2 or 3 channel amp & 7.1 AVR

[jgstudios]

I've never used a surround setup before. My question is theoretical at this point because I'm trying to figure out what direction to take with an external amp. I have a Pioneer VSX 33 7.1 AVR. I also have a pair of Polk rti a9 tower speakers which are currently connected in stereo mode directly to the AVR speaker outputs. I want to add an external amplifier via the AVR pre-outs to give the speakers the power they need. I am also considering fleshing out a 5.1 surround setup, but that's down the road. I'm happy with stereo for now. I've been reading some comments from some folks about connecting a 3 channel amp rather than a 2 channel because they say it's the "true" way to listen to stereo. This piqued my quriosity. My question is, what does that mean, and also what does that mean for the built in settings on the AVR? I assume that the current stereo mode excludes the center channel. So connecting a center channel speaker to a 3 channel external amp or even directly to the AVR would not even get signal from the AVR in stereo mode. Is this correct? If I change the setting to one of the many surround settings, I assume the center channel would then receive an audio signal. If so, does that then answer to the concept that some forum contributors say about true 3 channel stereo or is there some other kind of dedicated 3 channel reciever or pre-amp needed? WOuld a center channel speaker offer the kind of true stereo audio they are talking about? Or would it be wiser to just get a 2 channel amp and plug the center channel speaker into the AVR and set a surround setting for the 3rd channel and flesh out the 5.1 system and not worry about that "true" 3 channel stereo idea? I'm looking at getting the amp in about a month once I can save up enough pennies, so I have time to research. I'm in no hurry to upgrade to 5.1, the stereo mode is fine for now, but untimately a surround environment would be cool for movies.

 

[lovinthehd]

3ch stereo was an idea that didn't get far, altho apparently tested once upon a time better than 2ch stereo (think it was some Bell Labs research that came to that conclusion back in the '30s). Recording 3ch on vinyl was probably a major reason it didn't get far....and even now I can't think of any offerings of 3ch stereo recordings. Stereo largely has been defined as 2ch, altho a 7ch setup also is "stereo", and all my avrs would only use 2ch for "stereo" modes. You could matrix 2ch audio into 3ch but it wouldn't be "true" to the recording. I wouldn't worry about it in any case.

 

[Pedro Alvarado]

i like your last option.

music on dolby prologic ii in a 5.1 setup is mostly how i like it.

although the superbowl tonight sounded much better in dts neo6.

 

[Verdinut]

3ch stereo was an idea that didn't get far, altho apparently tested once upon a time better than 2ch stereo (think it was some Bell Labs research that came to that conclusion back in the '30s). Recording 3ch on vinyl was probably a major reason it didn't get far....and even now I can't think of any offerings of 3ch stereo recordings. Stereo largely has been defined as 2ch, altho a 7ch setup also is "stereo", and all my avrs would only use 2ch for "stereo" modes. You could matrix 2ch audio into 3ch but it wouldn't be "true" to the recording. I wouldn't worry about it in any case.

In the late 1950's and early 60's, both Mercury and RCA labels made 3 channel stereo recordings of classical music. Although many were originally released in 2 ch stereo LPs, several of them were remastered and released as 3 channel stereo SACDs. Most have been discontinued but some are still available from a few retailers.

I have several SACDs of both labels, and they are amazing. You can hear exactly what the recording engineers heard when the recordings were made. In those years, these top engineers had classical music background and were able to produce better recordings than those done by a lot of current engineers.

 

[lovinthehd]

In the late 1950's and early 60's, both Mercury and RCA labels made 3 channel stereo recordings of classical music. Although many were originally released in 2 ch stereo LPs, several of them were remastered and released as 3 channel stereo SACDs. Most have been discontinued but some are still available from a few retailers.

I have several SACDs of both labels, and they are amazing. You can hear exactly what the recording engineers heard when the recordings were made. In those years, those top engineers had classical music background and were able to produce better recordings than those done by a lot of current engineers.

Now that you say that I do think I've read something about that before (possibly from you ). but was it truly 3ch discrete recording? How did they do that on vinyl, how did a cartridge pick that up and who had 3ch processors and three speakers to play it on?

ps Were the 3ch SACDs produced from discrete channels via tape recordings?

 

[Verdinut]

Now that you say that I do think I've read something about that before (possibly from you ). but was it truly 3ch discrete recording? How did they do that on vinyl, how did a cartridge pick that up and who had 3ch processors and three speakers to play it on?

Taken from RCA technical notes:
"By placing microphones in the left, center, and right of the hall, engineers progressed to 3-channel recordings, which afforded them greater control over the musical balances that ended up in the stereo mix.
Today, with the advent of SACD and multi-channel playback, the listener can hear the left, center, and right channels exactly as the engineers heard them at the original recording sessions."

As for the transfer to vinyl in 2-ch stereo, I believe the engineers used a mixer to blend the center microphone signal between the left and right channels.

 

[lovinthehd]

Taken from RCA technical notes:
"By placing microphones in the left, center, and right of the hall, engineers progressed to 3-channel recordings, which afforded them greater control over the musical balances that ended up in the stereo mix.
Today, with the advent of SACD and multi-channel playback, the listener can hear the left, center, and right channels exactly as the engineers heard them at the original recording sessions."

As for the transfer to vinyl in 2-ch stereo, I believe the engineers used a mixer to blend the center microphone signal between the left and right channels.

Ah, so the recording on vinyl wasn't 3ch....that was my point about 3ch vinyl, I didn't think it existed.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I want to add an external amplifier via the AVR pre-outs to give the speakers the power they need.

How do you know they need more power?