Dedicated 2-channel systems

I’ve been meaning to set up a 2-channel, music only listening room for some time but could never find an appropriate room to put it in and if I did, my wife nixed the idea.

This weekend I decided to repurpose and rearrange some equipment I’ve had for some time in Theater B, our Bonus Room and exercise room. When I upgraded the Projector in my main Basement Theater, I couldn’t sell my old one for enough to make it worthwhile. The value drops so fast I just kept it and hooked it up in the Bonus Room/Exercise Room. Nice distraction when on the treadmill or bike trainer.

I use my favorite Vision Signature Speakers, a DIY Kit by North Creek Music, in a 7.2 configuration and they had been powered by a Denon AVR-4520CI with a Bryston 4BST powering the subwoofers. I built the sub-woofers as well.

To build a 2-channel system in the same room I added my Oppo HA-1 Headphone Amplifier that is also a fine pre-amplifier. It also has a Home Theater Bypass mode. I replaced the Bryston 4BST with an Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2 to power the Home Theater Subs and repurposed the Bryston 4BST to drive the F/R F/L main speakers.

I also added a Bryston 7BST to power an additional subwoofer, the ScanSpeak 23W with Passive Radiator. My mains aren’t really designed to perform below 70 HZ so I am also using a Bryston 10B Sub crossover in a 2.1 configuration. I lose any previous bass management the Denon provided in by-pass mode. I am going to try a High Pass at 80 Hz with a 6db slope and low pass at 80 with an 18db slope to start.

This allows me to use the Oppo HA-1 as a stand alone pre-amp while not turning the Denon on for 2-channel listening. For movies I use the Denon and can still use the F/R, F/L speakers. In this mode, the Oppo is also turned on and simply passes the signal through via the Denon F/R F/L pre-out's and the Denon controls the volume. Best of both worlds.

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That is some fine looking equipment you’ve got there both for home equipment and car as well.

Ive been looking at what next steps will be with my modest set up.
Currently I'm running the RP500's for my L/R and am ordering a sub to go with them.
Next will be to upgrade the bookshelves into something bigger and moving those upstairs for a 2.1 setup in the family space and out of the basement.

Midway, that setup looks beautiful.

Or you can use those for surround sound in a HT setup :D

Kelvin

So I bought my dedicated fronts and I’m in LOVE!! Purchased a pair of Golden Ear Triton 5’s and I never thought I could spend an hour setting up a pair of towers to give me as good of a stage and image as I have in my truck without a DSP, seriously unreal.
Room is just over 8’ wide and I’m sitting 9’ from the drivers which are 6’6” apart and it’s just so tight and focused but it’s as wide as the room extending beyond the drivers on both sides.
Listened to A LOT of combos in this price range and for the deal I go there wasn’t anything that could touch them.



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I've enjoyed the Dynaudio speakers I installed in my 335i E92 and X6 F16 so much I purchased some Dynaudio Contour 20's, 3 actually, and plan on using them in my family room. Can't wait to hear them. I think they use the 110 Esotar tweeter and with some subs, expect they will sound great. Using a matching 20 center is not typical but will probable sound better than a horizontal center and my main goal is for 2 Chanel anyway.

That looks awesome, nice work. I’ve listened to a few Dynaudio setups and you won’t be disappointed.