Lets talk 2 channel for movies...No to 5.1

[mrsingh]

Hey Guys,

I am on a roll here and the goal to improve the quality of audio consumption in my life.

I have a separate thread running for my music setup and since I have made significant progress on that its time that I start working on sound system for my TV viewing.

I have a Samsung flatscreen (dont remember the model no) and a Pioneer DVD Player (220 KV) in my living room (250 Sq ft) and it needs a sound upgrade. My consumption is as follows - 40% - TV Programming, 30% Movies on TV Channels, 20% - DVDs, 10% - Music

I started with the idea of having a 5.1 system or a HTIB, but realized that its too much drama for day to day usage hence I have decided to go for a 2 channel sound for this system. the reasoning is as follows

1) 95% of the TV sound consists dialogues for which a 2 channels sound is better, I felt it is even better than having a center speaker.

2) Only 5% of audio sound effects need to have a surround setup. In fact a good 2 channel setup can do a decent job on most surround effects.

3) For late nigh TV viewing, I have to keep the volumes very low. A 2 channel sound does better justice at low volumes.

It may be a controversial statement to make but lets just rest it by saying that I felt like that.

While auditioning speakers for my music setup Rishi of Alliance4 told me that a speaker good for music is also good for TV and I have tested this statement and found it to be quite correct so I will go for speakers which are musically good.

I need a pair of floorstanders (35K) and a mid level stereo amp (15K)

My current shortlist is

Speakers: Tannoy Mercury V4 (32-34 K) and Dali Zensor 5 (40 K)
Amps: A used Marantz 6004 /7004 or a used Yamaha AS 500/1000 or a new Marantz 5004/ Yamaha AS 300


I would love to know your views.

Cheers

 

[rikhav]

Hello Mr. Singh

A different suggestion from my side..

How about using good headphones for TV sound.
I do the same when i watch a movie on my HTPC. I am not much into surround effects and through headphones I find dialogues to be really clear. This with the added benifit of not disturbing anyone late in the night

 

[rikhav]

Forgot to add in my last post that I use sennheiser HD 215 headphones and i find them more then adequate for my use

You can always add a good headphone amp if you are not happy with the headphone out of your TV

 

[mrsingh]

Hi Rikhav,

Thanks for suggesting.

Headphone may be an add on in future but I need a speakers based system for now.

 

[ranjeetrain]

Please get yourself a sound bar. If an active one, even better.

Lifestyle + simplicity.

+ Some of them also try to simulate 5 channel sound.

 

[corElement]

I went stereo for movies and never looked back.

 

[elangoas]

Hey Guys,

I am on a roll here and the goal to improve the quality of audio consumption in my life.

I have a separate thread running for my music setup and since I have made significant progress on that its time that I start working on sound system for my TV viewing.

I have a Samsung flatscreen (dont remember the model no) and a Pioneer DVD Player (220 KV) in my living room (250 Sq ft) and it needs a sound upgrade. My consumption is as follows - 40% - TV Programming, 30% Movies on TV Channels, 20% - DVDs, 10% - Music

I started with the idea of having a 5.1 system or a HTIB, but realized that its too much drama for day to day usage hence I have decided to go for a 2 channel sound for this system. the reasoning is as follows

1) 95% of the TV sound consists dialogues for which a 2 channels sound is better, I felt it is even better than having a center speaker.

2) Only 5% of audio sound effects need to have a surround setup. In fact a good 2 channel setup can do a decent job on most surround effects.

3) For late nigh TV viewing, I have to keep the volumes very low. A 2 channel sound does better justice at low volumes.

It may be a controversial statement to make but lets just rest it by saying that I felt like that.

While auditioning speakers for my music setup Rishi of Alliance4 told me that a speaker good for music is also good for TV and I have tested this statement and found it to be quite correct so I will go for speakers which are musically good.

I need a pair of floorstanders (35K) and a mid level stereo amp (15K)

My current shortlist is

Speakers: Tannoy Mercury V4 (32-34 K) and Dali Zensor 5 (40 K)
Amps: A used Marantz 6004 /7004 or a used Yamaha AS 500/1000 or a new Marantz 5004/ Yamaha AS 300


I would love to know your views.

Cheers

If you are going to buy the stereo amplifier, then you will use the analog out from all your sources (DTH & DVD) which i am sure is not going to improve your experience.

My suggestion would be look for an used receiver as it will have DAC integrated in it. Though it may not outperform the many costly DAC, it will still be better than the DAC inside your STB (or) DVD player..

Take the digital out from your sources & connect it to receiver.. This way you will have better sound output & will improve you listening experience.

If you have already finalised on the FS, go ahed with your choice, but if you are open , you can look @ Sonodyne Sonus 2605 (27K).

An other tip here, try to get a receiver with Pre outs (Non HDMI) for 10K + add a power amplifier from Norge 1200 model (15K)... You have a very powerful setup that can drive your FS with ease....

 

[ShaQ.Blogs]

my opinion after trying out 5 channel, stereo for movies simply suck! Larger the room better the experience for surround.
A good pair of headphones is way better than 2 channel stereo through speakers, at least for me.

 

[Hari Iyer]

A full-range driver will do better justice for watching TV but will depend much on the type of enclosure used for building the speaker system.

 

[mrsingh]

I am getting a sansui a-40 integrated amplifier and a Tecnic SUZ 150 Amp each for 6K from a used equipment dealer, Any suggestions?

 

[mrsingh]

@elangoas

This sounds fairly logical, Though I have not compared this in my demos but most of the dealers suggest that a Stereo amp will do a better job than an AVR.

Regarding Sonodyne, they don't have any proper auditioning setup in Mumbai. I was asked to go to Croma and was seriously disappointed that there was no demo room.


@ ShaQblogs

I have tried the 5.1 as well, but am much more comfortable with 2 channel. Also my room is not very big

@ Hari

I have seen only a couple of full range drivers and they have limited capabilities for high range, though are brilliant in mid range. In a 2 channel setup for TV/ Movie viewing only 2 speakers have to give a sense of surround for which their ability has to be particularly high in high range.

 

[mrsingh]

I used my holiday and I did some further auditioning today. I wanted to check the suitability for TV viewing but the shop did not have a STB so we could only check it with a DVD player (Pioneer 220 KV). The dealer had a movie called 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' which was used for the demo.

I had loved Tannoy Mercury V4 in my previous audition and wanted to check them out again before finalising. This time when I started the demo I found them to be a tad bright on the highs, but that was with Music. I reminded myself that I am looking for a FS for the TV. The dealer also had Paradigm monitor 7 and wharfdale 10.5 ont he demo so I asked him to bring them too. I have heard great things about Monitor Audio BR6 and was very keen to check them out but no dealer in Mumbai seems to have them in Demo. Imperial Sound seems to be the only dealer having some other models. If anyone knows how to demo MA BR6 in Mumbai please suggest.

Coming back to today's demo

Tannoy mercury V4 Vs Paradigm Monitor 7 (Both of them were tested with Yamaha AS300 and CA Azur 550 C)

Both the amps has A/B switch and hence it was easy to compare. I started with CA amp and Paradigm had beaten Tannoys hands down. I could here so many more layers of sound while watching the DVD. The mid/ Dialogues were crisp and they could give a feeling of the space in the movie. Paradigms could give me a close to surround effect and I was not missing rear speakers. Tannoys on the other hand were very restricted in giving the surround feel, The bass was bloated and they were just not working right.

Thats when I asked them to change the amp and things changed. Tannoys now were doing most of the job Paradigms were doing with CA, The lows and highs were just right, they were also giving a feeling of space. The only problem was with mids, I felt that Tannoy , even with Yamaha amp were a tad too bright and it was reflecting clearly in dialogues as one could hear the hisssss sound in high pitched dialogues. Paradigms on the other hand were a little subdued and were giving extra bass.

Next in line were Wharfdale Diamond 10.5 (With Yamaha As 300 and CA Azur 550 C)

I have never liked wharfdales, whichever model I have checked has disappointed me. This was no different the bass was too much to bear and I didn't waste any further time.

So Tannoy's are out of the contest for my TV speakers. now the shortlist is as follows.

Dali Zensor 5 (Front ported and it helps in a smaller room, But has anyone heard these)

Paradigm Monitor 7

MA BR6 (Only if I can do the demo)


I also need suggestions about the amp, I am getting a used Yamaha AS500 for 18 K and a used Denon 1500AE for 30 K. Then there is always a new Marantz 5004 /6004. Should I wait till I decide my speakers.

Honestly, unlike speakers I am still not able to evaluate amps on their sound signature? How do you guys figure out that an amp is warm, bright, laid back etc? Or is it that a certain brand of amp goes well with a certain brand of speakers.

 

[mrsingh]

Please get yourself a sound bar. If an active one, even better.

Lifestyle + simplicity.

+ Some of them also try to simulate 5 channel sound.

Are you sure, I always thought they area life style product.

The benefit of a speaker+amp setup is that one cn also listen to Music when needed

 

[elangoas]

@elangoas

This sounds fairly logical, Though I have not compared this in my demos but most of the dealers suggest that a Stereo amp will do a better job than an AVR.

Regarding Sonodyne, they don't have any proper auditioning setup in Mumbai. I was asked to go to Croma and was seriously disappointed that there was no demo room.

Many would recommend Stereo Amp the moment when you say STEREO setup. That is because people presume you will be listening to CD...They wouldn't realise that most of your stereo listening consists of DTH & DVD Player. You can go ahead with stereo amplifier, but sound will improve only if you add a DAC to the chain.

Regarding the Sonodyne, really sad...A good product is completely let down wit out proper listening room..I have come across many in the forum who have told the same issue....

 

[mrsingh]

@elangoas,

Sounds fair, I will try to demo this, my final speaker with AVR and stereo amp.

 

[doors666]

agreed to all the stuff being said, but what about the subwoofer. Doesnt matter what you've got in speakers, you cant hit that low with them.

you have a good stereo system, get a topping and another two small speakers for surrounds. You need a source with multichannel analog out though for this. center is not needed but its very useful in movies where voices are recorded at a lower level, you can just increase center level for that.

 

[prosenjit]

only for movies just even a strong centre and sub will satisfy reamarkably.
even ,not joking, a strong centre just itself is okay......(only for movie)

 

[mrsingh]

Guys, Need your suggestion about the amps i have mentioned.

I did a demo today with Dali Zensor 5, and a old 15 K marantz stereo amp sounded so much better than a 75K pioneer AVR.

with a good amp most of these speakers were giving decent lows also, ya may be I m missing on those subtle lows but I think its OK.

 

[jaudere]

I have almost always used stereo set up for movies. I don't mind missing the physical feel of the rumble of blasts/quakes etc, I get enough audible effect from my bookshelves (which have twin 8" drivers for mid and bass). I am very much satisfied with the experience. I have not thought of upgrading to a surround system despite experiencing it many times.

 

[elangoas]

I did a demo today with Dali Zensor 5, and a old 15 K marantz stereo amp sounded so much better than a 75K pioneer AVR.

The reason is that stereo amp always treat the Left & right speakers as Full range while the expensive AVR have bass management.. If the cross over has been set at higher rate say 60 - 80Hz for FS, the speaker would sound very lean.. Hence the difference....

Even if the speakers are set as LARGE in the receiver (i mean full range ), It simply doesn't have the power like a stereo amp... That was the reason i suggested that if you are going for an used receiver with pre-outs, add a stereo power amplifier to it.... You will get close........