Is Home Theater On Its Way Out?

[Bill Ferris]

Nicely done, @Bill Ferris!! You appear to be in fine shape and have a very good understanding of what your needs are.....good for you amigo! I, too, had my stuff pretty well figured out and it wasn't until I decided to get into playing records again that conflicts started popping up. Ideally I would have a totally separate listening room for the analog part, but since I'm kind of limited in terms of what I have to work with room-wise, I had to figure out how to make the best of both worlds, as far as possible, happen in this one setting. It has actually been quite good, even with the challenges inherent, and I'm pretty sure that when I'm done things will be even better! Thanks for your observations!

Thank you for that kind compliment concerning my music playing friendly HT setup, Fishead.

I haven`t played my kept in pristine shape LPs since 11/18/81, as I lost the use of my left arm/hand shortly thereafter while residing in a hospital, while being "allowed" to become left side slowly totally partially paralyzed, while under direct medical supervision !

So, I had to wait until affordable home based digital music delivery technology (CDs) arrived a few years later, if I wanted to have the means to select my choice in what music I wished to hear, and when, as local FM`s offerings was all that was available to me, unless visiting friend who played a LP for us to listen to.

You`re most welcome, Sir.

 

[Fishead]

Hey amigo, your comments are appreciated.....and also punctuate how we sometimes take for granted the simple things in life like putting a record on the platter to play. Peace, brother, and may you have many happy listening experiences however you do that......

 

[Bill Ferris]

Hey amigo, your comments are appreciated.....and also punctuate how we sometimes take for granted the simple things in life like putting a record on the platter to play. Peace, brother, and may you have many happy listening experiences however you do that......

Thanks, and peace back to you, my A/K friend, and I wish you success in your A/V system`s configuration`s pursuit to your satisfaction, Fishead.

That`s what I enjoy every day while scrolling new posts on A/K all day, after WAV. ripping every CD, & transferring purchased high resolution digital downloads to a currently ~14k track filled 1Terabyte Corsair flash drive stuffed into my music purposed only 24/7/365 powered up, & playing OPPO UHD-203 Universal player configured in the shuffle mode, that provides me with multi-genre (from Bach, to BOC (Blue Oyster Cult) playing clear sounding and distortion free all day music through 4 or 5 of my house`s room`s 24/7365 operating stereo systems..

If a track pops up that I don`t feel like listening to I just take one of the handful of nearby extra OPPO remotes that are scattered about the house and aim the remote to one of the handful of IR wireless repeaters and bump the OPPO to the next track.

I`m in musical playback heaven, and wouldn`t like it any other way, after spoiling myself with this method around 6 yrs. ago!

 

[gtx580]

interesting subject..... looking at it from my perspective , I have a nice mid level HT setup which I,ve had for a few years now. Early on we did use it extensively and really enjoyed sitting down and being immersed in a great movie with some amazing audio to add to the experience. However in the last few years we find ourselves hardly using it for movies , its used mainly for 2 channel streaming music. The reason?..... total lack of great movies to watch! If your not into the latest Superhero genre and all of the Marvel DC comic movies....theres really nothing out there to justify firing up the HT speaker system much less spending money on upgrading any of my equipment. Other than maybe Top Gun Maverick ( which was ok ) , theres a total lack of movies out there that interest me. I own stacks of Blurays of my favorite movies but I,m not forking out a ton of money just to experience those movies in ATMOS or 9.1 or 12.1 ...... Honestly , I am intrigued by the newer pieces and would love to upgrade , but right now my money goes towards upgrading my main 2 channel set up and expanding my vinyl collection!

 

[DeadRock]

My "Theatre" set-up is rather modest, especially compared to my #1 stereo. However, with the Paradigm Cinemas and an Energy sub tucked in the corner (out of view) through an old Sansui G-5500, I watch all movies, most sports events, and some TV. The sound is so superior to the TV alone, it elevates the experience greatly.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Most of the best movies are mono anyway.

 

[DeadRock]

...only if you exclude all movies made in stereo, and multi-channel...

 

[Tom Brennan]

...only if you exclude all movies made in stereo, and multi-channel...

I'm very keen on several large format movies that used multi channel magnetic sound---Ben Hur, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Lawrence of Arabia, Cleopatra, Spartacus and such. Those used 5 channels across the screen and a rear channel. But at the show I was struck by the fidelity and power of the sound, not spacial tricks. And I'm keen on many movies shot in Cinemascope, many of which were shot with 4 channel magnetic sound though usually exhibited in mono optical. But still, I think most of the best movies are mono.

Anyway, my enjoyment of movie sound depends on the clarity and tone, not spacial effects. I could enjoy a modern atmos movie as much, if not more, through a single Altec speaker as through a surround system. Of course the characters must have interesting things to say and be doing interesting things. I find modern movie systems and sound designs generally bombastic and distracting and the clarity of dialogue often suffers; I'd prefer less effects and mono or simple multi channel from behind the screen.

 

[Fishead]

I'm learning a lot of things and keeping an open mind.....visited a friend today who has not one, but three separate rooms with remarkable sounding systems in all of them. I was reminded that we can throw a ton of money at equipment and still not have sound as good as we would expect from having done so if the room, the listening space, is not addressed adequately. My friend did the work, paid the dues, and now has three listening/viewing spaces that are truly amazing and encouraged me to start thinking a bit differently. I think the most impressive part of the visit was listening to Tidal hi res streaming.....I was really surprised at how good it sounded!

The upshot of it all is that I'm now a bit more clear on what needs to happen, that being to take the vinyl, analog listening piece out of my main system and create a new system/space while focusing my other efforts on achieving a top-notch digital based system, adding a Tidal or Qobuz subsription when I want to listen in that way.

He also had an array of equipment that I found very appealing, including some of what has been recommended in this thread, namely Marantz processors and power amps along with Emotiva (really impressive!!!) power amps. Such smooth, detailed, effortless listening that felt very immersive without being very loud.....loud enough certainly to be impactful and engaging but still easy on the ears.

I think I'm getting closer to knowing what I want/need and now it's just a matter of making choices and getting on with things. Stay tuned, amigos!

 

[Kodaline]

For get about HT and buy a pair of Apples new Goggles. No more large screens or surround systems. Just slip them on your head and sit in a darkened room or space. Thats all we will need. Maybe a sub woofer or two to augment the the sound from the Apple goggles. Are we ready for this. Wouldn't it be neat if we could recieve advanced Blue tooth sound and images directly to the brain. Just close our eyes and get the best most realistic images and sound ever. Wouldn't hackers have fun with that!

I think it will be about as awful as the internet turned out to be.

There's a concept in some of Dan Simmons' novels of a TechnoCore and how people would jack in through a shunt. A character in one of the books found dead people, in 4 chairs, who jacked in permanently and evidently paid someone to feed and clean their bodies, and that arrangement evidently stopped for some reason, so they died, plugged in, not even knowing they were on the way out.

On a less futuristic note, imagine being forced to see ads in your optic nerves, or being blinded because you weren't PC for a couple days as punishment.

 

[damacman]

I'm learning a lot of things and keeping an open mind.....visited a friend today who has not one, but three separate rooms with remarkable sounding systems in all of them. I was reminded that we can throw a ton of money at equipment and still not have sound as good as we would expect from having done so if the room, the listening space, is not addressed adequately. My friend did the work, paid the dues, and now has three listening/viewing spaces that are truly amazing and encouraged me to start thinking a bit differently. I think the most impressive part of the visit was listening to Tidal hi res streaming.....I was really surprised at how good it sounded!

The upshot of it all is that I'm now a bit more clear on what needs to happen, that being to take the vinyl, analog listening piece out of my main system and create a new system/space while focusing my other efforts on achieving a top-notch digital based system, adding a Tidal or Qobuz subsription when I want to listen in that way.

He also had an array of equipment that I found very appealing, including some of what has been recommended in this thread, namely Marantz processors and power amps along with Emotiva (really impressive!!!) power amps. Such smooth, detailed, effortless listening that felt very immersive without being very loud.....loud enough certainly to be impactful and engaging but still easy on the ears.

I think I'm getting closer to knowing what I want/need and now it's just a matter of making choices and getting on with things. Stay tuned, amigos!

I'd be careful with that. I've streamed Tidal via my Oppo UDP-205 for years now. I really enjoy it, but it's certainly not a replacement for my record collection.

I had four different attempts at it before finding that I could live with the Oppo. All prior attempts were really impressive on first listen but led to fatigue long before the album was finished. My ears are especially sensitive to something in digital media whereas my
analog formats don't introduce that ... at all.

I find this hobby serves me best when I don't replace / exclude when it comes to the various media available. Rather, I've gone out of my way to choose sources to do each justice. When folks gave away their LPs as they replaced them with CDs, I was that guy buying them at yard sales for 50c each ...

I do agree however that listening to a friends setup(s) is never a bad idea. Every song just can't sound its best on your system! So it's nice to see what others have done and enjoy.

 

[Fishead]

I find this hobby serves me best when I don't replace / exclude when it comes to the various media available. Rather, I've gone out of my way to choose sources to do each justice. When folks gave away their LPs as they replaced them with CDs, I was that guy buying them at yard sales for 50c each ...

Very well-said amigo.....and I appreciate your words about caution. I am by no means intending to ditch my records, just that I think I may have found something that will really ADD to my appreciation of music, and particularly the aspects having to do with sound, however different from straight analog. Hearing his setup was truly special, and in the context of hanging out with a good friend made it even better!

 

[Legrace]

The upshot of it all is that I'm now a bit more clear on what needs to happen, that being to take the vinyl, analog listening piece out of my main system and create a new system/space while focusing my other efforts on achieving a top-notch digital based system, adding a Tidal or Qobuz subsription when I want to listen in that way.

You're on the right track IMO. I adopted a similar philosophy several years ago. 2ch system in one room, HT in another. My HT receiver is 9.2 capable but beyond 5.1 I found is diminishing returns to the point of not wanting to bother. I honestly couldn't hear much difference. I ditched cable a couple years ago. Amazon firestick is what I use now. I especially like the SmartTube app to stream YouTube, love the way it strips out all the ads. That and IPTV services.

 

[Fishead]

Thanks for the confirmation, Pierre....now I just need to find that "other room....." but hey, start with a really, really nice HT processor and see where we go from there. I think my Rotel is just getting tired, or maybe it's my ears getting tired or more than likely both!!! Looking at the Emotiva and the Marantz still......both nice and heard them both yesterday so definitely opportune. My buddy has offered to let me come listen again so may have to do that and spend a little more time. Stay warm up there amigo!

 

[Legrace]

I'm an empty nest boomer. According to an article I read recently people like me are a main reason millennials are struggling to find housing. What the article completely misses is now that the kids are gone, we need room for our audio systems!! Hard to go wrong with Marantz gear...

 

[Fishead]

Nice! Teak cabinet? Has a very appealing look to it, clean lines. I think I may be getting ready to appropriate the single garage bay.....wish it were a little wider, but I can get a full 10 feet and it's 21 feet long and here's the best part.....10 foot ceilings! I know I may need to change the dimensions because one doesn't want to have multiples (10x20x10) but that won't be hard. I think I'm heading for trouble!!!

 

[Spiceman50]

I've really enjoyed this thread. I couldn't know if it's going out or not, but it doesn't appear so on the high end market. It appears hot and heavy from my seat. I do see older models for sale on CL and MP, but often I'll see so many systems with small speakers, more like Surround Sound in a box. Systems like that lead to quick fatigue I believe and the HT experience is disappointing to many of those consumers who sell it off, and don't look back. I've spoken to two individuals whom became disillusioned because they just didn't understand how to set it up, or just wanted to plug and play. A successful system comes not only from a matched system but also putting in the work to dial it it properly. I've learned though time and experience that having a matched system is critical to a HT set up. Some Center Channels use a three way system using duel woofers, some a two way system using duel Midranges with a single tweeter, and I "think" some feel those are duel woofers? and they don't get the crossover correct. When set correctly, and crossover correctly you should not have Left Right separation issues. Also setting the Center to Wide.

Some people let Oddyssey or YPAO do the calibrations. Those do a great job, but if you want to dial it in with precision, you should do it with a spl meter and manually set your trims and crossovers according to your environment and hearing. I'm not speaking to those of you who already know this, but to those who may have given up and don't look back.

What I don't miss ... is some guy sitting behind me sucking on a fat sour pickle! Somone dragging their coat across my face behind me, people texting, talking, laughing. Women wearing all kinds of different perfumes, some kid behind me pushing my seat back, not being able to pause the movie so I can dash off to the rest room. People who think it's funny to squeese off some ASS GAS, or kids who think it's funny to shout out how a movie ends. No, I'll take my home and my system and enjoy the comfort of my surroudings.

I currently run a 5.1, also have another sub, but don't use it. Have the pieces to expand to 9.1 and plan on doing that soon as I can get around to it. Look forward to that day. Also have butt kickers under me. Love those butt kickers!

Garry~

 

[Bill Ferris]

I've really enjoyed this thread. I couldn't know if it's going out or not, but it doesn't appear so on the high end market. It appears hot and heavy from my seat. I do see older models for sale on CL and MP, but often I'll see so many systems with small speakers, more like Surround Sound in a box. Systems like that lead to quick fatigue I believe and the HT experience is disappointing to many of those consumers who sell it off, and don't look back. I've spoken to two individuals whom became disillusioned because they just didn't understand how to set it up, or just wanted to plug and play. A successful system comes not only from a matched system but also putting in the work to dial it it properly. I've learned though time and experience that having a matched system is critical to a HT set up. Some Center Channels use a three way system using duel woofers, some a two way system using duel Midranges with a single tweeter, and I "think" some feel those are duel woofers? and they don't get the crossover correct. When set correctly, and crossover correctly you should not have Left Right separation issues. Also setting the Center to Wide.

Some people let Oddyssey or YPAO do the calibrations. Those do a great job, but if you want to dial it in with precision, you should do it with a spl meter and manually set your trims and crossovers according to your environment and hearing. I'm not speaking to those of you who already know this, but to those who may have given up and don't look back.

What I don't miss ... is some guy sitting behind me sucking on a fat sour pickle! Somone dragging their coat across my face behind me, people texting, talking, laughing. Women wearing all kinds of different perfumes, some kid behind me pushing my seat back, not being able to pause the movie so I can dash off to the rest room. People who think it's funny to squeese off some ASS GAS, or kids who think it's funny to shout out how a movie ends. No, I'll take my home and my system and enjoy the comfort of my surroudings.

I currently run a 5.1, also have another sub, but don't use it. Have the pieces to expand to 9.1 and plan on doing that soon as I can get around to it. Look forward to that day. Also have butt kickers under me. Love those butt kickers!

Garry~

That covers all my reasons and more for my going the route/expense that I did for my personal theater !

Control of my video viewing experiences, is in my opinion, priceless, and I`ve never regretted my choice in doing so, especially reading here, and hearing from theater attending friends about the various commonly unpleasant current theater experiences by folks for well over a decade.
Makes me glad that I`ve not been to a theater, nor desired to, since attending and viewing in 1980 (second Star Wars) !

 

[Spiceman50]

That covers all my reasons and more for my going the route/expense that I did for my personal theater !

Control of my video viewing experiences, is in my opinion, priceless, and I`ve never regretted my choice in doing so, especially reading here, and hearing from theater attending friends about the various commonly unpleasant current theater experiences by folks for well over a decade.
Makes me glad that I`ve not been to a theater, nor desired to, since attending and viewing in 1980 (second Star Wars) !

I smiled reading your post. It's one of those .... If you know you know posts (compliments). At the moment, I'm forced into a corner "kind of" and have mine temporarily set up in a large bedroom to enjoy and continue to build the pieces I want. However, when the wife decides to finally retire, I'll take her office space and convert that room in to a dedicated HT. I'm running a Yamaha RX-A3070 currently. Not enough improvements in the A8A line to upgrade.

Here are the pieces I've assembled so far. All pieces are matched, with custom Center/Surrounds.

 

[Spiceman50]

I have a very nice 2 channel Bi-Amped system as well. Two Yamaha MX1000's a CX1000 preamp and the elusive C2000 ads biamp module. It's not always convenient for me to walk my 115lb each mains out from the wall to unplug the AVR and plug in all the connections to the 2 Channel when sometimes I just want to listen to music. The RX-A3070 works well for these times supplying 150 watts @ 2 channels driven.