[cheap-Jack]

Hi.

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

100% agreed. HT is HT. can't mix with stereo.

5.1 is to simulate the surround sound effect in the cinema, where there are tons of loudspeakers surrounding the audience:- many behind the screen (centre + left + right), many along both sides & the back .

So either HT or stereo.  Or have both stereo AND 5.1 seperate systems in the same room to handle stereo recordings & movie 5.1 sounstracks. No in between due to totally different soundtracks we are playing.

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). 

Yes, being a stereo music lover, NOT a movie goer since day one, stereo is my way to spend my 'precious' after-work leisure time. I take stereo music is sorta 'spiritual' va movie 5.1 being carnal.

c-J

[Folsom]

You know that stereo sound can provide almost the same quality of experience as a HT setup. Very good stereos can make things sound like they are on the sides of you, up or down, and even behind you a bit. I've experienced a lot of this with NIN's Ghost album.

I never find sounds coming from the side or behind to really be all that interesting. They never make me look behind myself or anything like that. Frankly quality is more interesting to the perception of getting lost in a movie for me. I just get more out of dynamic changes and sincere neck hair raising quality of voice in powerful characters.

[Mr. Orange]

I went from a 5.1 full separates system down to a 2.0 system. The 5.1 was all California Audio Labs with an ATI 5 channel amp and and a Martin Logan Depth SW. All the the speakers were Maggies with MG1.5 for fronts, a CC3 for the center and MG1.0 for rears. Now I'm just running a Sansui AU7900 with the MG1.0 Maggies. I don't miss the 5.1. Sometimes I miss the center channel and maybe down the road I'll go to 3.0 or 3.1 but that won't happen anytime soon.

[Folsom]

The only real problem is sometimes the DVD/Blueray audio is a bit lower quality for 2 channel mixing. But that doesn't seem to be the case too often. A center channel would help with it.

[eg1]

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

I dunno -- to me, HT means any consideration of sound beyond those in your actual TV (this is probably a function of my advanced age). YMMV

[Early B.]

Imagine watching to a movie in a theater that only had front speakers. You'd likely walk out disappointed because it would sound more like a concert than a movie. For those who downgrade from a 5.1 to a 2.1 system and preferred the 2.1, I would question whether the 5.1 system was calibrated properly. 

[pearsall001]

If you're going to do it...do it right. HT setup is totally different from 2 channel listening & calls for multiple speakers. There's just no way to get around that fact. Now you can fudge it with 2 speakers & a sub but you're only fooling yourself that it sounds good. Would you even consider just using 1 front speaker & call it 2 channel listening? Heck no. There is so much information on BD movies today that a 5.1 system is the bare minimum to experience it. More & more movies are coming out in 7.1 & before long that will also grow. Nothing like listening in 11.2!!! Now we're talking.

[Folsom]

I have very good hearing and don't care about surround-sound, like at all. I wouldn't be bothered by a theater in stereo if the audio equipment was good. Surround-sound largely is to make up for cheap products that don't make sound well.

[Big Red Machine]

Dolby Atmos - speakers in the ceiling - coming soon to home gear once movies get this mix.  Watched Hobbit in this format at a local theater.

Threads on AVS say that extra surround side fronts are more useful than uppers when movies pan side to side.  Can't imagine a stereo pair giving almost 90 degrees to each side.

Now if you don't have the room to do all this, most definitely requires a more dedicated space, there is nothing wrong with 2 channel, phantom center, movie watching.  If you can dim the lights, you should still be immersed.

[ctviggen]

Two channel sound just can't reproduce flyovers or other similar effects. And I listen to music only in two channel.  My room's large enough that I have 7 channels.  There's no way for two channel to reproduce that enveloping sound.  Having said that, it's really only action movies that tend to benefit from multiple channels.

[pslate]

I'm in Letitroll's camp. I prefer a phantom center. Many times I find center channel mixes to be distracting to me, loud, soft etc., and just like that stereo sound better, more holistic to me somehow. We moved to a new home, and extra wires are verboten, however we did have them wire the place for surrounds and will complete some day when there is money, anyhow I really enjoy my two channel system, and just miss my 2 rear channels occasionally. Off to watch Skyfall 

[FireGuy]

If set up optimally (imo) you can can enjoy both 2.1 or the multi-channel HT experience.  I find my sources...mostly CD/DVDA/SACD/BR can different in terms of recording quality.  I make the appropriate adjustment(s) to determine which playback is best for that particular recording; and, what kinda mood I may be in.  I like having that option as opposed to just a dedicated 2C set up.   Listening to a Sade's "Bring Me Home"  BR for example is sooo much better for me in DTS 5.1 format and Floyd's DSOTM SACD specifically made for surround would not work well for in a 2.1.  Then there are CD's that are just perfect for 3.1.  Of course it's all about individual tastes.  Enjoy the music!

[bummrush]

I used MMG'S for  a 2 channel set up. It worked super,,,, it worked so good that it was a distraction to the movie.

[Folsom]

It isn't that 2 channel can do everything your fancy.1 surround-sound can, it is that despite all the locations of extra sound, for me it doesn't add much of anything to the experience. In fact I think sometimes it pulls me away from it when it is really roaring.

[emac]

While I have X-Omni's that I can use as surrounds, I don't use them very often as I don't watch movies as much any more.  So, I make use out of my GR Research O-3's and a Paradox 1 as the center when I watch movies.  But, honestly, w/ the O-3's, I sometimes don't even bother w/ the center channel.  The O-3's create a big and deep soundstage, and they can create a nice phantom center channel. 

However, the O-3's are the only speaker I've had in my living room that can get away w/o a center channel.  Even my Ninja-modded X-Omni's can't pull that one off.  Too diffuse of a sound.  So, I think it depends on what type of speakers you are using.