YK Thom Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 New to me but probably done to death over time... New circumstances and room coming my way later this summer. We have bought a new condo and my wife is expressing some aesthetic concerns over ther the 5.1 set up. We only have one system and use it for TV every night, movies on the weekend and 2.1 for music a lot. I'm wondering if moving to a 3.1 for movies and TV might be a good idea. Perhaps leaving the door open for a front main upgrade. Have any of you gone this route? Happy with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Happy with it... I would like to move to 5.1 at some point, but since 2 channel critial listening is my main concern, I spend most of my attention on my fronts... next is a center because I do love my movies. I am very happy with my set up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MORE KLIPSCH PLEASE Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 You know YK Thom.....I have yet to make it to 5.1..... I've been running 3.1 for a few years now.....it's ok but I do want to upgrade. But every time I get some "extra" funds I keep buying stuff for my 2 channel systems.....I don't know I'll get there one day What does your wife not like about the 5.1?? MKP :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 I use a Marantz avr as the heart of my system; does setting up this way cost anything sound wise or is everything redirected to the front mains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) Music is 2 channel for the most part... so I assume you are asking about HT. Modern avr's can mix your single dozens of ways including forcing it into 2 channel. That Being said, 3.1 will always be a slight compromise... specially in terms of movement and directional during HT playback. It doesnt bother me one bit personally... the rears are much less impacting than are the fronts and mainly the center. Edited June 3, 2015 by Schu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 You know YK Thom.....I have yet to make it to 5.1..... I've been running 3.1 for a few years now.....it's ok but I do want to upgrade. But every time I get some "extra" funds I keep buying stuff for my 2 channel systems.....I don't know I'll get there one day What does your wife not like about the 5.1?? MKP :-) The aesthetics more than anything else. She has a tin ear and would be just as happy using the TV's speakers tell you true. The new room is a bit more open and she's not so keen on running wire and having the extra speakers so visible. I have four RB 61 IIs on nice black metal stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MORE KLIPSCH PLEASE Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 I don't know?? I got some old Sony.....it's set up to L/F-C-R/F I don't really know a lot about avr's MKP :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Music is 2 channel for the most part... so I assume you are asking about HT. Modern avr's can mix your single dozens of ways including forcing it into 2 channel. That Being said, 3.1 will always be a slight compromise... specially in terms of movement and directional during HT playback. It doesnt bother me one bit personally... the rears are much less impacting than are the fronts and mainly the center. This may be the answer. My avr is a Marantz sr5008 I bought last year. To these old ears it sounds pretty nice in two channel stereo for music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 The aesthetics more than anything else. She has a tin ear and would be just as happy using the TV's speakers tell you true. The new room is a bit more open and she's not so keen on running wire and having the extra speakers so visible. I have four RB 61 IIs on nice black metal stands. You and I are married to the same woman, to a "T." My wife HATES speakers visually, and she could care less about the sound. She thinks my AVR/Klipsch CF-4 speaker with dual 12" woofers sounds about the same as the built-in 3" TV speakers I change my setup all the time but I have been running 3.1 in the TV main room for months, having downgraded from 5.1. The reason I upgraded in the first place was because now that TV broadcasts in 5.1, the dialog becomes garbled while the background music is overbearing. A 3.1 setup with a great center speaker cleans all that up. Dialog is now crystal clear for TV thanks to the center, and I still get to hear decent music when called upon. It's a workable compromise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YK Thom Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Thanks Wvu80, I've often wondered if they take the same secret premarriage class or something. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 I run a 3.1 in the family room since the main gig is in the basement. I am totally happy with it. Depending on how far the mains are apart, you may not need a center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 How about this. Keep a 3.1 system up and running for TV watching and drag a pair of surrounds on telescopic stands out of the closet for action movie watching. Just pull the preconnected rolled up speaker wires out from your TV stand or audio rack and connect to your surrounds. Only a temporary "eyesore" to contend with. My bedroom 3.1 rig becomes a 5.1 rig for movies by pulling the RSX-4's out from under my bed and placing them on each of the night stands that flank my bed. Voila! Bill 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Keep a 3.1 system up and running for TV watching and drag a pair of surrounds on telescopic stands out of the closet for action movie watching. Pure evil genius. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgtfreek Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) I run 3.2 with XT32 and dual sub eq and love it. I have two friends with decent 5.1 setups and theirs does not sound as good as mine. Probably because of the quality of their speakers, placement/setup, and lack of quality subwooferage... Edited June 3, 2015 by gadgtfreek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Quality trumps quantity. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muel Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 It's good for my wife to drag her feet a bit... keeps me from going completely crazy with audio equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vnzbd Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 I have run 3.1 with great success although my preference is the 5.1. I have heard quite a few 5.1's with the surrounds set up as a secondary thought trying to hide the speakers, etc. and they have been more of a distraction than it is worth. If it is a compromise on installation I would say stick with the best 3.1 and be happy. Enjoy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted June 3, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) I have a difficult time understanding the compromise here. After listening to the double MWM/402 combination there was no doubt in my mind that this was what I wanted. I had to convince dtel to build it for us! I'm sorry, I like for things to be aesthetically pleasing also, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. Yes, those are Forte II's on top....we also have three Fortes hanging over the sofa (you can barely see them hanging just below the beam behind the sofa)...NOBODY even notices!!!! Most of the time they don't even notice the MWM/402s until we point them out! This is our family room. We have a lot of people in and out of our home. Our guests, friends of my daughters and their families and customers....I have never once been asked or told anything negative about the way our audio equipment "looks". Edited June 3, 2015 by dtel's wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted June 3, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) Thanks Wvu80, I've often wondered if they take the same secret premarriage class or something. Not true! Edited June 3, 2015 by dtel's wife 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Are "in ceiling" totally out of the question for surround or rears? Willand's suggestion also sounds do able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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