[JfTM]

My situation is that I have moved and downsized (significantly).

To double up some room use I am considering moving from my stand alone 7.1 HT to a two channel set up. The one target room is moderate size: 11X18X7.5 screen set up on the narrow wall.

By way of background I rarely heard anything that took advantage of 7.1, and (based on what I watch) there really wasn't a lot of 5.1. I might miss the centre channel.

Also, my two channel system is "better" and more to my liking than the 7.1 (7.1 is Pioneer Elite into Mirage Omnistats/subs, 2 channel is Bryston pre/power into PMC EB1i).

My screen is a Pioneer Elite PRO-1130 HD that does have two channel monitor out.

Anyone using two channel HT, moved from 5.1/7.1 to two channel? Experiences

Any issues to look out for (is audio sync a problem)?

Thanks

[Muser]

I've had surround systems as part of review setups (pfo) and enjoyed them.  Most of the time I listen in a 2.2 setup, two channel with two subs. I miss the center channel on occasion, it certainly helps with dialog intelligibility and provides a more precise spatial representation. Perhaps we have similar movie interests, not sure, but it's the very occasional film when 5.1 is a distinct advantage over 2.1, frankly. I guess if I watched more movies with bombs and jets it would make a more pronounced difference but with most dramas, it's essentially irrelevant. I do, however, prefer not having our living room look like a stereo store.

[Guy 13]

I've had surround systems as part of review setups (pfo) and enjoyed them.  Most of the time I listen in a 2.2 setup, two channel with two subs. I miss the center channel on occasion, it certainly helps with dialog intelligibility and provides a more precise spatial representation. Perhaps we have similar movie interests, not sure, but it's the very occasional film when 5.1 is a distinct advantage over 2.1, frankly. I guess if I watched more movies with bombs and jets it would make a more pronounced difference but with most dramas, it's essentially irrelevant. I do, however, prefer not having our living room look like a stereo store.

Hi Muser and all Audio Circle members.

Well said, I agree 100% with you.

Guy 13

[bardamu]

Hello,
I am using a virtue sensation with a 80hertz filter at the input of its power amp and an svs subwoofer. My speakers are elipson planet l ( cost in europe is about 700 euros)  They sound spatial because of their shap[e and the use of a coaxial speaker. I did buy some russian paper in oil which i want to use to install next weekend in the crossover.
It is hard to properly set up a dolby surround set up in a room that also serves as a living room. Better have a very good 2 channel; set up than lots of channels with crap sound.
If your speakers are not that big adding one ( or more) subwoofers is the way to go.
Sincere greetings, Edward

[Letitroll98]

Actually I prefer HT without a center channel, whether 2 channel stereo or 4.1 that I run.  With a properly set up front pair I get better imagining than with a center channel.  The comment about type of movie choice is well founded.  I have a penchant for the big action movie or scifi classics, so I really need the surround channel, but when watching a small scope drama or comedy, it's virtually useless.   

[JfTM]

Thanks for the input!

It may well be the movies I tend to watch; but again, I rarely noticed 5.1 let alone 7.1.  I did here front right/centre/left.

I'm going to set it up as a two channel, with the PMC EB1's a subwoofer isn't needed

[django11]

With GR Research N3s and a Virtue amp my movie/tv experience was very good.

[Dan Driscoll]

I downsized a couple of years ago for the same reason, space limitations. I went from 5.1 to 2.0, but then added back in the center and sub, for a 3.1 config. The 2.0 config was great for music, but for HT I really missed the sub and center.

[mcgsxr]

I have run 3.1 (no surrounds) in the main floor TV area for years now.  Just have never got around to installing the rears.  Don't miss it though, compared to when I had a full 5.1 in my old house.

That said, as my basement finishing planning soon translates into progress, I endeavour to setup a full 5.1 or 6.1 down there.  It might mean in walls for some, but I will get it done this time.

[Early B.]

The concept of "home theater" implies surround sound. So a two-channel setup isn't HT, IMO. 

[JLM]

I have run 3.1 (no surrounds) in the main floor TV area for years now.  Just have never got around to installing the rears.  Don't miss it though, compared to when I had a full 5.1 in my old house.

That said, as my basement finishing planning soon translates into progress, I endeavour to setup a full 5.1 or 6.1 down there.  It might mean in walls for some, but I will get it done this time.

We'd pre-wired the family room for 5.1 and finally got tired of seeing the wires hanging out of the wall, so did in-walls (plenty good enough and painted the metal grills to match the wall).  The surround adds a nice touch. 

[JLM]

Had a 2.1 audio/HT system about 10 years ago.  And as mentioned, the money could go into 2 good speakers/amplification channels versus 5 medicore ones.  As sound quality for music is MUCH more important to me, it made for a very good compromise.  Plus, the center channel speaker gets in the way of the monitor/electronics.

[WC]

I have a 2.0 system upstairs with inwalls mainly because I can't get surrounds or a center channel to work in the room. Works Ok.

I am in the process of trying 5.1 in the basement, but I still need a subwoofer and some speaker stands for it to work.

[eventhorizon]

I must have a center channel for TV viewing, but that's just me.

[ajzepp]

I have used nearly every configuration out there. I have a huge problem with spending big money on rear speakers since I am not into MCH audio at all, so like when I had my DeVore Fidelity Super 8s, I just went with a front 3.1 rig. I've also at times gone just 2.1. When you have good quality speakers in the front, I find it can be very enjoyable with fewer speakers in the mix. I've gone back and forth between center and phantom center, and I find that I can be happy either way, but if I had to choose I'd probably keep the center. It would have to be a center that does not stand out, though....I know some people use a different model speaker in the middle, or another brand entirely, but I can't do that. I've tried it before and it's just too distracting. With Magnepans I am in pretty good shape, cause the center I have (CC3) is one of the best center speakers I've ever heard, and the surrounds (MMG-Ws) are very inexpensive relative to the mains, but yet they blend in very well. It also just so happens that I'm addicted to Magnepans for HT....so that worked out well.

On the other hand, I'm in the process of putting together a small secondary HT room and it's driving me nuts. I've narrowed my options down to three speaker lines, pending the audition process. It's been a bit frustrating finding what I want, though, and I'm still open to just using a 2.1 system with a very nice pair of monitors on stands along with a subwoofer. I'd prefer to have a nice 5.1 rig since it's for movies only, but yeah, personally I think it's very possible to be happy with a good 2.1 set-up for movies.

[brother love]

With GR Research N3s and a Virtue amp my movie/tv experience was very good.

I have same/ similar 2 ch rig as django11 & couldn't agree more.  In fact, I actually prefer the 2 channel for HT vs. the 5.1 (due in large part to higher quality components for 2 ch system).  My room size is pretty much the same as the OP's.

[Freo-1]

My views on this have evolved.  In the past, I would have agreed that two channel sounded better than the multi channel.  However, since going to separate components, I now find that the majority of multi channel recordings sound smoother and more "life like" than the two channel counterpart.
 
The best sound in my current setup is to employ the Classe SSP 300 in 7.1 bypass mode, with a Modwright Oppo (full solid state mod) supplying the input.  The SSP 300 routes through the Pass Labs X 2.5 in bypass to a Pass Labs XA 30.5 for the front channels.  For the center and rear channels,  a pair of Pass Labs X 150 amps are employed.  All speakers are Legacy Audio.

The sound from this is outstanding, and in many cases, the multi channel playback far exceeds the two channel playback.  The center channel often provides additional clarity and depth to the performance.
 
For two channel CD, a Wavelength Audio Cosine DAC is used, connected directly to the X 2.5. 

The take away is that one system CAN do both, and multi channel can sound better than the two channel mix of the same performance.

[Folsom]

The only real complication with 2 channel is that sometimes movies 2 channel audio output isn't as high quality.

The reason it is bothersome is using a good quality DAC directly from the DVD, that only supports 2 channel, leaves you a bit short on some movies. However when a movie has decent sound the dynamics are better, and the sound track is like listening to fine audio. You don't miss shit as far as explosions etc. The real problem is if the neighbors can't handle the noise .

It would be nice if you could run a decode and recode from DVD to receiver, to DAC, and back to receiver. That or use a decoder and feed into an amplifier. I'm not sure.

If you can't afford large, quality speakers for every spot in your room I wouldn't bother with mutli-channel. The tiny speaker HT in a box really doesn't provide very interesting sound at all. Stereo subwoofers with 15' OB speakers and a world class DAC however rocks the joint.

[ctviggen]

Actually I prefer HT without a center channel, whether 2 channel stereo or 4.1 that I run.  With a properly set up front pair I get better imagining than with a center channel.  The comment about type of movie choice is well founded.  I have a penchant for the big action movie or scifi classics, so I really need the surround channel, but when watching a small scope drama or comedy, it's virtually useless.

That might work if you sit exactly in between the two front speakers, but if you're off center, it doesn't work.  I've tried a test with and without a center channel on my old speakers and liked with a center much better.  Haven't tried the same test with my new speakers, though.

[2gumby2]

I find 2-channel HT to be very satisfying. My Sony Blu-ray player down mixes everything to 2-channel and it works great. My Two Pi Tower speakers go down to about 30 Hz and this gets me most of what I need even without subwoofers.