does nobody love stereo anymore :-(
Discussion
having heard and had a couple of 5.1 and 7.1 stuff I find myself ALWAYS rverting back to stereo separates - granted I dont really do movies etc - music is my passion.
Current system includes . . . .
2 x iAudio8 Wall mounted speakers
1 x Infinity Active Sub
Marantz CD85 CD player
Marantz PM75 Amp
Always sounds wonderful - am I alone??
khushy
Current system includes . . . .
2 x iAudio8 Wall mounted speakers
1 x Infinity Active Sub
Marantz CD85 CD player
Marantz PM75 Amp
Always sounds wonderful - am I alone??
khushy
Completely agree - spent a lot of money in the past with 5.1 set-ups only to find them a compromise for music listening.
Took the move a few years ago when moving house to drop 5.1, invest all the budget in a pair of decent stereo speakers and used the power-amps to drive these instead.
Movies still sound superb even though it's not surround and music is as good as it should be.
Also found once I bought a squeezebox with an off-board Cyrus DAC-XP I didn't use my DVD player any more so that ended up on e-bay.
Took the move a few years ago when moving house to drop 5.1, invest all the budget in a pair of decent stereo speakers and used the power-amps to drive these instead.
Movies still sound superb even though it's not surround and music is as good as it should be.
Also found once I bought a squeezebox with an off-board Cyrus DAC-XP I didn't use my DVD player any more so that ended up on e-bay.
Surely you just buy a decent pair of stereo speakers for the front and then make up the rears and sub with whatever your budget will stretch to? Then switch to 2-channel mode for music and 5.1 for films? Or even just buy a dedicated stereo amp and use a switching box when changing sources?
Buying one of those 5.1 speaker packages seems a bit daft if you want to listen to music too, unless you are on a very tight budget.
Buying one of those 5.1 speaker packages seems a bit daft if you want to listen to music too, unless you are on a very tight budget.
I have a big pair of XTZ floorstanders as part of my 5.1 system. They get used in stereo with the amp in pure audio direct stereo mode for music. Otherwise they sound great with a film as part of my 5.1 system.
A proper stereo hifi amp may sound better than my Onkyo 876, but it's a great all round system.
A proper stereo hifi amp may sound better than my Onkyo 876, but it's a great all round system.
Not just 'forget all that 5.1 and 7.1 stuff' - wtf is all this MP3 / MP4 compressed digital crap, devoid of staging, imaging and detail, that we're all supposed to be embracing, eh?
Itunes and Ipods and all that - pah, might as well listen to myself singing in the shower! Sounds like music played back through a system that's had thick bits of old carpet nailed over the front of the speakers!
In 1998 (when I had a decent well-paying job, remeber those?) I bought a set of Arcam separates, after visiting and spending an entire afternoon in a proper old -school hifi shop's acoustic room.
They were great, bless them. I walked in clutching a load of CD's one lunchtime, (older ones with decent production and imaging) told them my budget, and sat back on a very comfy sofa in a sound-proof room, while they spent 4 hours unpacking, lugging into and out of the room, and setting up all kinds of different brands of CD players, amps and speakers.
I went home with an Alpha 7 source, two Alpha 8 amps, and an Alpha 7 tuner. All bi-wired via the two amps, to a pair of Kef Q35 speakers.
The system was built to my ears, and specifically for the room at home where it would be set up.
14 years later - I still think it's unrivalled in terms of detail, quality and richness. It's all been used so much now, the kit is all nicely worn and run-in, and the music quality is, despite still carrying all the detail and highs, now as warm, friendly, personal and rich as having gently heated treacle poured over you
As you've observed, it's not as great with the latest CD's - where has the attention to detail and the quality of production gone???!!
But listen to something in glourious, intended stereo, with proper old-school production - and man, you cannot beat it
Itunes and Ipods and all that - pah, might as well listen to myself singing in the shower! Sounds like music played back through a system that's had thick bits of old carpet nailed over the front of the speakers!
In 1998 (when I had a decent well-paying job, remeber those?) I bought a set of Arcam separates, after visiting and spending an entire afternoon in a proper old -school hifi shop's acoustic room.
They were great, bless them. I walked in clutching a load of CD's one lunchtime, (older ones with decent production and imaging) told them my budget, and sat back on a very comfy sofa in a sound-proof room, while they spent 4 hours unpacking, lugging into and out of the room, and setting up all kinds of different brands of CD players, amps and speakers.
I went home with an Alpha 7 source, two Alpha 8 amps, and an Alpha 7 tuner. All bi-wired via the two amps, to a pair of Kef Q35 speakers.
The system was built to my ears, and specifically for the room at home where it would be set up.
14 years later - I still think it's unrivalled in terms of detail, quality and richness. It's all been used so much now, the kit is all nicely worn and run-in, and the music quality is, despite still carrying all the detail and highs, now as warm, friendly, personal and rich as having gently heated treacle poured over you
As you've observed, it's not as great with the latest CD's - where has the attention to detail and the quality of production gone???!!
But listen to something in glourious, intended stereo, with proper old-school production - and man, you cannot beat it
That's the problem with having a decent stereo - you notice all the s
t recordings!
With regards to MP3s etc, I try to get as much as FLAC, which seems as good as CD in the tests that I have done. I have all my music on PC now as CDs take up too much room. I'm having to copy everything to 320kbps MP3 though to play in my car, as I can't find a HU that can play FLAC. It's anoying having duplicate copies of everything.
t recordings!With regards to MP3s etc, I try to get as much as FLAC, which seems as good as CD in the tests that I have done. I have all my music on PC now as CDs take up too much room. I'm having to copy everything to 320kbps MP3 though to play in my car, as I can't find a HU that can play FLAC. It's anoying having duplicate copies of everything.
Meridian 200 Transport, Chord DAC64 Dual Input DAC, Systemdek IIXE turntable, Denon DVD2800, Aiwa Dolby-S cassette Deck, Impulse Lali Speakers. The Amp is a Audio Innovations 500 Valve amp fitted with Mullard Valves.
I stayed Stereo and to be honest watching films is pretty good when I do watch a film. I also look out for the better recorded CD's and have a small selection of SACD and DVD-Audio which do sound better than CD as more care seems to be lavished on High Band recording.
I stayed Stereo and to be honest watching films is pretty good when I do watch a film. I also look out for the better recorded CD's and have a small selection of SACD and DVD-Audio which do sound better than CD as more care seems to be lavished on High Band recording.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I went home with an Alpha 7 source, two Alpha 8 amps, and an Alpha 7 tuner. All bi-wired via the two amps, to a pair of Kef Q35 speakers.
Around the same time I bought an Alpha 7 CD player, Alpha 7 amp and Q15 speakers - they gelled together really well. I replaced the Arcam stuff a few years ago but kept the Kefs and they still sound great on the end of a Denon DM38 as a second system. To be honest, if I hadn't gone down the route of a Squeezebox+DAC, I doubt there'd have been any compelling reason to replace the Arcam.I bought my 2x Marantz separates in 1988!!!!
The CD85 is stunning and still going strong, but unfortunately the PM75 that I bought originally died about 10 years ago. Last year I managed to find an "as-new" replacement PM75 which sounds awesome.
Stereo for me - every day of the week :-) . . . oh + WAV's only!
khushy
The CD85 is stunning and still going strong, but unfortunately the PM75 that I bought originally died about 10 years ago. Last year I managed to find an "as-new" replacement PM75 which sounds awesome.
Stereo for me - every day of the week :-) . . . oh + WAV's only!
khushy
I've tried various 5.1 systems, but always revert back to stereo.
Fortunately, I have a very tolerant wife, who puts up with a 5.1 AND stereo system in the lounge - so we have 6 speakers in there (plus sub).
I have a Marantz CD17 for cd playback, rarely used these days as I have a Logitech Squeezebox feeding into a 'homebrew' DAC bought off Ebay.
This feeds a preamp (also home built) which in turn feeds a Harmon Kardon HK870 power amp into Linn Keilidh speakers.
There is some 5.1 stuff which sounds ok - but even the various music DVDs that I have are played back in stereo on the 5.1 system.
Quite ironic really!
As stated above - many stereo cds are let down by poor quality. I ripped the audio tracks off some of the DVDs I have, and played them back through my stereo system - I was stunned at the quality, which leads me to believe we are being ripped off where stereo quality is concerned.
Fortunately, I have a very tolerant wife, who puts up with a 5.1 AND stereo system in the lounge - so we have 6 speakers in there (plus sub).
I have a Marantz CD17 for cd playback, rarely used these days as I have a Logitech Squeezebox feeding into a 'homebrew' DAC bought off Ebay.
This feeds a preamp (also home built) which in turn feeds a Harmon Kardon HK870 power amp into Linn Keilidh speakers.
There is some 5.1 stuff which sounds ok - but even the various music DVDs that I have are played back in stereo on the 5.1 system.
Quite ironic really!
As stated above - many stereo cds are let down by poor quality. I ripped the audio tracks off some of the DVDs I have, and played them back through my stereo system - I was stunned at the quality, which leads me to believe we are being ripped off where stereo quality is concerned.
I still far prefer stereo, but there is a lot to be said for a well set up surround system to comlement your 2 channel gear. Many hifi amps will have a HT input - this allows your home cinema amp to control volume and set delays on your 'proper' 2 channel amp and speakers.
You then pick an AV amp and speakers that will match aurally to your mains. Arcam's AVR300/350 amps are going on ebay for around 300, which is quite the bargain if you're not too worried about DTS HD etc.
You then pick an AV amp and speakers that will match aurally to your mains. Arcam's AVR300/350 amps are going on ebay for around 300, which is quite the bargain if you're not too worried about DTS HD etc.
Exposure 7 Pre / 8 Power, Michell Gyrodec with bells and whistles, Proac Studio 115 speakers, ancient Pioneer upside down CD player assisted by CA DacMagic for proper music listening. Some old, some new, very happy.
Thought about sorround for the TV, can't quite be bothered. We don't really have the room to set all those speakers up properly, not to mention all the wires. Currently using a NAD C315bee and Q Acoustics 2020s to give the TV a boost. Sounds pretty good to me, I'm not sure how sorround would let us enjoy our viewing more.
And it would probably frighten the dog...
Thought about sorround for the TV, can't quite be bothered. We don't really have the room to set all those speakers up properly, not to mention all the wires. Currently using a NAD C315bee and Q Acoustics 2020s to give the TV a boost. Sounds pretty good to me, I'm not sure how sorround would let us enjoy our viewing more.
And it would probably frighten the dog...
I suspect a few of you are comparing Stereo and Dolby Digital Pro logic?
The thing is, a piece of music recorded in DTS 5.1 is simply stunning.
Put 'DTS Demo Sampler vol.1 Surround Sound demonstration DVD' into Google. Burn it to a DVD and after listening to Hotel California, try telling us your stereo setup is better?
The Blue Man Group 'Sing along' is another absolute cracker.
There is a vol 2 of the above as well - well worth a download.
The thing is, a piece of music recorded in DTS 5.1 is simply stunning.
Put 'DTS Demo Sampler vol.1 Surround Sound demonstration DVD' into Google. Burn it to a DVD and after listening to Hotel California, try telling us your stereo setup is better?
The Blue Man Group 'Sing along' is another absolute cracker.
There is a vol 2 of the above as well - well worth a download.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
I suspect a few of you are comparing Stereo and Dolby Digital Pro logic?
The thing is, a piece of music recorded in DTS 5.1 is simply stunning.
Put 'DTS Demo Sampler vol.1 Surround Sound demonstration DVD' into Google. Burn it to a DVD and after listening to Hotel California, try telling us your stereo setup is better?
The Blue Man Group 'Sing along' is another absolute cracker.
There is a vol 2 of the above as well - well worth a download.
You Really think so??? I KNOW the difference, have listened to them though their evolution and haven't found any good reason to go to any Surround system. Yes some of them sound really good but that's down to HD remastering rather than the surround.The thing is, a piece of music recorded in DTS 5.1 is simply stunning.
Put 'DTS Demo Sampler vol.1 Surround Sound demonstration DVD' into Google. Burn it to a DVD and after listening to Hotel California, try telling us your stereo setup is better?
The Blue Man Group 'Sing along' is another absolute cracker.
There is a vol 2 of the above as well - well worth a download.
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