2.0 vs 3.0 set-up.

[Aarmin]

I am wanting to get my first home theater.

I'm uncomfortable getting personal, but right now I live in "upscale" military quarters, on independent assignment for the next two years, and then I'm off to either college (honorable discharge) or back to Iraq/Afghanistan assignment (still undecided ).

Either way, a future apartment or my current quarters, I can't run wires through the walls, and I don't want wireless rear speakers.

I take it that a good majority of current home theater receivers will re-rout the surround sound to the front left and right main speakers on a 3.0 setup? This is still a exceptional idea for home theater correct?

A little guidance for speaker choices is also appreciated. I did have a pair of PSB Alpha B1 bookshelf speakers but they were stolen during my move (I received a full-replacement value, so I'm pretty calm about it). I'm thinking about going for the floorstanding Alpha series.

Thaks

 

[alfa147x]

Budget ?

 

[Aarmin]

The floorstanding PSB's MSRP for $600 / pair (what is it with stores advertising floor standing speakers at single prices? lol). That pretty much sums it up for how much I am willing to spend for Front L and R.

However, I also want to get a DVD player (laptops' DVD drive isn't cutting it), and maybe a better receiver.

Spending upwards to $800 is o.k.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you need to buy a receiver as well on that $800 total?
(What receiver do you have now?)

I would recommend going 2.1 before 3.0 if you have the budget for it. Especially if it's mainly going to be one or two people watching from a central location in front of the display, then you won't gain much going 3.0 vs. 2.0 compared to the much more significant difference you'd get going from 2.0 to 2.1

You should not have a problem hooking up 2.0, 2.1, or 3.0 to a receiver that's capable of 5.1/6.1/7.1

 

[Aarmin]

Current receiver is a 7.1 JVC (I believe the RXD206B is its replacement / they are very similar). I feel it is a good receiver, just doesn't have HDMI connections (but component connections should do?). I also like how slim built it is. It is just that I have a HDTV.

I will say $800 for speakers and a DVD player.

I relize that I can hook up a 2.0 - 3.1 to a receiver with 5.1 + capability, just wondering how/if it directs the surround signal to the main speakers.

I was wondering if floorstanding speakers would do the job of low frequencies; just a bit worried that a subwoofer may be overkill.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you not only have speakers not connected but also configure the receiver's setup such that you tell it what speakers you have connected, it should downmix the surround information to just play back on the speakers you have hooked up.

Floorstanders in general will give you better bass output than bookshelf speakers, but it's nowhere near the difference you can get from even a modest subwoofer added. For a HT application, I would almost never consider a subwoofer to be overkill. Especially if you watch action movies and such, a subwoofer will add a LOT to your system. Unless you have floorstanders with very good bass extension, you're going to be missing quite a bit.

Thinking about the future, you may want to check out the "Upgrade Path" section of the sticky thread.

Oh, and I forgot to say
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Y...wsDAjello/Welcome2.JPG

 

[Tiamat]

3.0 if you entertain guests or you don't like to sit center and can afford an adequately designed center speaker (not the crappy horizontal MTM designs).

*MTM refers to the common design where you see a tweeter flanked by mid-bass drivers on both sides. This design is for cosmetic purposes only and is extremely flawed acoustically. A better horizontal center design is where the midrange is beneath the tweeter and both are flanked by bass-specific drivers.

The best center speaker is one that is identical to the front L/R and is setup identically - that is, the tweeters and the rest of the drivers are all lined up on the front 3 speakers.

(This setup most typically optimal when there is a false wall for a front projector.)

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
3.0 if you entertain guests or you don't like to sit center and can afford an adequately designed center speaker (not the crappy horizontal MTM designs).

*MTM refers to the common design where you see a tweeter flanked by mid-bass drivers on both sides. This design is for cosmetic purposes only and is extremely flawed acoustically. A better horizontal center design is where the midrange is beneath the tweeter and both are flanked by bass-specific drivers.

The best center speaker is one that is identical to the front L/R and is setup identically - that is, the tweeters and the rest of the drivers are all lined up on the front 3 speakers.

My heater wouldn't like a floor stander in front of it

Koing

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Koing

Originally posted by: Tiamat
3.0 if you entertain guests or you don't like to sit center and can afford an adequately designed center speaker (not the crappy horizontal MTM designs).

*MTM refers to the common design where you see a tweeter flanked by mid-bass drivers on both sides. This design is for cosmetic purposes only and is extremely flawed acoustically. A better horizontal center design is where the midrange is beneath the tweeter and both are flanked by bass-specific drivers.

The best center speaker is one that is identical to the front L/R and is setup identically - that is, the tweeters and the rest of the drivers are all lined up on the front 3 speakers.

My heater wouldn't like a floor stander in front of it

Koing

Do you have a picture of the situation?

 

[Aarmin]

Thanks guys"

I think I will start out with just a pair of front speakers. If I can find a good set of wood speaker stands I may even consider a pair of large bookshelfs.

Off to a couple of hi-end shops tomorrow. Any recommended locations in the Philadelphia area?

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Aarmin
Thanks guys"

I think I will start out with just a pair of front speakers. If I can find a good set of wood speaker stands I may even consider a pair of large bookshelfs.

Off to a couple of hi-end shops tomorrow. Any recommended locations in the Philadelphia area?

You should be able to find some audio shops that carry B&W, paradigm, dali, revel, etc.

You can find local dealers by going to each of the company's website and using their dealer locator.