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Industry Circles => Daedalus Audio => Topic started by: stump4545 on 29 Oct 2015, 11:57 pm

Title: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: stump4545 on 29 Oct 2015, 11:57 pm
Was thinking of using my Modright 150se, Elyse DAC, 36.5DM w/ Athena's to watch movies and TV, instead of getting a separate 5 channel HT rig.

Is this too crazy to use a high end 2 channel system for mere movies, HDTV and sports?

no surround sound?

thanks!
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: Phil A on 30 Oct 2015, 12:14 am
Was thinking of using my Modright 150se, Elyse DAC, 36.5DM w/ Athena's to watch movies and TV, instead of getting a separate 5 channel HT rig.

Is this too crazy to use a high end 2 channel system for mere movies, HDTV and sports?

no surround sound?

thanks!

I have a 150SE, 36.5DM, Meitner DAC but use it with a receiver on HT Bypass (the preamp doesn't even need to be turned on as it defaults to HT Bypass).  You can use it in 2-channel or get a Daedalus center channel and something decent (doesn't have to be expensive) for surrounds.  If you sit in the sweet spot, you can just do a phantom center too and just get surrounds too.  Receivers at places like accessories4less.com are not expensive for a refurb.  Lots of options and not all of them will cost so much.  Decent surrounds and a receiver can probably be had for $250 and up.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: stump4545 on 30 Oct 2015, 12:51 am
Thanks Phil.

Do you think if I only use my 2 channel Modwright/Athena rig for movies, TV, and Sports, I will lament not adding a center and surrounds?

Anyone here using only a 2 channel system for HT?

Am I crazy?




 
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: RDavidson on 30 Oct 2015, 12:57 am
I recently went from a small 5.1 setup to a higher quality 2.1 channel HT system and am very happy with it. I just kind of got tired of all the wires, amps, and speakers etc etc, which were only getting used for actual "theater" duties 5% of the time. I figure if I want the full theater experience, I'll go to the theater.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: kingdeezie on 30 Oct 2015, 01:07 am
I use my system this way, and I love it.

IMO, most HT specific equipment, like a mass market reciever, doesn't produce very good SQ.

A few years back, I had a HT bypass setup, going into a Pioneer Elite reciever. One day for kicks, I removed it, and used my two channel gear instead. Lost surround, and a discrete center channel, but gained naturalness, detail, and micro dynamics aplenty.

Never looked back. I play games, watch movies, and TV.

In the end it all depends on what you want. Someone who loves HT sound, usually is trying to replicate movie theater-esque sound. Its a very professional type sound. Huge SPL, bombastic bass, loud, clear, macrodynamic, etc, etc.

If you want something more natural, with vocals for instance, sounding more lifelike, using a high quality two channel set up will get you there.

Of course, if you want to spend 5-10k on a processor that will be outdated in a years time, to attempt to keep all the HT goodies, while closing the SQ gap, you can.

A 10K processor still won't have a DAC section that can compete with a quality 2 channel DAC in the 3K+ range, nevermind competing with the analog section of a well built preamp.

Unless you have unlimited funds, you gotta make compromises.

Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: aldcoll on 30 Oct 2015, 01:57 am
If you are limited to one else setup and oeuvre room why not enjoy them in all things with a audio source.   I am drawing the line at general TV.  A good  sound bar is cheaper then a couple tubes.

I am retired and when home my setup of MW and Daedalus is on almost 10 ours a day every day.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: mca on 30 Oct 2015, 02:03 am
How would one deal with HDMI sources like a cable box and DVD player in a 2 channel rig?
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: audiogoober on 30 Oct 2015, 02:07 am
Was thinking of using my Modright 150se, Elyse DAC, 36.5DM w/ Athena's to watch movies and TV, instead of getting a separate 5 channel HT rig.

Is this too crazy to use a high end 2 channel system for mere movies, HDTV and sports?

no surround sound?

thanks!

I've been considering doing the exact same thing in our living room system...Pass XA -30.5,  First Sound pre-amp, EE minimax DAC and Athena's. Our Sony LCD TV and cable box doesn't have any single ended RCA outputs. How are you planning to connect your TV/cable box to your LS 36.5DM? Would I need to use 3.5mm minijack to RCA adapters to connect the cable box to the FS preamp or is there a better way to configure?

Thanks.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: RDavidson on 30 Oct 2015, 02:10 am
How would one deal with HDMI sources like a cable box and DVD player in a 2 channel rig?

The simplest thing to do is run HDMI to the TV, then run analog outs from the TV or from the sources to the 2 channel preamp or integrated amp.

Most sources also have digital outputs which one could run to a DAC. You wouldn't get full HD audio (only available via HDMI), but 24/96 is quite good, especially if the system used primarily for watching TV.

What I intend on doing, eventually, is getting an Oppo BDP 105, running HDMI sources to it, and using its video processing and excellent analog outputs for sound.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: Phil A on 30 Oct 2015, 03:23 am
Thanks Phil.

Do you think if I only use my 2 channel Modwright/Athena rig for movies, TV, and Sports, I will lament not adding a center and surrounds?

Anyone here using only a 2 channel system for HT?

Am I crazy?

As long as you stay in the sweet spot, no center is not the worst thing in the world.  I have multiple systems, included one 4.1 system right now (basically in a guest room with GR Research N3s as mains currently).  The center is more critical for people watching off center.

You're not crazy.  When a friend worked at a high end shop many moons ago, I did deliveries/installs with him for many years.  Many people into high end audio had 2-channel HT systems.  In fact when I started the process I was more of a HT guy.  When I did many installs, I turned into more of a 2-channel guy for music and my systems are set-up that way optimized for music with a HT add on.  I have 3 systems with a preamp with HT Bypass, although I am just using one of them for 2-channel only at the moment.

Much depends on your preferences and goals as well as budget.  If you want to do surround, my point was that for under $200 it is possible to get an OK refurb receiver. and surround speakers don't have to be expensive (I'm sure something like the new ELAC B5s at $230/pair would be plenty adequate).  Having 6 systems (including the office, not counting outdoor or garage speakers wired to 2 of the systems) capable of surround and watching lots of movies (just watched Jurassic World in 3D) for me personally (but others may feel different) it just loses a bit of the feeling of envelopment in the movie with most content.  I have not surround sound back in the late 1970s (before Dolby and of course when I was 8 years old :green:) with time delays.  Back in those days I had Phase Linear separates and nice speakers.  They didn't even have stereo VCRs (I had a Pioneer TV tuner which tuned in TV stations in hifi or dual mono).
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: Early B. on 30 Oct 2015, 03:32 am
IMO, most HT specific equipment, like a mass market reciever, doesn't produce very good SQ.

This sums it up. If you're gonna do HT, do it right. Otherwise, stick with what you've got.

A few years ago, I was into HT. Now, since movies suck, I might watch a movie once every few weeks. But I just kept the old HT gear in place and have no plans to upgrade. If I didn't have the old gear, I'd use my 2-channel setup.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: Daedalus Audio on 30 Oct 2015, 07:53 pm
Was thinking of using my Modright 150se, Elyse DAC, 36.5DM w/ Athena's to watch movies and TV, instead of getting a separate 5 channel HT rig.

Is this too crazy to use a high end 2 channel system for mere movies, HDTV and sports?

no surround sound?

thanks!

It works great, and with speakers that have a wide sweetspot the center channel is less than redundant.  The Argos or Poseidon are best suited for HT as they are designed for a VERY wide sweetspot but the Athenas do very well.
Title: Re: too crazy to use Athena's/ Modwright setup for HT?
Post by: audiotom on 15 Nov 2015, 02:46 pm
Most blu rays will have a 2 channel setting that for all but action movies typically you don't have much material coming from the back speakers.
With music concert  blu rays the 5 channels are not really adding anything.

Mosr tv is dominated by dialog center channel  and will sound great set to 2 channel mode
Again the critical thing is there a "hole" in the middle
Lou's speakers address that nicely


I have a ht system with Arcam receiver which is very natural in a seperate dedicated room
OPPO BDP 105 source, dont really use it for music outside of bluray concerts, good enough
Focus on the 2 channel Ulysses system
I'm looking to send the 2 main signals out to a seperate amp so I can drive a less efficient set of speakers

Hooking your tv/blu ray sources switch to two channel mode is excellent