5.0 to 2.0

Posted by: gazla on 30 July 2008

Every now and then I consider trading in may AV amp, centre and surrounds and investing in a better pair of main speakers (and maybe a sub), and a DAC. Currently Nait5i powers the main speakers (Totem Dreamcatchers) ,,, Obviously a Supernait is a great option here ... but a little out of budget Smile . Just wondered if anyone had gone a similar route, moving down to a stereo only system? Any regrets?
Posted on: 02 August 2008 by pjl
It depends on how important surround sound is to you. This will probably be related to the type of material that you mainly watch. I have surround, but I like a lot of 60's and 70's movies which are only in mono or stereo, so surround is of no benefit whatsoever with these. I have also found it the case that many 5.1 channel movies actually make very little use of the surround channels. It's nice to have surround in order to make full use of DVD soundtracks, but if I had to live without it I don't think I would lose any sleep over it.

Peter
Posted on: 03 August 2008 by gazla
Thanks for the reply. Watching the occasional DVD in surround is good, very good. But as you say if required to, you could do without ... I assume that either owning an AV system (not AV2 based or N-vi of course), or daring to mix stereo and surround is a frowned upon on this forum. Smile
Posted on: 03 August 2008 by pjl
I have recently had to downsize my system, due to personal circumstances, including the A/V bit, from DVD5/AV2 and Naim amps / speakers to Pioneer DVD player / Sony A/V receiver / small Jamo Sub/Sats. It's not as good. It costs a fraction of what the Naim gear did. I find it more than adequate to enjoy movies with. This is now totally seperate to my main system : CD5i/Nait 5i/n-Sats.

Peter
Posted on: 03 August 2008 by gazla
PJL, my av and main system have to sit together...hence, I guess, my original, vague, query ... AV is more varied (fits and starts of 'wow') where as stereo more of continuous quality ('wow') ... Like the N-sats?
Posted on: 03 August 2008 by pjl
I had IBL's, which I loved, before the n-Sats. As I said, the change was a forced one, but I absolutely love the n-Sats. They are superb speakers, and so much sweeter sounding and nicer to listen to than IBL's. My stereo and A/V stuff was integrated before the change as well, but the necessity to use an LCD display now rather than the projector I had previously created insurmountable difficulties with positioning - hence the separation.

Peter
Posted on: 04 August 2008 by Wameser
I have recently gone from an Arcam AVR300/PS3 with Focal Chorus mains centre and surrounds to a Nait 5i-2 with just the Focal floorstanders.

I cant say that I have noticed a huge drop with movies, although as Peter said I guess this depends on the type of movies you predominantly watch. However the limited (to me) benefits of surround are more than offset by the simplification of my system and in particular the freeing up of space by the removal of the centre and surrounds.

My plan to to purchase a better quality pair of speakers (PMC GB1is are the current frontrunners) to pair with the Nait 5i-2 and a newly acquired CD5X.

Ian