Actually a good question especially if one keeps a reasonable perspective that we're discussing Home Theater which is essentially a digital media that will pass through more of your systems digital conversions before it gets to your ears.
I was never able to maintain the level of sound stage and imaging from my two channel system with a big ass display between the main speakers. Likewise, I found the surround effect suffers when dissimilar speakers, even from the same manufacture, are used in a 7.1 system. You end up using more EQ and/or room correction to compensate. In both cases speaker placement is critical and any deviation requires more digital tailoring.
In most cases the room needed to evenly space home theater speakers around the listening position is impossible so the quality and adjustability of the room correction within consumer receivers becomes more important than the amplification circuits.
So, if you maintain the perspective that its simply TV, even todays economical consumer receivers actually do a pretty good job of increasing one television experience.
I enjoy music videos and usually at loud volumes. Along with all the digital conversions I mentioned earlier I've found that finding higher sensitivity speakers a bigger bang for the buck than spending money on high powered separates. This is were switching (class D) amplification technology trumps linear A/B amplification in a receiver. The power supplies required for seven channels of 100 watt A/B amplification is simply impossible for a consumer receiver. With class D its not a problem.
I can crank my class D Pioneer Elite receiver all the way up without any discernible congestion or fatiguing shrill through my Triangle Comete Speakers. I could never do that with with my old A/B Denon or Integra receivers. Now, comes 4K. Isn' it easier to upgrade a receiver than separates to accommodate the higher resolution?
I was never able to maintain the level of sound stage and imaging from my two channel system with a big ass display between the main speakers. Likewise, I found the surround effect suffers when dissimilar speakers, even from the same manufacture, are used in a 7.1 system. You end up using more EQ and/or room correction to compensate. In both cases speaker placement is critical and any deviation requires more digital tailoring.
In most cases the room needed to evenly space home theater speakers around the listening position is impossible so the quality and adjustability of the room correction within consumer receivers becomes more important than the amplification circuits.
So, if you maintain the perspective that its simply TV, even todays economical consumer receivers actually do a pretty good job of increasing one television experience.
I enjoy music videos and usually at loud volumes. Along with all the digital conversions I mentioned earlier I've found that finding higher sensitivity speakers a bigger bang for the buck than spending money on high powered separates. This is were switching (class D) amplification technology trumps linear A/B amplification in a receiver. The power supplies required for seven channels of 100 watt A/B amplification is simply impossible for a consumer receiver. With class D its not a problem.
I can crank my class D Pioneer Elite receiver all the way up without any discernible congestion or fatiguing shrill through my Triangle Comete Speakers. I could never do that with with my old A/B Denon or Integra receivers. Now, comes 4K. Isn' it easier to upgrade a receiver than separates to accommodate the higher resolution?