Home theater

[JimClark]

Going to be upgrading our TV and Audio setup and building a custom Entertainment system. My problem is I would just like to have two bookshelf speakers and a subwoffer. I want to get rid of the floor speakers we have and use the space for the bigger size of the new entertainment center.

Question is that all of the Home Audio systems now are set up for surround sound 5.1 and I don't want to deal to with that and only use two good bookshelf speakers and a sub-woffer. i don't want to have wires all around. Can you just use three speakers in a 5 speaker system without loosing some of the sound?

Jim

[domwilson]

You could try a sound bar... http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3whCXvO...sound-bar.html

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_316150/...Solutions.html

[JimClark]

So I could hook up a Xbox, CD, DVD player and the TV sound thru the sound bar?

[Flying Scotsman]

Jim, I would strongly suggest you use a centre speaker as well, as most info on surround sound is sent to this speaker with two bookshelves and a sub this will sound great.

Douggie

[JimClark]

I am leaning twords a set of bookshelf's and a subwoffer. Just found a Yamaha RX497 that is 75 watts per channel and has a sub woffer jack also.

[Flying Scotsman]

That is only a stereo amp but with your intended setup will work fine as long as you never wish for surround sound and to be honest surround sound is way over rated when you use more than 2 main, 1 centre and a sub if your main speakers are not capable of good bass response.

Douggie

[JimClark]

It is a small living room and I don't want to deal with surround sound setup so hopefullyit will be good. I just ordered a set of polk audio Polk Audio RTI A1's for the bookshelf speakers and we will see if I think it needs a sub woofer.
Thanks
Jim

[JimClark]

Could you use two bookshelves and a sub on a 5.1 reciever? If so which speaker outputs would you use?

[johnf]

What is your budget? It looks like you have the receiver and speakers covered. Check out HSU subs. They are fantastic!

[ReddyWatts]

You can use a 5.1 receiver for your application. Just need to turn the surround sound off and it is like a normal stereo with no center speaker. It actually turns off the sound coming out of the center speaker.

[JimClark]

So you would just use the sub woofer and the front speakers than?

You can use a 5.1 receiver for your application. Just need to turn the surround sound off and it is like a normal stereo with no center speaker. It actually turns off the sound coming out of the center speaker.

[dana]

So you would just use the sub woofer and the front speakers than?

Yes, you would run the speaker outs into ur sub, then out of the sub to the bookshelf speakers. Or just use the sub out and front speakers

[domwilson]

Many newer home theatre receivers come with a "virtual surround" mode that will let you derive some type of surround sound out of a two channel setup.

[Flying Scotsman]

Jim, your first thought of a stereo amp with a sub ouput is way better, if you do not want surround sound and do not get fooled into how many watts per channel, if you pop open the cover and look at the ampifier portion on most inexpensive 5, 6.1 receivers it is not a pretty sight, damping factor etc. really tell the story.

Douggie

[JimClark]

Ok Stereo amp and sub output it is.
Thanks for the help just need to get this all sorted out before I start building the entertainment center.

Jim