• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Home Theater and My "OK Boomer" lifestyle....

That's not a lot of space. My listening/AV room is ~46 sq mt. However, I cheated a little. My modest row home now has no living or dining room. I knocked down a wall and turned the two rooms into my "media" room.

When you live alone you can do all sorts of things a SO might not approve of.
 
Here's the thing. HT and 2-channel are kind of like fly fishing in a stream and big-game fishing in the ocean. Both have massive learning curves and often appeal to very different personalities. The fly fisherman spends hundreds of hours learning how to tie flies, find the best spots and cherishes the finesse of casting right in "that spot" while the big game fisherman lusts after trolling rigs and big powerful boats to get out where the marlin are. They are both fishing, and both get the same thrill from landing a record setting fish, be it a 42 pound Rainbow Trout or a 1500 pound Black Marlin.

A 2 channel enthusiast is often going for realism and the closer he can get to it, the more satisfaction he feels, while the HT guy wants to make the unreal feel like it's real... a planet blowing up, or a helicopter flying overhead or a space ship landing in Times Square... in general, 2-channel goes for finesse while HT, while also wanting finesse, wants to simulate the slam of the Death Star blowing up Aderaan.

Both are worthwhile endeavors and the good news is that unlike fly fishing and big-game fishing, we can have two systems in one room. I am equally as passionate for HT as I am for 2-channel. So in my "music room" I have integrated both systems. I don't see why, considering how 5.1 is all over the place and cheap as chips, you boomers don't give it a shot. But then again, I'm a GenXer and I don't care what you do.
 
Mystic said:
Sixty? You're a baby Baby Boomer!
Click to expand...

Haven't you heard? They have a new designation called Generation Jones. For those born from 1957 to 1964. Apparently we're stuck in the middle with some of the traits of boomers but with more of the memories of GenX.

Actually I hate all the separation by age people are doing. Just another excuse to hate each other as either old and dumb or young and dumb.

Anyway back to our show. Like many here I use a ht receiver in two speaker mode.
 
2ch for me.. surround sound is over rated IMO..
I did recently aquire an sacd player, but it'll be hooked up 2ch..

OK Boomer born and raised, not a sooner fan though.. :bigok:

Dan in SW Oklahoma
 
JoeESP9 said:
Having multiple systems that do pretty much the same thing doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Especially if they're in the same room. So, I approached this question slightly differently. I started with a very good (IMO) two channel system to which I added HT/surround capabilities. Whatever I watch or listen to is played back in the mode for which it was recorded.

All of my two channel sources are connected to a two-channel preamp. Those two-channel sources are played back using my main (front) speakers with dual subwoofers. All of my HT/surround sources are connected to my pre/pro. The surround and CC speakers and amplifiers are connected to the pre/pro.

For two channel music, only my preamp, front amplifiers and speakers are used. My HT pre/pro and associated amplifiers aren't powered up. This way I have a dedicated two channel system in a dedicated acoustically treated room.

For HT/surround I place my preamp in bypass mode. I then turn on my pre/pro and the surround and CC amplifiers. Then my pre/pro controls the volume of all the speakers.

One of the more interesting things I discovered using my gear the way I do is, the auto equalization utility in my pre/pro sets the equalization within 1dB of what I measured and set using REW and a DSP. Consequently, the auto equalization on the pre/pro is bypassed for the front speakers. However, it is used for the surround speakers and level balancing. Flat in room response means the same thing whether it's for HT or two channel.

So, I have a dedicated two channel system that becomes a 5.1 system by flicking a couple of switches. Therefore, there is no compromising of my two channel sound.
Click to expand...
This ^^^ , IMO the best solution for integrating 2ch and HT . Start with a good 2ch and a good HT will fall into place if so desired. REW and or Dirac Live are excellent tools to dial in a system and for those complaining that subs over power a 2ch setup therefore there’s no place for a sub in a 2ch setup . (Well first turn your crossover down) but REW will mostly solve your room node problems and get your bass sounding excellent.


Audiofreak71
 
Tom White said:
Today my TV is a nice 32" which does a much better job of blending in to the room.
Click to expand...
I also use a 32 inch TV in my living room, and I agree with your comment about it dominating the space. In my case, I also stream a lot of my music via Roku/Plex through the TV using the digital output to a DAC and then to my vintage system. This gives me the option to either stream, play vinyl. or listen to the FM.
 
I am the tail end of Gen X. I have an established stereo in the living room with no video that is currently being built into quadraphonic with some modern touches.

I have a decent 2.1 set of speakers on my PC, and my TV is disconnected, though my college rig is for it for HT. After paying for cable and internet for 13 years, I finally just kept the internet as I prefer other pasttimes over TV.

For home theater, I just want good enough. For listening to music, I want excellence.
 
The TV gets run through the main system, which consists of an MCS 3842 hooked up to 4 speakers, one pair stacked on top of the other. Also I run my Carver C-9 because it works and makes it all better.
 
Caryw said:
Am I the only one that hasn't embraced Home Theater/Surround sound?
Click to expand...

Not the only one by a long shot. I split the difference and have a screen and projector for eye candy and a solid two channel system for the ear candy.

I spent six months on AVS Forum reading about "real" home theater setups and decided I'm too old to chase that dragon. So I simplified things. Somehow, though, there's always something to tinker with!
 
I'm a boomer and proud of it. Yes I have an HT (Yamaha RX-Z9) system with a 78" projection TV as well as several two channel systems.
 
Millennial here. We didn't really have any home theater stuff growing up, but we had some stereo equipment (a mid 1980's Sanyo rack system). Some early memories of mine are my dad (an avid cinephile) using it for home theater purposes, but we largely made do with watching movies with plain ol' TV speakers.

I don't have any HT stuff myself, but that's due to a combination of lack of space (to add on top of 2 channel stuff at least), and the fact that music/audio is simply a medium I'm more dedicated to than film (as much as I do appreciate movies and TV as well).

Quite frankly, I'm probably an oddball to most of my peers being a gear enthusiast of either medium. I guess I watch movies/TV like a "normal" person (no HT stuff), but I'm far off the deep end with 2-channel audio in an era of Bluetooth speakers and lossy streaming being the norm :p.
 
Artie said:
Our TV and DVD player, play through the speakers built into the TV. We don't even have a stereo in the living room.
Click to expand...

I'd like to amend this comment. I may have given the impression that I have something against home theater. I don't. I can remember the first time I saw/heard an HT system. It was the Spielberg movie "Always." The movie starts with that scene with the PBY scooping up water in the lake. The plane comes at you, then flies over your head and behind you. It was cool. I just haven't spent the money myself.

I bought a Visio soundbar, but I've never installed it. I bought it to be a portable guitar amp. The latency prevented that from working. So maybe I'll ty it out for its intended purpose.
 
Falstaff said:
Haven't you heard? They have a new designation called Generation Jones. For those born from 1957 to 1964. Apparently we're stuck in the middle with some of the traits of boomers but with more of the memories of GenX.

Actually I hate all the separation by age people are doing. Just another excuse to hate each other as either old and dumb or young and dumb.

Anyway back to our show. Like many here I use a ht receiver in two speaker mode.
Click to expand...

Say, that one derived from Basketball Jones?
 
Caryw said:
Am I the only one that hasn't embraced Home Theater/Surround sound? I am just fine with my video needs running through my vintage stereo gear.

Am I missing a huge portion of life and will die old and lonely or are their others like me?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a HT setup years ago, but abandoned the format probably 15 years ago or so. 2 channel suits me far better, to each their own.
 
5.1 system (Yamaha CX-A5100) with DIY speakers. 75" 4kTV, ~600W for the mains (JBL M2 clones, Yamaha P5000S & P2500S for power and MiniDSP Open-DRC crossovers), ~150W (Yamaha MX-5000) for the surrounds (Zilchlab Delite 10) and center (JBL 2206H/2432H) and ~1600W for the sub (JBL 2269, Crown XTi2002). The house has a greatroom setup so all of this is in the family room that opens to the kitchen, dining room, and living room....with vaulted ceilings. Let's just say that the space is acoustically challenged. I don't feel a need for a separate 2-channel system nor do I have much desire to expand to 7, 9, or 11 channels.
 
Caryw said:
Am I the only one that hasn't embraced Home Theater/Surround sound? I am just fine with my video needs running through my vintage stereo gear.

Am I missing a huge portion of life and will die old and lonely or are their others like me?
Click to expand...
I sold home video for "Video Concepts in the 1980 timeframe. Before that I sold Hi-fi. I built my own "synthesized" surround system for my home and my car stereos back in the 70's. It was a big deal to me back then.

Now I just use the TV speaker, even for movies. However, I'm 68 and, frankly, have changed my viewing needs. When the original star wars came out I saw it 27 times in the theater. I was hooked on action and special effects. Now I'm more into stories and being able to understand dialogue clearly (that last part being the one thing I miss in home theater). I prefer a good story, acting and direction nowadays. And, truth be told, I'm migrating more and more to documentaries anyway.

Also, moving from the city to 32 wooded acres and now having finished my shop and mancave, I just don't have much time to watch all that many movies (even though I'm now retired).

Lastly, I tend to agree with the critical drinker. There just isn't that much "good" stuff being produced for guys like me. He covers it in two videos. And I don't need a surround system to watch Dirty Harry or Calendar Girls or Love Actually.
 
Doug G. said:
Heck, I have had quadraphonics for many years so I just added stuff to be able to play modern digital media.

And, as far as I'm concerned, the phrase "two channel" can be used to describe something passe'. "Oh, that's SO two channel". :D

Doug
Click to expand...

Quad snob..!!! :whip::D :rflmao:
 
I'm a solid 2 channel guy. Only one of my TVs has extra speakers or soundbars and it is the least used. I guess part of the way I look at it is that most concert experiences come from PA stacks onstage and 2 channel does it right. I had the privilege of watching Queen at Live Aid on a friend's dedicated full blown home theatre system with a giant projection screen massive power amps and Klipsch Belles as surrounds, and it was impressive, but not something I see in the cards for my lifestyle.

That being said, I was testing a universal DVD deck the other day and had it plugged into my desktop TV monitor and my main rig and have to admit it was nice hearing the music on much better speakers: I had Clapton's Crossroads Festivals on and the guitars and voices were so much better! I'll have to revisit my family room rig and rearrange the speakers as they are optimized for music and not video presentation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom