I guess I have a little bit of a different experience and advice than some of the above posters. I used to have separate 2-channel and HT systems. The 2-channel system was a "no-compromise" system, with Dynaudio C2's, Atma-Sphere MA2 Mk2.3's monoblocks and MP1 MkIII pre, Sony SCD777ES with Level 5 VSE mod. In all honesty, this would have been an impractical basis for a HT system for the following reasons: too much heat from the MA2's, would have needed more OTL's (read more heat) for system matching for the extra channels, and the C2's aren't a high volume type of speaker.
In my way of thinking, HT speakers need to be able to play loud and handle big swings in dynamic range effortlessly. I use Reimer Tetons as L & R, with a large custom-made Reimer center, and (for now) VMPS 626's for surrounds. Pre/pro is a Proceed AVP2, MC amp is a Plinius Odeon. I still use the modded 777ES for music. Also, while the AVP2 is incredibly good on music on analog bypass (for a pre/pro), I am still looking into a separate high-end 2-channel preamp for use only when listening to music. While the Tetons are not as resolving as the Dynaudio's, they aren't too bad either. Another way to go for mains, and center and surrounds for that matter, would be with Silverline speakers. They make some darn good sounding stuff at real world prices.
Dynaudio Confidence speakers can work in a HT set-up, as I can personally attest. I heard an individual's HT system consisting (speaker-wise) of C4's for L/R, C2's for surrounds, with the matching Confidence center. It was driven with all Sim Audio gear. Unfortunately, his room really sucked; it was way too small for all this gear.
In summary, it still may be a compromise but if done with care, one can come reasonably close in a HT system to an all-out 2-channel system. Also, money doesn't hurt either.
Bill
In my way of thinking, HT speakers need to be able to play loud and handle big swings in dynamic range effortlessly. I use Reimer Tetons as L & R, with a large custom-made Reimer center, and (for now) VMPS 626's for surrounds. Pre/pro is a Proceed AVP2, MC amp is a Plinius Odeon. I still use the modded 777ES for music. Also, while the AVP2 is incredibly good on music on analog bypass (for a pre/pro), I am still looking into a separate high-end 2-channel preamp for use only when listening to music. While the Tetons are not as resolving as the Dynaudio's, they aren't too bad either. Another way to go for mains, and center and surrounds for that matter, would be with Silverline speakers. They make some darn good sounding stuff at real world prices.
Dynaudio Confidence speakers can work in a HT set-up, as I can personally attest. I heard an individual's HT system consisting (speaker-wise) of C4's for L/R, C2's for surrounds, with the matching Confidence center. It was driven with all Sim Audio gear. Unfortunately, his room really sucked; it was way too small for all this gear.
In summary, it still may be a compromise but if done with care, one can come reasonably close in a HT system to an all-out 2-channel system. Also, money doesn't hurt either.
Bill