[coke]

I'm currently putting together a new 2 channel sound system, that is also used with my projector for movies.

Salk HT2-TL
AVA Ultra 550 Amp
AVA Ultra SL Preamp
AVA DAC
OPPO BDP-83

I've found that I'm limited on speaker placement because of the size of the projector screen.   I'm thinking it might be better to have a seperate 5.1 system with my projector, and have my 2 channel system in a different room.

These options are very close in cost. 

1.   Turn my 2 channel audio system into 5.1 by adding Salk Veracity center and surrounds, a couple subs, and a receiver.  Use this system both for movies and dedicated 2 channel audio.

2. Keep the 2 channel system as is, and put together a 5.1 Songseries system with a decent receiver.

3.  Same as option 2, except with Salk HTS all around.

[Big Red Machine]

Kind of difficult to answer given the way you posed the question.

I have separate rooms and if you can then go for it.  Treated differently and equipped differently.

I cringe a little at "receiver" with any Salk speaker.  If I had to go receiver then I'd chose the ST's and enjoy them.

Widescreen or projector?  If projector then maybe a transparent screen?  Gives more center choices.

All the time I have to answer right now.

[coke]

Kind of difficult to answer given the way you posed the question.

I have separate rooms and if you can then go for it.  Treated differently and equipped differently.

I cringe a little at "receiver" with any Salk speaker.  If I had to go receiver then I'd chose the ST's and enjoy them.

Widescreen or projector?  If projector then maybe a transparent screen?  Gives more center choices.

All the time I have to answer right now.

I'm just looking for thoughts on this.  I know what might be best for me, wouldn't be for someone else, but I don't think it hurts to get opinions.


I haven't decided yet, but i was leanding toward using a receiver to power my center and surrounds, and also provide processing for movies.  I'd use the AVA amp for the mains.  this is if i do the full veracity setup.

I don't really have a budget, so I guess I could do something like Emotiva for the songtower setup instead of a receiver.

I already have a projector with a 100" nontransparent screen.  Also the projector requires the full length of the room to fill the screen, so a transparent screen wouldn't benifit me much.

[Tone Depth]

Remember that AVA has a solution for a combined 2 channel/HT system if you want to go that way:  You exchange your SL preamp for an EC preamp and use the EPL IN/OUT provision for HT, the decoder shown in the diagram is is provided by your receiver for the center, surrounds and subs control, the signal for the main front L & R channels goes back to the EC.  In stereo mode, the signal isn't diverted from the EC, just goes straight through to the 550 and L/R speakers.

http://www.avahifi.com/root/audio_basics/ab_pdf/ab2000.pdf scroll down to the last page of the newsletter for the schematic diagram.

I'm currently putting together a new 2 channel sound system, that is also used with my projector for movies.

Salk HT2-TL
AVA Ultra 550 Amp
AVA Ultra SL Preamp
AVA DAC
OPPO BDP-83

1.   Turn my 2 channel audio system into 5.1 by adding Salk Veracity center and surrounds, a couple subs, and a receiver.  Use this system both for movies and dedicated 2 channel audio.

[coke]

My original plan was to run HDMI from my blu ray to a receiver.  Take the front pre outs of that into an input on my AVA preamp.   Then i'd just have to set the receiver up,  memorize the volume location on the preamp, and use the receiver for volume control of all speakers.   I'd also still be able to get 2 channel audio with the receiver turned off.

I just bought the SL preamp.  For this confirguration I didn't see a benefit for the EC, but i might be missing something.

[vintagebob]

I'm using the method that moeaudio describes here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=71366.0

Integrating HT with 2-channel is tough.  For 2-channel you need to find a spot using Cardas, or your ear, where your 2 speakers have a good blend of bass response, imaging, soundstage and vocal clarity.  This also involves your listening position.  Throwing a subwoofer and surround speakers into the mix just makes it that much more difficult.  Move your listening position and the surround speakers need to move and your subwoofer setup has to be re-visited.

But...I wanted the multi-channel music capability so I went with an integrated Salk/AVA/Pioneer AVR system.  I really like Blu-Ray concerts in HD audio on my system.  I think that I have a good compromise right now but I continue to add acoustic panels into my room to help control the bass.  I would consider a preamp, like the Parasound 2100, that let's you use your subwoofer for both HT and 2-channel.  This would give you some more setup freedom I think.  I hear TJHUB as put together a great 2-channel system doing this.  I may end up there if I can't get my system dialed in.  Having a big plasma screen in the middle of my setup is not helping me.  I have some real bass build-up between the plasma and front wall.  Throwing some bass traps back there has really helped. 

Mine is still a work in progress but I imagine everyone here says that!  ; )

[Tone Depth]

One advantage I see of the AVA setup is that in stereo mode, you only have one preamp in the signal path, no pass through from a receiver.  The other advantage, is that the L & R speakers would probably have better sound quality in HT mode, when through the AVA preamp.  A disadvantage would be less easy control of the volume of the L & R channels, isolated from the rest of the channels.  You may need to try various configurations, until you get one that works best for your situation.

My original plan was to run HDMI from my blu ray to a receiver.  Take the front pre outs of that into an input on my AVA preamp.   Then i'd just have to set the receiver up,  memorize the volume location on the preamp, and use the receiver for volume control of all speakers.   I'd also still be able to get 2 channel audio with the receiver turned off.

I just bought the SL preamp.  For this confirguration I didn't see a benefit for the EC, but i might be missing something.

[K Shep]

I'm thinking it might be better to have a seperate 5.1 system with my projector, and have my 2 channel system in a different room.

If you have two rooms to play with why not have two rooms to play with?  I have my speakers placed, in my 2 channel room, so that they have room to breath, about 10 feet away form the back wall.  That placement opens up the sound stage incredibly.  As vintagebob shared, HT and 2 channel are different arrangements, the best speaker location is different for each application.  And speaker placement and room layout is half of the battle.