I now am a believer in 2 channel stereo!
In the past I have always listened to my music in multi-channel stereo thru my Yamaha receivers. I felt that the envelopment of audio from all my speakers was great. The room was full of music...instruments would play from the front..the rear...the sides. Why in the heck would anyone want to listen to music thru just TWO speakers?
Just recently I sold the Yamaha. I made the next logical step into separates. Not being able to afford some of the very nice audiophile components I had to satisfy my taste with Rotel. All though not top end, the Rotel specs and price range provide a combination to be respected.
One day last week I spent the entire day and evening hooking up the two new separate amps and a new pre/processor. I treated my 6 year old B&Ws to new speaker cables and gold banana connects, also upgrading all my inter-connect cables for the DVD-A player, amps and processor.
By later that night I was exhausted, still I took out the trusty ol' SPL meter and balanced the audio levels to my sweet spot. After this, all I wanted to do was R E L A X ! A new friend of mine, an older gentleman in his late 70's had just given me three CD's earlier that day. He was treating me to three CD's full of contemporary Jazz/Blues as a gift for having him over a few nights before to sit by our watergarden listening to Santana, as well as a sneak preview of our theater.
I loaded the first CD with one of the familar names I recognized...George Benson. I sat back into the soft black leather recliner. Remote in had I check the audio settings on the Rotel...the default setting was 2 CH STEREO and the volume was about mid range. Hummmm....why not. I pushed play and waited. The disc qued to track one and began to play. This is when I noticed the difference. The imaging from the front of the room was exspansive and full, yet detailed and precise. I had never heard stereo like this before. The soundstage was so full I thought I had selected 3 Channel Stereo instead....I looked at the Rotel display and doubting its report I walked to the front of the room and placed my ears near the B&W center speaker. Only the left and right mains were performing. No way. I was absolutily astonished.
I sat back down in utter amazement. What had I been missing all these years. I crept the volume up ever so slightly and remotely dimmed the lights until only a warm amber glow illuminated from the wall sconces....I reclined the lounge chair...closed my eyes....and slipped into audio nirvana. I listened intently at each track...then the next dozen tracks from the second CD...then the third....
I went to bed that night still thinking of how much difference the combination of cables, wires and components had made. It was truly a nice experience to actually hear such an improvement. Now I am a believer!
Thanks for reading!
Enter The Cyberdyne Cinema
Darren
In the past I have always listened to my music in multi-channel stereo thru my Yamaha receivers. I felt that the envelopment of audio from all my speakers was great. The room was full of music...instruments would play from the front..the rear...the sides. Why in the heck would anyone want to listen to music thru just TWO speakers?
Just recently I sold the Yamaha. I made the next logical step into separates. Not being able to afford some of the very nice audiophile components I had to satisfy my taste with Rotel. All though not top end, the Rotel specs and price range provide a combination to be respected.
One day last week I spent the entire day and evening hooking up the two new separate amps and a new pre/processor. I treated my 6 year old B&Ws to new speaker cables and gold banana connects, also upgrading all my inter-connect cables for the DVD-A player, amps and processor.
By later that night I was exhausted, still I took out the trusty ol' SPL meter and balanced the audio levels to my sweet spot. After this, all I wanted to do was R E L A X ! A new friend of mine, an older gentleman in his late 70's had just given me three CD's earlier that day. He was treating me to three CD's full of contemporary Jazz/Blues as a gift for having him over a few nights before to sit by our watergarden listening to Santana, as well as a sneak preview of our theater.
I loaded the first CD with one of the familar names I recognized...George Benson. I sat back into the soft black leather recliner. Remote in had I check the audio settings on the Rotel...the default setting was 2 CH STEREO and the volume was about mid range. Hummmm....why not. I pushed play and waited. The disc qued to track one and began to play. This is when I noticed the difference. The imaging from the front of the room was exspansive and full, yet detailed and precise. I had never heard stereo like this before. The soundstage was so full I thought I had selected 3 Channel Stereo instead....I looked at the Rotel display and doubting its report I walked to the front of the room and placed my ears near the B&W center speaker. Only the left and right mains were performing. No way. I was absolutily astonished.
I sat back down in utter amazement. What had I been missing all these years. I crept the volume up ever so slightly and remotely dimmed the lights until only a warm amber glow illuminated from the wall sconces....I reclined the lounge chair...closed my eyes....and slipped into audio nirvana. I listened intently at each track...then the next dozen tracks from the second CD...then the third....
I went to bed that night still thinking of how much difference the combination of cables, wires and components had made. It was truly a nice experience to actually hear such an improvement. Now I am a believer!
Thanks for reading!
Enter The Cyberdyne Cinema
Darren
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