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Who needs multi-channel? Not me. Translation: Who does not have the space for and cannot afford three more channels? Me.
The times they are a changing, and many audiophiles have added video to their audio system. Others have kept their two-channel systems intact by creating separate home-theater systems. How about you?
Absolutely!!!!!Even though Diana Krall's "Live In Paris" is wonderful in DVD, sonically my 2-channel retrieves more detail, depth, and air of the music. Seeing her play with her band-mates on the DVD makes up for some of the sonic loss. It is just another great way to enjoy music on a nother plane. 2-channel rules for me.
High-End 2-channel upstairs and 5.1 downstairs. The thing that's been stopping me from putting the systems together is that a good pre-pro that will pass an analog signal as well as my Linn Kairn is very expensive. Upgrading two systems at once can tend to be a bit expensive
I have my Denon 2801 bi-amping my speakers. Eventually, I will get the whole five-channel setup. The Denon sounds good enough that I can use it as an audio hub for my satellite dish, DVD, VCR, keyboards, guitar, and computers. I don't have the time or money to isolate myself in a pressure-controlled room with a megabuck high-strung two-channel setup and a sensory deprivation chair just to listen to music on CDs that are probably recorded poorly anyway.
I currently live in an apartment with limited space, so I feel a surround sound system is currently not appropriate. Add to that the fact that over 50% of my (200+)DVD movies were made prior to 1960, and you can see that I am not losing much by staying with a two-channel system.
With a sizeable investment in a two channel system; I have recently attempted to intergrate my audio into my TV VCR system. Very little sucess so far. I attended the Show you held in NYC. So far I have not heard a multichannel system that offered me anything in the way of improved sound. I must admit that multichannel movie theaters don't impress me either.
Someday I probably will have mid-fi home theater sound (ie separate from the beloved two-channel music system). But first, the price of high resolution TV must come down quite a bit. I don't see the sense of buying either DVD-A or any surround sound gear without first having the hi-rez video screen. Sometimes I wonder if the most fun of hi-rez video would be to watch it with the sound just in stereo.
My TV has one speaker, which is perfect for the old movies (1930s) I love to watch. If I want to hear a sound effect or watch a special effect or digital cartoon, I will go to a movie theater. Listening will always be a secondary part of the movie experience. When I want the thrill of hearing Alfred Cortot, Martha Argerich, Frank Sinatra, Rush, or Mouse On Mars, I close my eyes and listen to my two-channel stereo (which now has its own room). Listening is a primary part of the musical experience!
Yes, I have two separate systems. HT in the den, very user friendly. Marantz AV 600 pre-processor/ NAD 916 amp/Marantz CC-48 CD changer / Marantz LDV630 laser disk machine and B&W DM-302 speakers. Good system with excellent reproduction of voice and music. Up in the study is my two-channel vinyl and tube system. Thorens TD318/Sumiko BPS, CJ PV-5 and a variety of vintage tube amps, connected to Celestion 100 monitors. I'm lucky in that I have the space for two systems.
Home Theater equipment is still in it's birth throes(pun intended):i mean what a long and painful birth this is proving to be : everything is so damn complicated and changing by the hour !! 5.1;6.1;7.1 ??? : i mean hell,when/where will this neurotic nonsense end ?? Any pearls of wisdom as to enlighten us,poor souls ?
My two-channel system gets all the money and all the attention. The "other system" gets a five-channel receiver and the hand-me-downs from the two-channel system (cables, old speakers, CD player, etc) I'm not sure I'd really call it "home theater" because the room is just too small. However, the sonic characteristics of the second system are completely different from those of my main system so it's sometimes nice to have them both.