Audio + Visual is Better than Just Audio

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nicoff

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Many folks who are into 2-channel high-end audio tend to discount the possibility that a well set up “Home Theater” can bring a better and more engaging experience than the two-channel set up. Yet, in my experience, if done properly, we can achieve that.

First, a little history. Home Theaters as we know them today started becoming popular in the 1990s with the arrival of DVD technology. The screen sizes of the TVs available at that time were too small. That meant that if you wanted a “Home Theater”, you had to get a projector and a screen. Since most audio rooms were not designed to accommodate large screens and projectors with low lumen output, many folks converted basements or empty rooms into Home Theaters. Those folks ended up with a very nice two-channel system in one room and a “Home Theater” in another windowless, audio-compromised room. Not surprisingly, folks found that their two-channel system (with better speakers and better room) sounded better than their multichannel system with multiple lesser speakers in a sub-par room.

Such compromises are easily avoidable today. One can now buy large screen TVs that can be installed in just about any audio room. That allows the user the chance to use the same room and speakers for their two-channel system and for their Home Theater.

In my experience, no audio-only system can recreate the emotional impact of a well-produced music video of the same performance. Video adds an extra quality that no audio-only (even if high-definition audio) can provide. I would think that any Opera lover would much rather watch Don Giovanni with CD-Quality audio than just listen to the same performance in 512DSD without video.

Maybe it is as simple as two senses (audio and visual) are better than one (audio alone).
 
my preamp has a theater bypass so i run the theater system through it to use the main speakers within the multi-channel system. if you put in a concert blu ray (roger waters the wall is a great example) its quite an experience. you get the great sound of your main speakers with the addition of video and surround. best of both worlds...
 
nicoff said:
Many folks who are into 2-channel high-end audio tend to discount the possibility that a well set up “Home Theater” can bring a better and more engaging experience than the two-channel set up. Yet, in my experience, if done properly, we can achieve that.
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This has been known for about 70 years. Just the audio part alone and yes, video, especially say concert footage, certainly enhances that further.
Reminds me of seasoned Stereophiles hearing a real MCH audio system for the first time and nearly pooping themselves. Luddites will have none of it. And of course, many folks have never been to an actual concert hall, much less want a semblance of recreation aka "the real thing". As they say, different strokes for different folks. Plenty enough music out there that sounds fine in stereo, just not all of it.
Btw, I heard that Roger Waters (mentioned above) on Edwards system yesterday, most impressive.

cheers,
AJ
 
Edward said:
my preamp has a theater bypass so i run the theater system through it to use the main speakers within the multi-channel system. if you put in a concert blu ray (roger waters the wall is a great example) its quite an experience. you get the great sound of your main speakers with the addition of video and surround. best of both worlds...
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Exactly. In fact, even a YouTube video with high-def video and low def audio played this way is more engaging than the high-def audio-only version.
 
When we moved from Minnesota to Colorado I consolidated separate 2 channel and HT systems into one. Everything got better, I lost nothing in the 2 channel world and gained better HT audio in the bargain. The stereo and HT systems are functionally separate so even the AC power is off to all the HT equipment when listening to 2 channel. And I got a solid 5.1 system for surround. Win-win.
 
I agree. I have a few video's saved from YouTube of songs a like. When watching the vid and listening to the music it's more impressive; I think because I can appreciate the talent of the artist and see/feel what I hear. Because of this I now have a greater appreciation of the talent and skill of the artists. I have also discovered that some times the vid song is different than the original and at times the change is better. One such u-tube vid is Daryl's house episode 57 with Rumer. Another is Heart-Stairway to heaven, honoring Led Zeppelin at Kennedy Center. These are 2 examples how the visual can influence my appreciation of the music.
 
Gary O said:
...
Another is Heart-Stairway to heaven, honoring Led Zeppelin at Kennedy Center. These are 2 examples how the visual can influence my appreciation of the music.
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That Heart-Stairway is a great music video! Even Robert Plant loved it (he was so moved by the performance that he cried watching it!)
 
nicoff said:
Many folks who are into 2-channel high-end audio tend to discount the possibility that a well set up “Home Theater” can bring a better and more engaging experience than the two-channel set up. Yet, in my experience, if done properly, we can achieve that.

First, a little history. Home Theaters as we know them today started becoming popular in the 1990s with the arrival of DVD technology. The screen sizes of the TVs available at that time were too small. That meant that if you wanted a “Home Theater”, you had to get a projector and a screen. Since most audio rooms were not designed to accommodate large screens and projectors with low lumen output, many folks converted basements or empty rooms into Home Theaters. Those folks ended up with a very nice two-channel system in one room and a “Home Theater” in another windowless, audio-compromised room. Not surprisingly, folks found that their two-channel system (with better speakers and better room) sounded better than their multichannel system with multiple lesser speakers in a sub-par room.

Such compromises are easily avoidable today. One can now buy large screen TVs that can be installed in just about any audio room. That allows the user the chance to use the same room and speakers for their two-channel system and for their Home Theater.

In my experience, no audio-only system can recreate the emotional impact of a well-produced music video of the same performance. Video adds an extra quality that no audio-only (even if high-definition audio) can provide. I would think that any Opera lover would much rather watch Don Giovanni with CD-Quality audio than just listen to the same performance in 512DSD without video.

Maybe it is as simple as two senses (audio and visual) are better than one (audio alone).
Click to expand...



There really ought not be any reason for significant compromises unless one has a tendency to overly complicate matters. Then again, high-end audio has a tendency to overly complicate things.
 
Surround sound was a thing before the DVD. Pro Logic, still VHS and Top Gun is what began getting folks into the showroom. I remember when stereo VCR's came out, that's really what began merging home audio & video. Of course, we can't discount MTV, at the time.

I have had some decent processors over time, Primare, Arcam before my current marantz. As good as surround can be I still prefer 2-channel. It's been my observation that people tend to pay attention to one or the other, audio or the visual. I still find myself more engaged with the 2-channel set up.

I do not listen to music in surround but do enjoy a good movie sound track.

There is a guy who has a company who produces multichannel music on Blu-ray. He had a demo at the audio show and I regret making one of them. I may be wrong but these were audio only to my knowledge.

For those who do enjoy the music A/V Blackmor's Night DVD, Castles & Dreams should be in your collection. Seeing Richie play the ancient stringed instruments is something. If memory serves the performance is in an old German castle.
 
I've had HT setups in the past. We're not interested in that now.

Our 2-channel hi fi is in the 'living room' part of the large kitchen/living room "great room." We have no tv in that part of the home. We have a separate tv room (2021 Sony 70"), but we honestly aren't interested in the HT experience. The Sonos sound bar is "good enough" for us.

No one setup suits all!
 
The last thing I want to see in my listening room is a TV. Surround sound for movies is in another room.
 
AJ Soundfield said:
T...
Reminds me of seasoned Stereophiles hearing a real MCH audio system for the first time and nearly pooping themselves. Luddites will have none of it. And of course, many folks have never been to an actual concert hall, much less want a semblance of recreation aka "the real thing".
...
AJ
Click to expand...

Interesting articles. The ultimate goal of high-fidelity sound reproduction was to replicate "the real thing". But as you pointed out, many folks have never even been to a concert hall (which intrinsically includes a visual experience) so they have come to believe that their stereo can replicate it.
 
Bart001 said:
I've had HT setups in the past. We're not interested in that now.

Our 2-channel hi fi is in the 'living room' part of the large kitchen/living room "great room." We have no tv in that part of the home. We have a separate tv room (2021 Sony 70"), but we honestly aren't interested in the HT experience. The Sonos sound bar is "good enough" for us.

No one setup suits all!
Click to expand...

Whatever rocks your boat is good! And Sonos devices (Amazon Echo devices too) are easy to use and reliable which is great! :congrats:
 
I also have a one-purpose room, and over the years have experimented with merged HT and 2-channel. We're not huge movie buffs, watch only a handful of series pretty religiously. I try to limit how much time I spend watching series or movies, so my expectations are probably different/lower than some who enjoy that world more.

I've long had a projector (Sony 1080p) and electric screens (Elite Screen 100" from Amazon, nothing special but not crappy). Just not a fan of a big piece of electronics hanging on the wall where I can have some nice artwork when not watching; I don't think TVs are attractive. Just makes sense to me, and I've grown accustomed to, and now prefer, the not-backlit presentation. Feels more like a movie theater.

Soundwise I have no integration with my 2-channel. Again, tried that in the past, including surrounds, but in the end while it's definitely fun, it didn't make enough difference to me to justify the expense or configuration trouble. I use a Sonos soundbar now and often surprised how good it sounds, with a surprising level of 3-dimensionality, but of course not as much as surrounds. I enjoy the setup, it meets our needs, and unless I had a dedicated room probably won't change it.
 
music66 said:
The last thing I want to see in my listening room is a TV. Surround sound for movies is in another room.
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I obviously agree, as for the past 12 years that's how our homes have been set up. In each case (2 homes) we had a place for the TV other than in the living room where the 2-channel hi fi is listened to.

Some homes obviously can't accommodate that. Or some people just don't care; that's ok too!
 
I had a full Dolby Atmos system with thirteen speakers and it was great. Now when I watch something like “Vikings” on just my KEF Blades, it’s haunting how good it sounds. My surround system just didn’t have this level of resolution. Those of you who are lucky enough to have two separate rooms can go “both ways”, but I have only one room and am on a quest for audio excellence. Movies and music sounds insane on my two channel system. I completely agree that when you add video, it makes for a better experience, but I disagree that you need surround sound to accomplish that.
 
nicoff said:
Interesting articles. The ultimate goal of high-fidelity sound reproduction was to replicate "the real thing". But as you pointed out, many folks have never even been to a concert hall (which intrinsically includes a visual experience) so they have come to believe that their stereo can replicate it.
Click to expand...
Yes, it was at one point long ago, but ironically, as Stereophiles founder noted...
The latter part I'm not so sure. I doubt those folks would have the same reaction to a PSR type system as did JA and WP. Those folks aren't trying to replicate anything, they simply want something that sounds "good" to them. After over a decade of demoing at audio shows, I'm going to stop asking attendees what they would like to hear. Its almost automatically the most god awful SQ music, usually some kind of non-acoustic pop. 2 channels of awful more than suffices.

cheers,

AJ
 
In our main living room I have a 3.1 set up with a Samsung 55" on the wall, the center & mains are in-wall. When I want to hear a movie soundtrack that doesn't take the place of my full 5.1 system, especially with Action or Sci-Fi where you get good effects.
 
HifiHandyman said:
I had a full Dolby Atmos system with thirteen speakers and it was great. Now when I watch something like “Vikings” on just my KEF Blades, it’s haunting how good it sounds. My surround system just didn’t have this level of resolution. Those of you who are lucky enough to have two separate rooms can go “both ways”, but I have only one room and am on a quest for audio excellence. Movies and music sounds insane on my two channel system. I completely agree that when you add video, it makes for a better experience, but I disagree that you need surround sound to accomplish that.
Click to expand...

I agree, you do not NEED the surrounds to make the 2-channel experience better. As you well pointed out, just adding video to your current 2-channel set-up will enhance your musical enjoyment tremendously.

That said, there are concert broadcasts that are much better in multichannel. The Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall broadcasts are a great example. The broadcasts are done "Live", with 4k-HDR video, and High-Resolution (multichannel) audio. You actually get to enjoy the best seat in the concert hall. You definitely WANT the video and surround sound experience for that!
 
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