HT for the 2 channel guy...my experience (so far) ...Long

Posted by Estes (A) on December 13, 2004 at 16:11:22

Hi Everyone: I am posting this for people who are "new" to this and looking for the experience of others. Let me start by saying, I grew up on vinyl & only got into HT by being pushed by a friend. Basically, I tacked on HT to my 2 channel setup. In fact the two channel part still operates without interference of the HT "stuff."

I bought a Technics SH AC500D processor cheap, along with some cheap, small Energy speakers for the rear, along with a matching centre. I did buy a decent 3 channel amp. Wiring the thing up was a bucket of laughs ;-( Snake pit takes on new meaning! Anyway it did all work.

To be honest, it was a disappointing experience. It was either too loud or too quiet & nothing seemed to work right. After a couple of months of this situation, I bought the Radio Shack sound pressure meter that had been suggested here. I also moved the rear speakers to the corners of the room and attempted to have some rear "sound stage" & played the test DVD & used the RS meter. Let me tell you the difference was clear & the sound was more balanced. Although it was not perfect, it was moving in the right direction. I upgraded my front speakers & moved my Linn Helix to the rear. WOW, there is stuff in the rear! Movies like U571, Lord of the Rings, etc. had lots of effects in the rear that sounded much better with "full range" speakers in the back.

Currently I need to upgrade the center to match the fronts better & a better processor would not hurt either.

However, my experience suggests the following:

1) set up is important & you need to experiment to get a 5 channel system right
2) Most of the processors I have heard do not make very good 2 channel preamps
3) Movies are fun for the whole family ;-)
4) you do get something from better center and rear speakers
5) set up is important & you need to experiment
6) there is no rule six ;-)
7) set up is important & you need to experiment to get things right

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Topic - HT for the 2 channel guy...my experience (so far) ...Long - Estes 16:11:22 12/13/04 (20)

same with the technics sh-500 (dolby surr, dts) - dude 21:56:07 12/18/04 (2)

Re: same with the technics sh-500 (dolby surr, dts) - Estes 16:37:39 12/20/04 (1)

Re: same with the technics sh-500 (dolby surr, dts) - dude 19:28:48 12/20/04 (0)

If you are going to play HT, full-range center is a big plus... - oscar 18:21:36 12/16/04 (1)

Re: If you are going to play HT, full-range center is a big plus... - Lowrider 04:29:22 12/17/04 (0)

My lessons. involving switching to tubes. - njjohn 19:15:06 12/15/04 (2)

Re: #4 &5. - Estes 15:32:41 12/16/04 (1)

Re: #4 &5. - njjohn 20:26:18 12/16/04 (0)

Me too. - AbeCollins 16:40:45 12/15/04 (0)

Re: HT for the 2 channel guy...my experience (so far) ...Long - rico 06:48:42 12/14/04 (10)

Re: center channel... - Estes 07:43:59 12/15/04 (9)

Re: center channel... - Lowrider 11:08:49 12/15/04 (8)

Re: center channel... - Estes 20:16:03 12/18/04 (7)

Re: center channel... - Lowrider 02:23:33 12/19/04 (6)

Re: center channel... - Estes 04:41:17 12/19/04 (5)

Re: center channel... - Lowrider 07:05:03 12/19/04 (4)

Re: 22.3 - Estes 16:33:06 12/20/04 (3)

The tweeter looks very much like the Ring radiator... - Lowrider 02:37:56 12/21/04 (2)

Re: The tweeter looks very much like the Ring radiator... - Estes 13:28:36 12/21/04 (1)

Re: The tweeter looks very much like the Ring radiator... - Lowrider 02:24:13 12/22/04 (0)

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