Wow, I've Discovered Stereo

JeromeS · 07-08-2003, 01:36 PM

Okay, it hasn't been like I've been living under a rock for all these years. However after years of listening to music through portables, Walkmans and not so good receivers, recent upgrades to the 2 channel reproduction on my stereo/HT system I'm just hearing how great stereo can be. There is so much in those CDs and especially records(Can we say RCA) that I didn't know about. Before I've read about imaging and soundstage and thought what were they talking about, now I know. With my old stuff, there was the left/right separation of course but it was like 'Yes that saxophone is coming from somewhere on the right near the drums'. Now it's like 'The saxophone is coming from that spot right there and the drums are behind him to the left.'

I'm not saying every piece of music I own is like that since a lot of this depends on the mastering of the source material. With multi-channel music it's suppose to give you the feel of being surrounded but with stereo it already does that. Plus for classical music, to be able to distinguish different acoustics for the venue where the recording was done was something totally unexpected. Now that was cool.

Don't get me wrong, I still love movies but my music collection outnumbers my DVD collection by a ratio of 6:1 and so I thought I should upgrade that part of my system instead of getting another HT component. I wonder how many here would benefit from upgrading their 2 channel playback instead of getting the latest receiver/processor with 6.1, 7.1 or surround speakers.

Scott_N · 07-08-2003, 02:23 PM

That's why I have seperate HT and 2-channel systems. Welcome to the audiophile world.

MarkMaximus · 07-08-2003, 02:37 PM

What upgrades did you do out of curiosity? Where did you come from/where did you go?

Mark Hedges · 07-08-2003, 02:47 PM

I recently underwent a similar revelation. In fact, I almost regret going with a multichannel system now. I use it probably 75% of the time for 2 channel music. Maybe I should have just gotten a nice stereo integrated amp instead of my 4ES!

Eventually I plan on having seperate systems but for now it has to be one or the other.

My music collection vastly outnumbers my DVD collection and probably always will. Even movies I really like such as LOTR don't get played as often as my favorite CDs.

JeromeS · 07-08-2003, 03:35 PM

Quote:

What upgrades did you do out of curiosity? Where did you come from/where did you go?

Mark,

Before: Yamaha HTR-5250, Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble II L/R, Cambridge Soundworks Center Channel and Surrounds, 90's passive subwoofer, JVC DVD Player that doubled as CD player, Pioneer Laserdisc player.

Now:
Stereo - Bottlehead Foreplay tube preamp w/ various upgrades, Music Hall MMF-5 turntable, Gram Amp 2SE Phono preamp, Pioneer DVD-434 with Modwright Level 1 Transport modification, Perpetual Technologies P-3A DAC, Monolith P3 Power Supply(for DAC)

HT: Yamaha HTR-5250, Panasonic RP-91, Pioneer Laserdisc player

Speakers: PSB Image 5T L/R, PSB Image 9C Center Channel, Ensemble II's are now surround speakers, 90's passive subwoofer

Amp: Outlaw 750 5 channel amp

I have the CD and turntable connected to the Foreplay. Yamaha L/R preouts going into the Foreplay and center preout into the Outlaw. Surrounds are driven by the Yamaha and the passive subwoofer driven by the other 2 channels on the Outlaw.

These aren't even the best components out there but they still did wonders for 2 channel. The biggest upgrade I got was from the cheapest component, the Bottlehead Foreplay. Getting a stereo preamp/integrated in the 2 channel chain is what gets you over the top I think. Running the transport/DAC and turntable throught the Yamaha sounded good but not great. After I added the Foreplay, whoa that's what I've been looking for! Any upgrade I would do now would probably be Mullard or Telefunken tubes for the Foreplay and a stereo amplifier or monoblocks.

Jerome

**HTF Ads**

Jack Briggs · 07-08-2003, 03:51 PM

Just a little fine point: "Stereo" means more than one channel. So the word "stereo," technically, can apply to a full-blown HT surround system as much as to a two-channel music (and/or movie) system. FYI.

Two-channel music systems can be terrific.

Angelo.M · 07-08-2003, 04:02 PM

As far as I know, the only reason that 2-channel (as opposed to more than 2-channels) became a 'standard' for music playback (including both mono and stereo music playback) was that a vinyl record groove is 2-sided.

Jack is correct: 'stereo' and '2-channel' are not synonyms.

Let me know if I'm way off...

Jason.Soko · 07-08-2003, 04:42 PM

stereo

adj : (electronics) designating sound transmission from two sources through two channels

Martin Rendall · 07-08-2003, 05:12 PM

Isn't the Foreplay just a wonderful pre? As far as a tube change, can I suggest that you look into NOS Mullard Gov't CV4003's? I got a pair, and liked them so much, I acquired another spare pair for when I'll need to replace them 10 years from now.

I wasn't clear: are you running the FP into the Yammie Pre in's? If so, you might consider implementing an HT bypass in the FP, so that you can keep the Yammie out of 2 channel entirely. Just a thought.

Martin.

Frank_S · 07-08-2003, 05:36 PM

Congrats Jerome, Great to hear of your success in achieving quality sound. I would recommend going with a tube amp setup and using your Yamaha strictly for HT. This would bring your 2 channel experience to the next level.

A couple of questions.
How efficient are your speakers?
Do they go below 4 ohms?
What range of music do you listen to?
A low power tube amp may be all you need.