Stereo or surround sound for listening to music

[NNN0LHI]

To me surround sound is great for watching movies but when I am listening to only music I prefer a good stereo system. All separate pieces too. I don't care for any integrated stuff. I want something like a Nakamichi PA-7 for a power amplifier with a Nakamichi CA-5 for a controller.

Marantz currently makes a pretty good FM tuner which I am currently using. Marantz makes a pretty good CD player too. Rotel makes a better one. These are not DVD players that happens to play CD's, but strictly is a CD player only. It won't even play DVD's or MP3's. A there is a difference, believe me on this one. I like real speakers too. Not these little ones I keep seeing that sound pretty good, but rather a set of real studio monitors made by B&W or someone like that. I go pretty much by the rule of thumb that if speakers don't weigh at least a hundred pounds a piece they ain't no good.

Anyone else listen to music like this? Oops, almost forgot. No sub-woofers here either. They shouldn't be needed with the right speakers.

Don

[rawtribe]

1. Stereo only for me

Denon DVD player as a transport into a Bel Canto DAC2 (I watch movies in stereo also)
Rogue Ninety-Nine preamplifier
Rogue Audio M-150 monoblocks
Harbeth NRG4 tower speakers

and no sub-woofer!


:headbang:

[ghostsofgiants]

2. Stereo unless you've got a 5.1 dvd-audio disc or something

Nine Inch Nails, for example, remastered The Downward Spiral (I think) and possibly released With Teeth as well, as 5.1 dvd-audio. But if it's just a regular cd, it's pointless to go beyond stereo if you have a quality stereo system.

[hlthe2b]

3. Oh, my.... Hundred pound speakers...

You'd get on famously with my cousin who has more in his stereo than I will ever likely put in a house... He went to (pristine) vinyl before it was "cool," had levelers on his components that would buy most women a small diamond, had to move to a house with high ceilings, for the speakers and the sound-proofing--just incredible...

But, I will agree with you on the stereo for music rather than surround sound. I do have two pairs of really nice canal phones (UM2s and Shure E4cs), LOL.

Beyond that, well, I appreciate those incredibly good systems, but doubt I'll ever really own one. I spend more time listening to XM satellite on a portable MYFI with Bose computer speakers at work and in my bedroom (yes, I know, I know, ovepriced and overhyped)! I do have a better system in the main part of the house, but never seem to spend time in that area.

[FogerRox]

4. Give me analog stereo any day

Give me vinyl or give me death

[FogerRox]

5. you would need 4 chan-- CD to = 2 chan. vinyl

[hlthe2b]

6. Yeah... that is one thing my cuz convinced me of...

but I can't afford that hobby, that's for sure. His vinyl-cleaning system costs more than I've ever put in my entire components.

Yup, I can appreciate it, but I surely can't afford it...

BTW, why can't they make 4-channel CD to equal the quality of 2 channel vinyl? (or do they). Last I checked with money bags cousin, he said there wasn't any digital form that could approach high quality vinyl analog.

[FogerRox]

7. yup-- CDs are a sample-- sample rate is 65%

SO if you have 4 singers-- one in front and the other 3 are in back you add a bit of reverb-- a touch of echo-to the 3 in back- place one on the left -- one on the right---

And you want to do that on a CD format? aint happening

[NNN0LHI]

8. You can get real good stuff for a great price if you know what to look for

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39783&item=5785965642&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting

This is the amplifier I am currently using. I purchased mine new in 1988 for $1850.00. Its built like a tank. It sounds as good today as the day I bought it. Never been serviced for anything. To buy something new of same quality today you would be talking $7,000 to $10,000 easy. I am considering bidding on this piece if the bidding doesn't go nuts so I will have a spare around. At the current bid it is a steal.

Don

[LiberallyInclined]

9. my Ohm 4XO's don't weigh a hundred pounds-

but i consider them to be nice speakers...same goes for my gallo reference nucleus speakers...
movies/tv in surround...music- usually stereo(but not always).