I went down to 2 channel! Come on in! - Blu-ray Forum

btf1980 · 12-02-2010, 11:06 PM

Sorry for being a bit long winded...

Apologies to all the fine folks I've met on this forum, I haven't really been that active lately. Busy with life! Anyway, I've made some pretty drastic changes to my system. No more multi-channel for me. I'm a bit apprehensive posting this here, since this is a home theater/surround sound focused site, but I prefer 2 channel audio for everything. I think when done right, it can be just as impressive. I know quite a few people who are abandoning multi-channel for the simplicity of stereo plus a sub. It can work, but multi-channel is great also. I have no issues with it at all.

Most of my equipment spills over from my previous 5.1 setup, with some tweaks. Obviously, the center and surround speakers are gone. The 8 channel marantz amp is gone, and has been replaced by a Class A/B Rotel RB 1582 2x200w amp. I left the Marantz AV8003 prepro for HDMI switching & video.

I picked up a Sound Anchors custom stand for my JL Audio Fathom f112 sub, courtesy of Ivan from Audio Aficionado. It has taken the performance to the next level. Because it is elevated from the floor, there is no reverberation. I had to recalibrate it with A.R.O. again. Amazing what a few inches off the ground can do. This is one powerful sub. It's scary sometimes.

With regards to sources, I'm done with SACD. I love the format, but there is simply nothing there compelling me to buy. Until this changes in the future (which I do not see happening), I won't go back to it. I'm primarily a hardbop jazz fan, and all the SACDs being released that interest me come out on vinyl first. I won't be double dipping. This has been frustrating, considering the amount of money I invested in players over the years. Trust me, I wanted to support the format, and I was in denial for over half a decade. It's a bust.

For digital, I'm mostly server based. 24/96 FLAC files can rival the best of the best, but sadly the pickings are slim. Nevertheless, I have a Squeezebox Touch to handle that bitrate. It's fed directly to my PS Audio Digital Link III DAC that upsamples to 192 kHz. Everything is lossless. A sonos zone player is also fed to this DAC. All controlled by either an iPad, iPhone or the Sonos CR-200 controller. Depends on what is near me. It's splendid stuff. I also picked up a Rotel RCD-1072 as a backup CD player. Always good to have one and it was cheap.

Nothing changed on the vinyl side.

Video is still the same. Got a 360 slim to replace the previous 360. I honestly think I might get rid of the Oppo blu-ray player & downgrade to something cheaper from Sony, like an s570. I just want a simple blu-ray player. All the extras from the Oppo (SACD, DVD-A, 2 channel outputs, DVD upconversion etc) will never be used by me, so it serves no purpose to have something like this, when an s570 will do the job.

Watching movies has been exhilarating. The B&W CM9 are really great speakers, and they continue to impress me. I decided to add the platforms that they come with. Not a huge difference in sound, but I'll leave them there. Combined with the fathom f112, the imaging of my now humble system is surreal. 3D almost. I don't miss surround one bit. Of course, I realize that this isn't for everyone and I'm not looking to convert anyone. Just sharing my experience and what works for me.

Pics

EDIT (2/8/12) Replaced my BDI rack with a credenza. System is going through a complete overhaul soon.

Equipment list

Display
Pioneer Kuro 5010FD

Speakers
Bowers & Wilkins CM9

Subwoofer
JL Audio Fathom f112

Power/Amplification
Marantz AV8003 Pre/Pro
Rotel RB-1582 Amp
PS Audio GCPH (Phonostage)

Sources
Pro-Ject RM 6.1 SB Turntable w/ Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III
PS Audio Digital Link III DAC
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Sonos
Rotel RCD-1072
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player
Buffalo Linkstation Mini
60GB PS3
Xbox 360 Slim
Tivo HD

Power Conditioner
Richard Gray RGPC 400 Pro

Racks/Stands
BDI Deploy
Solid Tech Rack of Silence (Reference)
Sound Anchors JL Audio Fathom stand
Custom Made Stand (For turntable isolation)

12-02-2010, 11:06 PM	#1
btf1980 Special Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2007 Location:NYC Home Theater Gallery:97 Trading Score:14	I went down to 2 channel! Come on in! Sorry for being a bit long winded... Apologies to all the fine folks I've met on this forum, I haven't really been that active lately. Busy with life! Anyway, I've made some pretty drastic changes to my system. No more multi-channel for me. I'm a bit apprehensive posting this here, since this is a home theater/surround sound focused site, but I prefer 2 channel audio for everything. I think when done right, it can be just as impressive. I know quite a few people who are abandoning multi-channel for the simplicity of stereo plus a sub. It can work, but multi-channel is great also. I have no issues with it at all. Most of my equipment spills over from my previous 5.1 setup, with some tweaks. Obviously, the center and surround speakers are gone. The 8 channel marantz amp is gone, and has been replaced by a Class A/B Rotel RB 1582 2x200w amp. I left the Marantz AV8003 prepro for HDMI switching & video. I picked up a Sound Anchors custom stand for my JL Audio Fathom f112 sub, courtesy of Ivan from Audio Aficionado. It has taken the performance to the next level. Because it is elevated from the floor, there is no reverberation. I had to recalibrate it with A.R.O. again. Amazing what a few inches off the ground can do. This is one powerful sub. It's scary sometimes. With regards to sources, I'm done with SACD. I love the format, but there is simply nothing there compelling me to buy. Until this changes in the future (which I do not see happening), I won't go back to it. I'm primarily a hardbop jazz fan, and all the SACDs being released that interest me come out on vinyl first. I won't be double dipping. This has been frustrating, considering the amount of money I invested in players over the years. Trust me, I wanted to support the format, and I was in denial for over half a decade. It's a bust. For digital, I'm mostly server based. 24/96 FLAC files can rival the best of the best, but sadly the pickings are slim. Nevertheless, I have a Squeezebox Touch to handle that bitrate. It's fed directly to my PS Audio Digital Link III DAC that upsamples to 192 kHz. Everything is lossless. A sonos zone player is also fed to this DAC. All controlled by either an iPad, iPhone or the Sonos CR-200 controller. Depends on what is near me. It's splendid stuff. I also picked up a Rotel RCD-1072 as a backup CD player. Always good to have one and it was cheap. Nothing changed on the vinyl side. Video is still the same. Got a 360 slim to replace the previous 360. I honestly think I might get rid of the Oppo blu-ray player & downgrade to something cheaper from Sony, like an s570. I just want a simple blu-ray player. All the extras from the Oppo (SACD, DVD-A, 2 channel outputs, DVD upconversion etc) will never be used by me, so it serves no purpose to have something like this, when an s570 will do the job. Watching movies has been exhilarating. The B&W CM9 are really great speakers, and they continue to impress me. I decided to add the platforms that they come with. Not a huge difference in sound, but I'll leave them there. Combined with the fathom f112, the imaging of my now humble system is surreal. 3D almost. I don't miss surround one bit. Of course, I realize that this isn't for everyone and I'm not looking to convert anyone. Just sharing my experience and what works for me. Pics EDIT (2/8/12) Replaced my BDI rack with a credenza. System is going through a complete overhaul soon. Equipment list Display Pioneer Kuro 5010FD Speakers Bowers & Wilkins CM9 Subwoofer JL Audio Fathom f112 Power/Amplification Marantz AV8003 Pre/Pro Rotel RB-1582 Amp PS Audio GCPH (Phonostage) Sources Pro-Ject RM 6.1 SB Turntable w/ Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III PS Audio Digital Link III DAC Logitech Squeezebox Touch Sonos Rotel RCD-1072 Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player Buffalo Linkstation Mini 60GB PS3 Xbox 360 Slim Tivo HD Power Conditioner Richard Gray RGPC 400 Pro Racks/Stands BDI Deploy Solid Tech Rack of Silence (Reference) Sound Anchors JL Audio Fathom stand Custom Made Stand (For turntable isolation) Last edited by btf1980; 02-08-2012 at 11:27 AM.

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