TV Tubes,Vintage or Tubes for 2 channel TV
This is an excellent time to consider your options for a positive change!
Go backwards in Audio for that real True to Life Sound!
Originally I ran a Monster Technics early 80's 2 channel when the VHS Movie format first came out,a good VHS player back then was $900.00- $1200.00cdn!
First ones were mono signal,using mono vcr,utilizing mono switch on my receiver,then later stereo through the receiver's tape loops,stereo vhs through some JBL 4311 control monitors.Can you say Ballsy!
Next went the surround sound route with 4 Energy Reference Conny's,I was influenced by good earlier Quad LP recordings,but as Wadeus mentioned the HT just seemed like its power ratings were really lame,no balls,way less clarity,I felt ripped off,plus the rear channels were not being used nearly enough for my liking,at first they were,but bean counters ki-boshed that,then came the constant buying/reading of coming format changes/wars,a turn off,then always some issues with my surround receivers,causing neurotic urges to upgrade to the latest chip set,breakdowns,= not worth fixing=Landfill....I'm pretty Green & that pissed me off the most and in all honestly its presentation just sounded like there was a veil was over the speakers/Music when I Listened to Music through HT,it just plain sucked,no life,at least to my old school analogue ears,I will not bore you with the rest,I sold all,including the Energy's,got out with almost my full investment totally intact,bought wisely in my opinion over time time & went back to my "Musical Sound Roots" & have never looked back,so another back to 2 ch convert,I come by it honestly by experience & then good choices.
I really in some ways,other than a modern dvd player & good TV ended up going backwards in audio to some early speakers I had heard in a Home recording studio in the 70's in Vancouver(Canada)some Altec 19's,currently used almost entirely with tubes,vintage Eico,Stromberg & Scott tube amps,interchange them Seasonally,with excellent results for Movies,Vinyl,cd & dvd concerts of all genres.No complaints from my Family or friends!
I was never more satisfied or happier now compared to earlier frustrating,just something missing stereo systems,I have had many,many positive comments regarding our 2 large speakers,& tube amps,the latest being from my daughters girlfriend while watching a dvd Rock Concert,was the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Slane Castle grounds,obviously their choice,but even though I'm 56 I really like that concert too,enjoying their sixties influences.I used to play drums so the 60's/70's was and is still golden memories to me.
My daughter's friend said I don't know what those glowing things are but those speakers sure sound real!.Ha,got another one!.Nailed her with only 11 Triode watts of Stromberg.Take that Mr. 400 BS watts HT Receiver!!!
So that's kind of cool for me to have a compliment like that from very young ears,as I really like the modified Stromberg Triode Presentation myself,but slightly prefer my 35 watt Eico.To each his/her own sound.
I,however only use the tube amp for watching Movies & DVD Concerts,NOT TV.I would feel like I'm wasting my tube life.Old school thought again,depending on your tube choice & again your budget.
I don't watch enough TV to use the tube amp on boring TV with far too many commercials now a days for my liking.We watch normal evening programing using just the tv speakers.
When I occasionally run my vintage solid state(Philips receiver or amp/pre-amp)which I do rarely throughout the year using interconnects for TV sound,I am the only one who watches normal tv with sound through that solid state amp.
I am old school and I prefer 2 really great speakers over five,or is it ten ho hum HT speakers now,lol\....which ends up in my opinion,unless of course you have unlimited funds, a very complicated mess of so-so quality component choices which equals so-so boring,lifeless sound.Just my opinion,we all hear different & have different budgets.
After all was said & done,experienced,etc,I preferred a real good quality sound that draws me in whether its,Listening to Vinyl,cd's,watching a good Movie,especially one with an excellent soundtrack,or my favorite,a well recoded,properly filmed concert of my choice.
I find with horn speakers I never miss a word of Movie dialogue & a good soundtrack really adds to a movie's quality of enjoyment with true dynamic sound.
I also prefer a system that gives me the proper Tone of an instrument,a Soulful vocal,or sounds reproduced exactly as they sound in real life,even explosions & sound effects,nature etc.
Quality 15 inch woofers do NOT need sub woofers for my enjoyment.Its a real life full bodied sound reproduction.With Oooooomph!!!
Many a time during a Movie where we do hear sounds behind us where there is only a wall.Daughters screams,me jumping,lol,during a good Vampire flick vouch for proper speaker placement.
Try it I think you just might like the simplicity of it all.
A really good 2 channel system will reproduce TV/Movies/Vinyl,cd/.dvd,no problem,anyone tells you different is either full of it or trying to sell you something.
Think about it,why wouldn't you want a system that plays everything well,I have yet to hear an HT system that plays Vinyl & a dvd concert as realistically as mine.Never both,its one OR the other.
I want it all in one simple quality system,not one that only does it for movies,needing another that does it well for Vinyl,you get where I'm coming from.
Would just also like to add one final note,the earlier Onyko stuff I heard sounded very good to me & sold well here at London Audio. Peace & Harmonies
Altec Concert Kenny