2 channel home theatre - Advice needed

Cheapest option would be to use analogue stereo connections from your AV sources into your amplifer.

Not really worth buying a used AV2 unless you are contemplating going to a full 5.1 setup, IMO.  However, I believe it would be possible to use the AV2 DAC in 2 channel mode - just remember to set your source to output stereo PCM.  I'd have to go and read the manual to be sure of this, though.  Perhaps you could go to the "old manuals" part of the main Naim website and have a look yourself?

Bet you wish you'd kept the nDAC, now and gone for a decent used CD player with digital out to use as transport for it.  I'll let those with experience of them comment on alternative DACs, but don't forget that the CDX2.2/nDAC combination is very good.  I use my nDAC in combination with the digital out sockets on the AV2 to drive my Stax earphones (when the grandkids are staying)

Good luck. 

Is sound quality important?

The simple solution is to run all your AV sources into your TV/monitor and then feed the audio out into your preamp. This all depends on the location of your TV of course....

James - idiot decision number #10000 by me was to have the screen set into the wall. in hindsight this was bad. i'd be lying if i said i didn't want it to sound good!

DG - i didn't  think of that, also i was wary of putting a dac on the end of my CDX as i've heard very mixed reports.

the DAC does sound like the better option - when will stop though? I can see it now:

SWMBO - Holiday then?

Holty - errrrrrr

SWMBO - what box have you bought now!!

Holty - erm well the ndac really did need its own power supply

Hi Holty,

My advice would be for you to decide where you finally want to end up.

Do you finally want a great stereo? AV system? Both?

Once you've decided that then you can decide what LONG term plans to make.

I use a BluRay & DVD5 into my nDAC & AV2.

But the reality is that for lots of TV I am happy to watch in MONO (1.1).

Much of the rest is great in stereo (2.1) - there is not that much where I turn on the full 5.1; blockbuster movie once/twice per week.

If you decide that stereo is fine then you might save the pennies for a good DAC, and wire a DVD.BluRay into the pre for movies - feeding the speakers into a sub in due course for bass re-enforcement.

If you feel that 5.1 IS important I still think the AV2 is brilliant - if music is a priority, and can be got for £500 or less.

The DAC on the AV2 ain't in nDAC territory, but might be a short term option for music DVDs in a longer game plan.

Personally, in your position, I would:

Wire current DVD into the pre, then save.

In due course I would:

1. Go on holiday!

Then:

 - Buy a 2nd hand nDAC.

 - Buy a 2nd Hand REL Sub, Strata/Stadium.

Play with ripping and streaming my CDs!

M

I was going to suggest trying Rega's DAC at £500 but you're sorted now.

Cheers

Rack

For what it's worth, I reverted from a full 5.1 set up back to stereo. No loss of enjoyment at all watching movies. In my experience most 5.1 DVD's contain very little of worth on the surround channels anyway, and contrary to accepted wisdom I found that the centre speaker actually makes very little difference. Bass not so impressive without a sub obviously, but this is no hardship on the majority of discs. IMO if 99% of your viewing consists of crash-bang-wallop action movies then surround may possibly be justified - otherwise it's just an extremely expensive novelty which very quickly pales. The domestic equivalent of  

 the theatrical gimmick of Sensurround back in the '70's!

Peter 

I have my AV amp set for 2.1 as a default - front n-sats and n-sub - for both music and TV

The rest of the surround side only kicks in when fed a 5.1 source - usually Bluray/DVD and some TV

You would however be surprised just how few TV programmes - even on HD - have a 5.1 soundtrack

So you miss little by not having 5.1. - and probably gain an awful lot by having Hi-fi amp/speakers to deliver the really good 2.1 sound   (which is much better than bad 5.1!)

personally, i find without a centre speaker, a stereo setup is not that satisfying.

For me the AV2 5.1 set up is absolutely essential for watching films and sport, I would not be without it.

Some 2 months ago my Sky HD Box needed replacing and a Sky service agent duly turned up, and replaced the Box.

After this I was aware that I was not enjoying films as I should. Then we watched Clash of the Titans with my son. A pretty poor film relying on spectacle and sound effects, but, after some 10 minutes I realised that the 5.1 was not working.

Next day I attempted to sort the issue thinking it was the AV2, eventually I found that the Sky agent had removed and taken away the optical connection from the Sky box to the AV2. The AV2 was getting its signal from the TV optical connection, and utilising Pro Logic which I have always found next to useless, and would probably prefer straight stereo.

We very rarely watch "TV" i.e. the terrestial output, just films, sport and documentaries.

Obviously there would be no need, but, I would downgrade my music system to accomodate 5.1 

Gerry