View Full Version : 5.1 speakers - better off to buy separates?
KeyserSoze
12-10-2008, 19:37
When I look at these 5.1 speaker packages I always get concerned about bass.
You have the sub woofer which ONLY handles the .1 channel, right?
Then you get the satellite speakers which tend to be these tiny things which do not have any bass.
What happens if I want to listen to a 2 channel sound source such as DD 2.0 or music from a CD player?
Should I buy my speakers separately? Buy two nice full range ones for the front L/R?
It's more fun, I think, to buy speakers seperately, and that way you can spend more on the front speakers if you want to.
in my experience, and presumably depending on the kit & setup, but when a stereo source is played through a 5.1, the sub also contributes to the sound (so you have front left + front right + sub).
also, you can process a stereo signal via Pro-Logic-II to utilise all 5 speakers (surprisingly good with stereo tv/movie) or switch to "5-channel" when you want a real blast.
What I don't get is when a stereo soundtrack is played my amp says "2.0"?
So this is saying two front speakers but no (0) subwoofer in use? But my Subwoofer light is on on the amp? Although the "LFE" light is off.
What gives.
Lee Rose
13-10-2008, 13:56
Because it's receiving a 2.0 signal, not a 2.1 signal.
I think we have the same amp, if I recall correctly. Mine says 2.0, but I can hear the subwoofer working, although it's not giving anything descrete, just boosting the bass from the stereo speakers.
Ah I see. So when the Subwoofer is being used discreteley that's when the LFE light is on.
Lee Rose
13-10-2008, 15:49
Maybe. I'm not 100% at grips with the amp yet. Just last week I had to reset to factory settings as I couldn't figure out what I'd done wrong with it. ;-)
yes - that sounds about right - with stereo there isn't a separate feed for the sub, but the sub should still be handling the lower frequencies.
KeyserSoze
13-10-2008, 22:24
Yeah I mean I have this setup on my PC already. It just seriously lacks depth when it comes to playing music. Ok true, you can get some kind of bass redirection to the woofer on a 2 channel source but it lacks mid range so music never sounds 'big'.
Maybe I shouldn't really be mixing music and movies but my lounge is not huge. I don't want loads of speakers lying around.
maybe ask -
- how much music listening, compared to movies ?
- music - are you sitting & listening carefully, or doing other things ?
- movies - how much of a tweaker & perfectionist are you ?
the thing with adding front hifi speakers is the 5.1 tonal balance will be 'off' - a sound that pans from front to back, or around all 5 - for me this would not be a problem, but for serious movie watching it might drive others mad.
Av amps/receivers aren't as good (relatively speaking) with music sources compared to a stereo amp. So combined with more compact speakers it's always going to be somewhat of a compromise. Certainly if you have room for a decent set of bookshelf or floorstanding speakers instead of the compact style-orientated surround packages then it's going to be better. Plus if budget allows and the av amp/receiver has pre-out sockets, then you have the option of using them with a separate stereo amp - you hook up the front stereo pair of speakers to it instead. Budget does play a part naturally.
Robert
Right, is there a reason why I cannot use a serperate stereo amp and share the front speakers with the cinema amp? I've got an old stereo amp, that I only use with a turntable. At the moment, the front speakers are connected to a cinema amp, but can I wire both amps to the same set of speakers? so two amps sharing a set of speakers?
I know I should just try, but I have a feeling something might go terribly wrong and obviously only one amp would ever be used at one time, never both on at the same time.
I've wondered this myself, but never been in the situation to need to experiment.
If you try it, let us know how you get on, and post some pics !
:lol: I'll film for youtube in case something terrible happens.
if you wanted to use a normal stereo amp and have 5.1, you'd need to get an add on decoder box which will handle the front, rears and sub.
you need to look for something like the old yamaha dsp e-800 http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/145
but general rule of thumb is the av amps and 5.1 sub/sat speakers are great for movies, but won't stand up to a dedicated stereo amp and some decent stereo speakers.
KeyserSoze
17-10-2008, 10:25
So basically I should just separate music and movies and just buy a tonne of gear? two amps, 5.1 speakers, monster pair of speakers etc. :cry:
When I listen to music, I actually sit and listen to it and don't do anything else. So the sound is important to me.
I think I will just stick with the Stereo amp then. To be honest the lounge is not much suited for surround sound, the speaker layout will be awkward. I just thought, if I'm going to get a new amp I might as well include hoem cinema as well.
Well, I will be looking to get my own place soon, then I will really get the serious equipment!
Thanks for the help all.
You don't have to separate the two functions, it just means accepting some compromises. Either that, or you need to spend more that you probably wouldn't have otherwise needed to in order to look at those models of av amp/receivers that are above average with music. For example the Arcam AVR280/AVR350 or the Cambridge Audio 640R. You wouldn't need two sets of speakers though - just look at a 5.1 surround package which either incorporates a pair of floorstanders or bookshelf speakers rather than the discrete, more style-orientated options (since the latter mean more compromised music performance). It depends on your budget really.
Otherwise stick with a stereo amp and a decent pair of floorstanding speakers if you have room. If you have any sources that can't output analogue (and therefore would otherwise require an optical or coaxial digital audio input) then you would need a digital to analogue converter such as this one (http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/view_product_standard.php?product=1001188&department=1&sub1=8&show=8).
Robert
KeyserSoze
19-10-2008, 10:08
If you have any sources that can't output analogue (and therefore would otherwise require an optical or coaxial digital audio input) then you would need a digital to analogue converter such as this one (http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/view_product_standard.php?product=1001188&department=1&sub1=8&show=8).
Robert
What would that be? Blue Ray?
I wasn't thinking of any particular source - the majority are going to have analogue stereo output available I would have thought. I suppose one example might be the PS3 using hdmi connection. But then it would be less expensive to purchase the PS2/PS3 component cable run it alongside hdmi and just not hook up the video output connections.
Robert
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