movie guy at all. A lot of the movies I watch are primarily dialog and plot driven.

I'm also a bit of a minimalist and the complexity of the equipment combined with the million wire nest required, totally turned me off. Not to mention, I can buy a much better single pair of speakers instead of 3 pairs and a sub.

janmike

I love HT in 5.1 Some of the movies have great surround sound and it is well worth it. As for music - ONLY 2CH in this house.

Face

janmike wrote: »

I love HT in 5.1 Some of the movies have great surround sound and it is well worth it. As for music - ONLY 2CH in this house.

Same here, each has their place.

tonyb

What gives you the impression that people are abandoning HT for 2-channel? Seems to me alot are keeping the HT for it's intented purpose and adding a 2 channel system for music listening. Some,like me,combine the two when both are viewed or listened to in the same room. With 3-d stuff comming out,I don't see how HT won't benefit.

nooshinjohn

I did a bit of adjusting and tweaking of my 5.1 yesterday, mostly to set it up for SACD. It sounds amazing right now for audio. That said, I wonder how good my two channel would be if I did not fall into the HT rabbit hole.

Toolfan66

Face wrote: »

Same here, each has their place.

Agreed, I like having an HT setup as well as 2 channel.. once in a while I still play an SACD in 5.1 other then that music in 2 channel..

Zitro

2 channel only for me; I have never heard a 5.1 or 7.1 music system I enjoyed. I will have a surround system for movies later I'm sure though.

comfortablycurt

I've got both. My HT setup is nothing special right now though...just an Onkyo 606 with a decent Sony sub/sat setup. It's nothing special...but it never gets used for music...just TV on DVD, and an occasional movie.

All of my music listening is done on my 2 channel rig. I can't stand listening to music in surround sound. Using more than two speakers, completely destroys any hope of having a stereo image or soundstage in my experience. Some multichannel SACD's are an exception to this rule...and do actually sound pretty good, but in every case, I still prefer listening to them in 2 channel.


I'm eventually going to put together a new HT system...but it's going to be built around my 2 channel rig, using HT bypass, and it's will be focused MUCH more on 2 channel than HT.

cnh

I would never go from HT to two channel for Blu-rays! That makes no sense.

However..like a lot of people above I have a dedicated two channel for more critical listening (my renovated Home Office 10 x 8.5 x 17--not very big but big enough...and a modicum of solitude amidst the books, CDs, LPs, cassettes, etc.)

I have a pair of SDAs and they're great but they're not going to throw sound around as well as 600 watts/1200W peak subs, a pretty good 7.1 AVR and a set of 2 towers, a large center and decent sized surrounds. The subs alone are too much for the room! The sound is not simply in front of one in a semi-circle but everywhere. The SDA effect is wonderful but it is not Dolby TruHD for blu-rays!

SDAs are just good 2 channel sound--or a bit more than that. HT is an entirely different beast that is evolving at a frightening rate!

cnh

POLKHT

HT is here to stay. I've gotten to a point that I don't want to watch a movie unless it's in 5.1. I'm care more about the audio portion then the video.

Music in 2ch.

polkfarmboy

Maybe your just observing HT people finding out about 2ch ?

HT requires less mess when hooked up via hdmi and theres a new kinda fusion going on with ht and 2ch . Bluray players are just now starting to reach there potential for 2ch with labels like 2L recordings bringing out native 92khz audio instead of 48khz found on sacd and dvd audio

I for one am looking forward to an hdmi preamp . I am also very excited to get a hold of akira on bluray from netflix . Akira is currently the only bluray disk to boast a full native 192khz soundtrack making full use of what the formats all about

JPSmario

I remain happy to improve my 2 channel. I've had my SDA's not quite a month and movies sound darn fine; there's such a deep, punchy bottom I'm not sure how much a sub would add. I probably don't know what I'm missing and ignorance is likely bliss since I'm budget challenged enough that I won't be considering HT anytime soon. My next upgrade will likely be a turntable. I love it when my friends can't believe they're listening to a record.

HB27

Keiko wrote: »

My HT is built around 2ch.

I'm NOT a fan of HT and after a half dozen or so systems I'm staying with 2 channel.
HT is cool with all the thundering bass, sound switching from speaker to speaker, and all the bells and whistles going off all around me but it's not real sounding at all. It's just a pleasure cruise concentrating on special effects via smoke and mirrors..
I had a party last year and set up the HT outside spaced far apart and THEN AND ONLY THEN did it become more life like.
It was simple amazing how lifelike HT can sound when not limited by walls and room restrictions.
2 ch isn't making a comeback but just being recognized by more listeners as the truer reproductive format it's designed to be.
I think a lot of it's due to many companies cutting costs on good gear in the late 80s up to about 10 years ago when they realized a good market existed for quality gear again.
I wouldn't buy much of the "off the shelf" STERILIZED crap they were trying to shove down our throats. I wasted my bucks on a few GOOD LOOKING receivers and amps but found few to be worthy of my 2ch hard earned money.

apphd

OP I think more people are deciding that their HT rig doesn't give them the 2 ch sound they want and are rebuilding/adding a second rig, or upgrading some HT components that will give them good HT and 2 ch. Some have come to the same conclusion as you and go strictly 2 or 2.1, but as many of the posts above show, in typical American fashion we want it all:D

steveinaz

I would probably do a surround setup if I had a dedicated 2-channel room, but as long as the 2 have to co-exist, music will always be the priority.

heiney9

jaxwired wrote: »

I'm sensing a possible trend where people are downsizing from 5 and 7 channel home theater back to 2 channel or at least 2.1 channel. Is it possible that people are finally burnt out on that insanity?

Home theater never appealed to me in the least. I don't knock it for people that enjoy it. I can see how it would be a fun hobby and could definately add to the movie experience. For me it never made sense since I'm not an action movie guy at all. A lot of the movies I watch are primarily dialog and plot driven.

I'm also a bit of a minimalist and the complexity of the equipment combined with the million wire nest required, totally turned me off. Not to mention, I can buy a much better single pair of speakers instead of 3 pairs and a sub.

If your basing you "abandonment" of HT just based on what goes on here at CP, we don't represent the HT crowd as much as other sites. HT definitely has it's place for getting maximum enjoyment from movies and in some cases even concert DVD's. Some HT's with LSi's can even do a nice job playing music. But for music a true dedicated 2 channel system is best for music.

FWIW, I don;t see the move from HT to 2 channel. I do see perhaps a small resurgence of 2 channel (as a niche), but not at the expense of HT. Also with the HDMI and a really nice HT receiver the "rats" nest of wires and multiple pieces of gear are gone (unless you want multi-amps, etc). If you plan properly you can even run the rear speaker cables inconspicuously.

So I'd have to say no, I don;t see a trend abandoning HT for 2 channel.

YMMV

H9

comfortablycurt

heiney9 wrote: »

So I'd have to say no, I don;t see a trend abandoning HT for 2 channel.



H9

I abandoned my HT to concentrate on my 2 channel rig. Haven't even had a moment of regret since either.:)


But...that's mainly just because HT completely sucks.:p

jaxwired

apphd wrote: »

OP I think more people are deciding that their HT rig doesn't give them the 2 ch sound they want and are rebuilding/adding a second rig, or upgrading some HT components that will give them good HT and 2 ch. Some have come to the same conclusion as you and go strictly 2 or 2.1, but as many of the posts above show, in typical American fashion we want it all:D

Sounds about right.

Jetmaker737

2 channel is king, that's for sure! My HT does come in handy when playing MW2 so I can hear those guys sneaking up behind me. :cool:

NewHTguy

Keiko wrote: »

My HT is built around 2ch.

I didn't start that way, but that is what I've done. However, I've learned that I need a center channel.

comfortablycurt

BlueFox wrote: »

Fixed.

But...my HT didn't suck. It sounded fantastic actually.;)

I just never used it...ever. The only thing that ever got watched on it was TV on DVD...and surround sound really doesn't add much to the shows that I watch. I probably watch a movie about once a month or so.

My rig usage was probably about 98% 2 channel, with 2% HT. Taking that knowledge...I figured I'd be best off selling my HT gear to put it towards my 2 channel rig. I've yet to regret that decision a single time.

I don't miss HT at all...because it sucks.;):p

My SDA's give me enough surround sound for the one movie I watch every month. I'll get back into HT eventually...but that won't be for years to come. The Onkyo TX-NR816 and Pioneer Elite SC-97 will probably be getting released around the time I get back into HT...lol

cnh

Curt,

It just seems as though music is your passion and that's OK.

I started there as well. But my best friend is an Indie Filmmaker and I've had a world class film education from hanging with him. So I have to say I also 'love' film very much as an art form. And as an art form it deserves the finest reproduction just like Music does. Not really disagreeing with you...

Just saying in the words of the Governator! "You'll be back!"

cnh

lanchile

All my diy amps that I build are two channels amps.

jaxwired

cnh wrote: »

So I have to say I also 'love' film very much as an art form. And as an art form it deserves the finest reproduction just like Music does.

Great post. And what you've said really touches on exactly why I don't have a HT rig. I think I might get some disagreement here, but for me the following is true:

What makes a great movie great is mostly plot and acting. So the best HT rig in the world has zero impact on the plot and the acting. With HT you are improving the secondary experience, the ambience if you will. The primary entertainment (plot and acting) is unaffected.

On the contrary, with music listening, the music IS the main event. So improving the delivery of that music has a much bigger impact on the enjoyment level. The payback for the investment is much greater.

I should post this comment on the HT thread, lol....

mantis

2 channel is not making a comeback. It's still alive and breathing.Most people want a surround system to watch their movies. Then as a side product listen to their music.
Having music around the house is where it's at. being able to go from room to room and still listen to your music is awesome. I have 9 rooms of audio and love it.

HT needs the necessary channel to reproduce the correct sound. Without them you are not experiencing what was recorded properly. Just like 2 channel music you need to reproduce the recorded sound correctly. Most of the time it requires 2.1

It's all good in my book , I like everything audio and video.

holt

HT is permanently part of my home life on weekends and I have no desire to ditch it. Still, 2 channel has become more important as what use to be 90/10, Ht/2 channel, has become more like 30/70. This is becoming more evident in my decreased interest in upgrading surround components (hence, still using Monitor 30's for surround speakers) and more money being pumped into 2 channel. Reality is, I don't have the room to separate the two. I don't want a 2 channel in the bedroom because there is where I sleep. I don't necessarily watch movies with lots of explosions, so dialogue and front sound detail is more important than having my chair vibrate when a bomb is dropped. When a helicopter in a movie flies from front center to far left, I hear a helicopter travel from front center to the far left - that's all I need.

Now I'm finally getting a tube preamp with HT bypass. I know it is what it is - a compromise - but I'm finding that I can push 2 channel SQ more and more in the confines of my physical space limitations. For now, unless I move to a mcmansion, which is highly unlikely, and being we have no basements in Florida, then I have to compromise.

ctrulock

I have a 2 channel room (den) and the family room is the 5.1 room (mostly with odds and ends from the 2 channel room lol). I have, in the TV/movie room, Yamaha v497 and a 42" 1080p plasma those were the only things i bought only for tv/movies. All the speakers are mix and match rejects from my 2 ch. follies.

I have a hsu stf-2 on order, and of course it is going in the 2 channel room for the first audition. I hope I can blend it well to the lsi9's in my 2 channel rig.

Danny Tse

I am not sure if this may be a reason why 2 channel stereo seems to be making a comeback, but my theory is that the advent of iPod has resulted in more people wanting to share their music with others. I'd image headphone manufacturers have experienced an increase in sales since the introduction of the iPod (and other MP3 players), so it wouldn't surprise me if 2 channel stereo is experiencing a rebound from the desire to share music over speakers/receivers/amps.

My home audio $$$ will always be funneled more toward 2 channel stereo. I'm just not much of a movie person.

Cpyder

Keiko wrote: »

My HT is built around 2ch.

Same here.

I decided it would be better to have 2 nicer speakers than 6 cheaper ones since I didn't have loads of cash to spend when I got set up and I listen to music more than watch movies. Down the road, I'll definitely go 5.1 or 7.1.