How do you listen to 2.0 sources

[BasementJax]

I'm curious: those of you who use your 5.1/7.1 setups for a combination of HT and music listening how do prefer to listen to your 2.0 sources?

-2.0 Stereo only
-5.1/7.1 using ProLogic IIx, Logic7, etc.
-7ch stereo mode

Has your 2.0 source listening preference changed as you've changed equipment? Again, I'm only asking about stereo sources, not multi-chan SACD or DVDA.

[Blindamood]

I do most of my 2-channel listening on my secondary system, which is 2.0 only. When I do use my 5.1 setup, however, it is usually in 2-channel Bypass mode (speakers in full range, no sub). I have tried the other modes (5-channel stereo, PLIIx, etc.) but generally prefer straight 2-channel.

Remember, though, that there is alot of excellent 2-channel SACD and DVD-A as well; it's not just for multi-channel listening!

[ShadowZA]

2.0 Stereo only - using dedicated source player.

To some degree, yes. I tend to prefer mainly well recorded CD's.

[littlesaint]

Generally 2.0 Bypass, unless I know the source material contains bass below 40Hz, then I run 2.1 Stereo. Some SACD and DVD-A do sound good in multichannel, but most I just listen to the 2Ch tracks.

[Alloroc]

I've a seprate 2-channel setup for this purpose. My 5.1 setup is for tv, movies and music DVDs. I use the multi input mode on my Rotel and select PCM stereo for Music DVD playback. I much prefer the quality of the DAC on my DVD player to the one in the Rotel for PCM.

[snewkirk]

2.0 stereo dedicated system. I have to agree with the "well recorded" comment. I'm very disappointed with the amount of compression so much of the "new" music is using.

[Alloroc]

Hi Snewkirk, welcome to the forum!

[ShadowZA]

Welcome to the forum, Snewkirk. Btw, I've always enjoyed MAD magazine. :T

[Chris D]

I used to be a "purist", refusing to listen to the original source with anything other than the source. So for 2.0, it was only 2.0 for me. However, when my processor got a DPLIIx upgrade, I tried it out and love it. So yes, now I do use DPLIIx for all my 2.0 listening, matrixing it into a 7.1 soundfield. Nice and expansive.

[wkhanna]

I use a pre-pro for TV and movies, but by-pass it with a separate 2-ch hybrid pre- amp for listening to music.

[aud19]

Depends on the genre, quality of the recording etc. For more critical, well recorded stuff, (generally jazz/classical etc) I tend to listen in 2.0 bypass, for casual listening or parties and lower quality (or more modern) tunes I generally use DPLII.

[RebelMan]

By all means 2.0 stereo only. My preferences have been unwavering with system changes for more than 20 years.

Shadow, are you driving your Krell amplifiers directly with the Meridian 808 or do you have it going into your Krell Showcase first?

[Briz vegas]

2 channel

CD 5X --->CA200--->804s



HT 5.1
NAD T562---->Marantz 7300ose into
----->CA200 ----->804s (front)
----->htm7 (centre)
----->705 (rear)
----->REL Strata 5

The 5.1 does a better job of loading the room with sound but at the expense of ultimate sound quality available via the 2 channel configuration. HT is nice but the real magic is in 2 channel.

[ShadowZA]

By all means 2.0 stereo only. My preferences have been unwavering with system changes for more than 20 years.

Shadow, are you driving your Krell amplifiers directly with the Meridian 808 or do you have it going into your Krell Showcase first?

RebelMan, as you probably know, one can indeed drive the amplifiers directly using the Meridian 808 - no external preamp necessary. This I would dearly prefer. Due to practical reasons (at present, anyway :W ) I've invited the Krell Showcase to join the party. I'm passing the analog signal from the 808 directly to the Krell's volume control, using the analog stage of the preamp, with no digital processing.

[RebelMan]

I hear you Shadow. Convenience can be a mighty powerful ally. :twisted:

[BasementJax]

My prefs are in line with most of the comments here. Critical listening with well recorded source material is 2.0 only. For night-time listening at lower levels, entertaining, or low quality sources I've been using 7ch stereo mode more. I don't have DPLII or Logic7 yet.

[H.T.C]

Some are using 2.1 (sub) forgoing anything to do with surrond at all due to to the thinking that in many cases,the rear channels are used only as a gimmick, in movies and music without any thinking about real ambiance.

Instead surrond seems to less natural and more (if this is the right word) synthetic.

[Charles]

Always come back to 2 ch after trying all options.

[sokoban]

I use 2.0 for 2 channel playback most of the time, but do turn on a sub when I'm playing an album with heavy low frequency content. I like to hear my music as close to how it was mastered as possible.

That's one of the things I miss about the now dead filesharing site oink.cd. They had people who performed high quality rips of LPs and mono rips of older recordings. This is especially good for stuff like "Are You Experienced" which hasn't been available in its original mono form for decades, or Flaming Lips albums which are way hot on CD, but are a lot better on LP.

[Ovation]

I have my player configured for 2.1 playback with CDs (it's also a hi-res audio player) and I play that back through the "Pure Audio" mode on my receiver (making it a passive integrated amp).

[fattner]

2 channel only :T ,I really havent gotten into the other stuff.

[Lagare Lout]

2 channel

Cd/Deck --> Pre-amp --> Power amp --> L & R Speakers

Multi Channel

DVD Player --> Processor --> Pre-amp --> Power amp --> L & R Speakers
--> Power amp --> L & R rear speakers
--> Power amp --> centre & sub

[sirbogey]

2 channel in bypass mode exclusively.