To 5.1 or not to 5.1

Posted by: Alonso on 02 November 2009

I really would like to hear your opinions here.

This is the back ground info.

For a couple of years I lived with a 5.1 system; floor-standers, a matching centre channel, dipolar rears and a nice REL T3 sub, powered by a Denon AVR1907 AV amp

A few months ago I became a Naimee by purchasing a Naim Nait XS and a pair of Neat Acoustic Motive2. And fell in love.

I still used the Denon AV (a AVR 1907), but as a 'pre'amp for the fronts, using the fantastic AV pass thru feature of the XS, which itself worked as a power amp for the fronts when watching movies. When listening to music the XS went back to being an integrated of course.

So far so good (and quite happy)

Some weeks ago, while considering a bigger telly, I was tinkering with the room setup and I moved the MASSIVE cabinet (50cm deep, 1.40m tall, 1m wide) that housed all the AV components (the 26" telly, the centre channel, the Virgin Box, the AV amp, the DVD player, the DAC, 2 sonos) to the other end of the room, leaving just this small 26" sitting on (temporary) small coffee table flanked by the 2 motives. OMG! The difference in sound (with the massive cabinet out of the way) was simply phenomenal! Everything improved. Everything

Which has led me to think, and hence the need of your advice.

Would you sacrifice a 5.1 set up in the name of this fantastic 2.0 sound?

I DREAD putting back a cabinet in the front with a centre channel. In reality I could make a very shallow/slim cabinet to house a new bigger 40" tv but, if I want to include the centre channel in that cabinet, it would certainly be a deeper (and more acoustically intrusive) affair... Why not just leave the tv on the wall and the centre channel on a bracket? SWMBO wont allow... (and I kind of agree with her of not having the tv as a focal point of the room)

Do you understand where my dilemma lies? I guess what Im saying is that 2.0 set up now, even for movies is REALLY good. But pschologically it bugs me leaving the centre channel and the rears out of the home theatre equation... Im torn!
Posted on: 02 November 2009 by gazla
Alsonso,
Not got an answer but I have gone through similar thoughts with regards to sacrificing 5.1 to maximize 2.0 sound. I have my Nait5i liked to a Denon amp as you do ... I have listened just in stereo and sounds good but switching back to 5.0 (I have no sub) just sounds right for TV/films. Apart from 'fixing' the voices to the picture by the centre channel I also think that the 2.0 lacks depth, so have wondered what running 2.1 might sound like. Have you tried this?
Posted on: 02 November 2009 by paulr0414
Alonso
This is interesting and has been bugging me too. We have 5.1 (denon) in our lounge and 2.0 (naim) in my listening room which is primarily used for stereo but also has our projector.
Apart from the rear speaker sound effects, which aren't that important on the type of movies we tend to watch (important caveat) we don't miss the extra channels at all.
I'd put this down to the naim setup being dramatically more expensive and higher quality than the denon, or perhaps our ears are unable to distinguish the nuances. Whatever, I've no plans or desire to "upgrade" the 2.0 system by adding channels.
And I'm sure the neighbours appreciate my not having a sub as bass output of main speakers is enough for me (and probably for them).
Best regards, p
Posted on: 03 November 2009 by Alonso
quote:
Originally posted by gazla:
Alsonso,
Not got an answer but I have gone through similar thoughts with regards to sacrificing 5.1 to maximize 2.0 sound. I have my Nait5i liked to a Denon amp as you do ... I have listened just in stereo and sounds good but switching back to 5.0 (I have no sub) just sounds right for TV/films. Apart from 'fixing' the voices to the picture by the centre channel I also think that the 2.0 lacks depth, so have wondered what running 2.1 might sound like. Have you tried this?


Hi Gazla. Adding the sub is not my main concern but a concern nevertheless... Its the space requirements of adding the centre channel between the front speakers. Im designing a slim cabinet to house a 40" tv. This cabinet can be quite slim, its only when I start thinking of housing the 200mm deep centre channel in it that things start 'expanding'

The sub is not a major concern but clutter is clutter in a 3mx4m room!

The first thing I need to do is run a 4.1 set up. Basically setting the AV to 'no centre channel'
Posted on: 06 November 2009 by Stuart M
Well what is more important: How much do you watch TV or listen to stereo or interior design. If your TV must be in a cabinet then your lost, as no way would any - 2.0 or 5.1 setup go for that.

You have a typical UK room, and to be honest to try and get 5.1 into that is not easy, try 4.1 (I've known that work incredibly well but also seeen them that sound v bad).

The moment you say "Im designing a slim cabinet" then your on your own - I've seen these things work or fail depending on the room.

The thing is there will be know way to know until you built said cabinet and heard what it does to the acoustics
Posted on: 10 November 2009 by {OdS}
quote:
Originally posted by Alonso:
Would you sacrifice a 5.1 set up in the name of this fantastic 2.0 sound?


This is just my opinion, but yes, I definitely would. I've been watching DVDs and blu-rays (and TV too) on a fantastic stereo system for years and even my brother's 7.1 THX ultra and-so-on system can't make me change my mind.
Posted on: 10 November 2009 by Eloise
I recently had to send my Yamaha back for repair so was left with just 2.0 system (not Naim I should admit). For most things I didn't miss the 5.1, but when watching movies via the projector there was something missing.

But if I was spending money I'd make sure I had a good 2.0 system before adding 5.1, rather than starting with 5.1 and then trying to improve the 2.0 (if you understand what I mean).

Eloise
Posted on: 11 November 2009 by tonym
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
But if I was spending money I'd make sure I had a good 2.0 system before adding 5.1, rather than starting with 5.1 and then trying to improve the 2.0 (if you understand what I mean).

Eloise


Yes, I do Eloise. And if you're going 5.1 or 7.1 from a good 2.0 system, make sure the extra components and setup are of equal quality if you want the best result.

Expensive I know, but if you want the best multichannel sound then it's the only way. (I'm starting to sound like a broken record over this issue...)
Posted on: 12 November 2009 by Mark Gilbert
I may be late to comment but I'll share this. I did delay setting up 5.1 for quite a while. I established 2.0 and enjoyed it. When I found a rare opportunity to get rear channel amp and speakers that would mate well with my 2 channel - I bought and set up 4.0. I would really not want to go back to 2 only but you could say I sacrificed 5.1, for a long while, in favor of 2.0. As you've noticed I don't truly have 5.1 now. My setup is still excellent and I have the components for the center channel - I just have to rebuild the speaker then set it up. The subwoofer will cost more so that will wait.
Mark