How many speakers

I agree with antisocial, I use for jbl's and when two are removed it is like cutting off an ear. Never less than four for me. Only one way to find out what your brain wants.
 
In spite of what most say, two speakers (one on each side in the front) is not enough to even begin to recreate a live performance.

This is what quadraphonics was/is all about.

When you are at a live performance, there is no way that you only hear sounds mainly coming from the front. The sounds seem to envelope you coming from all directions. Our typical listening rooms cannot act like the walls/ceilings in a typical live venue and so the reverberations are not anything like the live event.

Adding back speakers to reproduce these additional sounds adds so much to the experience. Even if it's just synthesized from regular stereo sources.

After you have the extra sound all around you, it is a major downgrade to hear regular stereo again.

Doug
 
Interesting. My favourite live performances were at outdoor venues, so no back wall. Only sound was from the front.

Two speakers are enough for me.
 
Doug G. said:
In spite of what most say, two speakers (one on each side in the front) is not enough to even begin to recreate a live performance.

This is what quadraphonics was/is all about.

When you are at a live performance, there is no way that you only hear sounds mainly coming from the front. The sounds seem to envelope you coming from all directions. Our typical listening rooms cannot act like the walls/ceilings in a typical live venue and so the reverberations are not anything like the live event.

Adding back speakers to reproduce these additional sounds adds so much to the experience. Even if it's just synthesized from regular stereo sources.

After you have the extra sound all around you, it is a major downgrade to hear regular stereo again.

Doug
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Just a couple of thoughts.

1. There is just a handful of surround sound recordings available, whereas virtually everything recorded after the mid 50s is in stereo, and the early mono recordings often sound just fine played back on stereo. Quadrophonic is a failed format from the 70s. Whatever the merits of surround, most of the product out there is stereo.

2. Everybody has their own data points, of course, but in my experience a really good stereo recording, played back through a good system is quite involving. If your stereo is uninvolving, maybe your system/speakers need some upgrading.

3. I have heard some spectacular sounding surround setups, but they are really expensive and are harder to set up in most rooms than a decent stereo. In my experience, good stereo beats cheap surround sound any day.
 
Today you can buy way better 2 channel sound, than you can 5 or 7 channels with the same budget. I will take 2 efficient speakers with a decent amp over surround sound any day.
 
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Not just that, but now that we got you hooked, wait till you get a tube amp/receiver one day :D. Vinyl, tubes, and big old speakers are a forgotten heaven in this age of soccer moms, Bose sound cubes, and iPods. People like us on AK know all about it, but everybody else passes it off as "obsolete tech". You might be able to snag a pair of Dynaco A25s for less than $50. Theyre probably one of the best sounding bookshelf speakers out there. Wait till you have a crankin stereo, your neighbors home theater will box itself back up and hitch hike back to Best Buy ;)
 
I'll play the contrarian here...
My Onkyo 7100 has a "All Channel Stereo" mode that I've found is far superior to the standard 2 channel mode. Even the 'pure sound' 2 channel no sub setting sounds flat. Songs with great stereo separation (Kansas, Floyd, etc) just bounce all over the room. Your mileage may vary.... but I'm happy with it.
 
similost said:
I have to comment on the 301's... especially if they are older 301 speakers... they really don't sound that bad, and they sound a LOT better than a lot of the crap out there today at stupid prices... Don't let others around here that have never listened to a pair of 301 speakers give you grief... around here if it says Bose, too many like to tell you they blow. Many without ever hearing a pair...

Hook up what you got.. give it a listen. If you don't like it, then consider something else. You only have to make you happy, and screw what others think.
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I've heard them. Thought they were a dark muddy mess. My Pioneer CS 700's sounded better and they weren't that good.
 
Interesting opinions here. A 2-channel analog system with good source material can sound like live music. If you've not experienced it, I suggest attending a high-end audio fest. You and I may never be in a position to afford such a setup, but you will find out what's possible with two-channel sound.
 
Sid Coleman said:
I'll play the contrarian here...
My Onkyo 7100 has a "All Channel Stereo" mode that I've found is far superior to the standard 2 channel mode. Even the 'pure sound' 2 channel no sub setting sounds flat. Songs with great stereo separation (Kansas, Floyd, etc) just bounce all over the room. Your mileage may vary.... but I'm happy with it.
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A pair of 3 way speakers plus a couple of subs is definitely my preference.
That said I'm curious now to hear this 'All channel Stereo' mode, the few surround receivers I had quite some time ago didn't have that option.
 
My grown sons and their friends are always amazed by the sound and soundstage I get from a simple 2 channel purist setup. Adding stuff to the signal rarely adds aspects I'm interested in.
 
I was perfectly happy with 2 channel stereo for over 55 years with and with out a center fill speaker once in a while. Then I added a full time center channel speaker and 4 surrounds for a Blu-ray 7.0 system. I figure with 16 12 inch woofers I really don't need subs as the front speakers all respond below 25 HZ and the rears reach almost to 30 hz and even if the sides roll off at 45 HZ rapidly. I am very happy. I have had a 3.0 system from the early 60's using the middle speaker to fill the hole in the middle with some recordings. With My HT system its hard to tell when the Center channel speaker it working or not with a stereo source in the Dolby movie mode vs. The pure analog 2 channel stereo mode. I also have a 2 channel line array system that is rated to and measure flat to 20 HZ and extend below that. Which can be a real problem with less than perfect LP's that have vinyl rumble or recordings with disturbing subway sounds or heavy vehicles going by the recording venue. So if you are an LP lover you some times need that rumble filter most pre-amps have or at least a program EQ with a 25 HZ filter. So adding a sub woofer to a Digital or streaming source system can be very satisfying. But if you an are avid LP and FM tuner listener, listening to analog sources, be prepared for so slightly to obnoxious issues to be revealed using subwoofers. Here is an image of my system from the early to late 60's.Image2-68xx.jpg
 
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