Home Theatre vs Dedicated Stereo

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   After many years of planning (ok, dreaming) we're finally in the position to do a major reno on the house. Included in the work will be what I like to refer to as my 'Media room', (commonly known as a family room). The room will house all my media, Albums, CD's, DVD/Blue Ray, Cassettes, VHS along with my big screen TV and a stereo/surround system. Currently I have a Rotel RA-972 integrated amp with 2 JBL TLX-2 bookshelf speakers and a JBL PSW-1000 sub for my music listening and engineering work. On the TV I have a Pioneer VSX-817 surround receiver and 2 PSB Alpha speakers. Even without a sub or back speakers this system kicks ass when watching the 'ol blue Ray movies. But when everything is in the same room I would prefer to not have  multiple systems.

So my questions are...and I realize that with unlimited budget anything is possible, which I don't have...has the surround system technology caught up with the dedicated stereo technology so that only one system is really needed?
And secondly, are "stereo" speakers reasonable speakers to use on a surround system?
Music listening styles range from Classical and Jazz to Heavy Rock and Prog.

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JD Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 07 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 18446	Topic: Home Theatre vs Dedicated Stereo Posted: September 05 2009 at 09:05
	After many years of planning (ok, dreaming) we're finally in the position to do a major reno on the house. Included in the work will be what I like to refer to as my 'Media room', (commonly known as a family room). The room will house all my media, Albums, CD's, DVD/Blue Ray, Cassettes, VHS along with my big screen TV and a stereo/surround system. Currently I have a Rotel RA-972 integrated amp with 2 JBL TLX-2 bookshelf speakers and a JBL PSW-1000 sub for my music listening and engineering work. On the TV I have a Pioneer VSX-817 surround receiver and 2 PSB Alpha speakers. Even without a sub or back speakers this system kicks ass when watching the 'ol blue Ray movies. But when everything is in the same room I would prefer to not have multiple systems. So my questions are...and I realize that with unlimited budget anything is possible, which I don't have...has the surround system technology caught up with the dedicated stereo technology so that only one system is really needed? And secondly, are "stereo" speakers reasonable speakers to use on a surround system? Music listening styles range from Classical and Jazz to Heavy Rock and Prog.
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Rottenhat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 14 2006 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 436	Posted: September 14 2009 at 13:27
	No, I don't see why a surround system couldn't handle stereo just as well. A good set of left/right front speakers and a sub would handle this just fine in my opinion. But the best for good stereo listening in my opinion is a good set of headphones. :)
	Language is a virus from outer space. -William S. Burroughs

Mr ProgFreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 08 2008 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 5195	Posted: September 14 2009 at 13:43
	Go for the home theatre. Since you already have a surround receiver, my recommendation would be to get some quality speakers (5.1) for it. http://www.psbspeakers.com/Alpha-home-theater-systems Edited by Mr ProgFreak - September 14 2009 at 13:45

Slartibartfast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29630	Posted: September 14 2009 at 14:17
	I swear this has come up before and the simple answer is stereo can never reproduce surround sound and a surround sound system can do stereo. I'm sure a really good stereo system can kick the ass of an average surround sound system when it comes to stereo, but I'm with Alton Brown (Food TV) on this one, a good multitasking device beats several single function ones.
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mystic fred Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 13 2006 Location: Londinium Status: Offline Points: 4252	Posted: September 18 2009 at 00:50
	A surround speaker system will be fine if you use, " ideally", the same speaker models all round (except for bass) which should have matching impedance (8ohms) matched with at least 100watt amp. To get decent sound quality they will need to be good ones, a lot of money to lay out but worth it in the end, don't get those cheap spindly things for £400 a set, go for something fairly decent such as Monitor Audio. I am limited for space in my 5.1 room and i use two Castle Howard floor speakers, two Linn Kann shelf mounted speakers, one Heybrook shelf mounted and one big bass driver on the floor, not "ideal" but sounds great in 5.1 or stereo. Edited by mystic fred - September 18 2009 at 01:24
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Rottenhat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 14 2006 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 436	Posted: October 02 2009 at 11:47
	Audio and religion got a lot in common... There is a lot of dogma and make-believe. :)
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danova Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: November 15 2009 Status: Offline Points: 12	Posted: November 18 2009 at 12:40
	Here personally my room is too small for ideal repair, but I know that mirrors do space more. Edited by danova - November 26 2009 at 10:14
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CryoftheCarrots Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 29 2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 674	Posted: November 25 2009 at 17:54
	I have both systems in my house. With my ever expanding collection of DVDA releases, in particular Porcupine Tree and the new absolutely amazing King Crimson albums, the stereo just doesn't get a lookin any more. I get really surprised and dissappointed that the Prog Archives community hasn't really picked up on how good the surround sound releases are. If more people were to buy surround be it DVDA or SACD format maybe it would encourage more bands to encompass this technology. Thank heavens for Steven Wilson.
	"There is a lot in this world to be tense and intense about" MJK

Mr ProgFreak Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 08 2008 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 5195	Posted: November 26 2009 at 01:21
	At PF there's a tag for 5.1 mixes ... have a look at the chart: http://progfreak.com/home/charts.xhtml?y=*any&tags=mix_5_1 You're welcome to add more albums to the list (by assigning the tag "5.1 Mix").