This may not be for many but it works for me. I don’t use my HT system that often so I didn’t want to spend a lot on it. I have a midfi Pioneer Elite 7.1 HT system that I added a nice tube DAC, streamer with optical and Fritz main speakers. Sounded really nice in analog direct amp mode. I then added a second tube amp sharing the Fritz speakers with a (2 amp to 1 speaker switch box) and moved the DAC and streamer to the tube amp. 1 amp for HT and a second amp for 2 channel. Now I can enjoy nice sounding music or HT in this room. I do have a separate main 2 channel system in another room. Nice to have options.
HT and 2 channel in same room? 1 or 2 systems?
Hi all, I wasn't exactly sure where to post this but hoping someone here may have some advice for me. This dilemma has been stressing me a bit so would appreciate any advice. I'll try to make this as concise as possible.
I have recently put together a multichannel system as do a lot of movies/PS5. System is Onkyo RZ50 AVR, Klipsch RF7-iii, RC-64iii and RP-600 for surround. I plan on adding in ATMOS speakers and some big DIY subs soon.
I have always wanted to get into 2 channel audio also. I have a fairly big room, 21x28, so I have also purchased a 5 year old pair of La Scala II's a few weeks ago and I just had a Willsenton R300 tube integrated amp delivereda day or two ago.
I thought at first I would have 2 separate systems in the same space. I started doing some research into how to add a sub to that tube amp and found out I can do this via high level inputs, however, for every 1 discussion that seems to like that idea, I find another discussion or two that says you really need RCA out/bass management to make everything fit together.
So..my dilemma is do I push forward with 2 separate systems? I'll have to find a way to fit another pair of subs for the 2 channel system via high level. But this way I'll be able to enjoy the La Scala's via tube (thru Bluesound Node streamer) which I have been really looking forward to and then have a whole separate HT for gaming/movies.
But.....more than a few people have suggested this might be way over-thinking and over-complicating this and that I should just listen to music thought my multi-channel setup and forget the 2 separate systems. If I did this, I guess I would just sell the RF7's and just listen to everything through the La Scalas. And then I'd only need 2 subs, which would be a plus but then also kind of lose the dream of having a tube setup for music. However, I have more often than not done upgrades and not heard any difference so I'm kind of expecting this with the tubes, too. I have alot of hard surfaces in this room, which I'm working on rectifying, but I am def worried that if I hook up this tube amp, its not going to sound any different to me than going via Pure Audio/Direct thru the AVR.
So plusses to keeping separate, I get to listen to tubes. Plusses to going down to 1 system, I can consolidate and sell extra set of speakers, only need 1 set of subs, get to return the tube amp. I'm just not sure if saying I have tubes is worth that or not.
Appreciate any advice anyone may have on this situation.
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@johns21 I recently went through this and think I've nailed it. Of course the best option is to have 2 rooms but most of us don't have that luxury. To put them in the same room, here is my strategy: build your 2 channel system exactly like you like it. with a couple of caveats. your amp needs to have an HT bypass or just 2 inputs. the way I do it is I use an integrated amp with the volume turned all the way up. So it is becomes an amp with multiple inputs. I run my preamp into one of them and this is my 2 channel system. Note that most volume controls for integrated amps have a contact at full volume that fully bypasses the potentiometer or resistive ladder, whichever you have. For my HT system, I run all the surrounds and center from the HT receiver but for the fronts I run a pre-out signal from the HT receiver to the 2 channel receiver (different input from the 2 channel preamp). Set up levels in the HT amp just like you normally would. Now to go back and forth between HT and 2 channel you just select an input. This is basicly HT bypass and if you have an integrated with HT bypass it works the same. A lot of people think that ht bypass is a compromise and puts extra circuits into the signal path for your 2 channel system. You can see that it doesn't. Jerry |
i have 2 separate rooms. prefer that approach. since the ideal 2 channel room uses diffusion to retain energy. whereas the ideal Home Theater uses mostly absorption to reduce comb filtering. reflections are kept to a minimum. acoustically combining both requires considerable compromises if you desire state of the art from each. but certainly combining can be just fine and work well for both. a matter of expectations and preferences. Home theater room; in my house. 9.3.6 object based dolby atmos speaker system with Trinnov processor and 4k projection. not yet finished the acoustical treatment in the home theater room. https://www.avsforum.com/threads/official-funk-audio-thread.1682418/page-95#post-60708790 2 channel room. in my barn.
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+1 @fuzztone I think this could be solved with a simple switch. If you’re neurotic about sharing grounds, dig inside and switch the grounds (most switches buss the grounding). Make certain everything is off when you flip the switch - although at line level to subs you may be OK doing it live. I would avoid using an AVR for 2 channel listening unless it’s a really good AVR. You would be missing out if you get ride of that tube amp before experiencing it. You have the space. As others have said, I would set everything up for good 2 channel listening, fill in with the other speakers where they fit and use room correction on the 7.2 system. Spend some time with what you got. A lot of this depends on your focus and what you use most. I have 2 systems in a shared space. After spending a bunch of time and money routing Atmos speakers and the like, I found two big issues. For starters, most of the film I enjoy is not in Atmos. Most good films worth the effort of the room were maybe done in 2 channel. Second, after experiencing a good SET tube amp, everything else sounds fake or artificial. The bouncing of the sound is usually down so poorly it feels like a gimmic. There is much more to a ‘real’ sound other than the physical location of the sound. |
since the ideal 2 channel room uses diffusion to retain energy. whereas the ideal Home Theater uses mostly absorption to reduce comb filtering. So many examples of both of those approaches. When I put mostly absorption in my HT it sucked the energy right out of the room. Now this room also had carpeting and seating that were absorptive. Anthony Grimani’s recipe worked great for my room. Here is a summary of what he recommends for home listening:
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