How to expand stereo system to surround

[ratto123]

Hey everyone,

so my thoughts are a bit all kover the place on this, I hope I'm posting in the right forum and I make some sort of sense.

I'm trying to expand my existing stereo system to surround, which for now would mean to find a way to connect my existing two surround speakers and center speaker to my currently stereo system. Ideally I want to keep using as many components from that system as possible.

I am fairly happy with my stereo setup: It's two wharfedale Linton Speakers powered by a Rega Elex-R. Connected to that I have an RME ADI-DAC which accepts signals from my PC and Rasperry Pi Volumio streaming setup.

The motives for changing, or rather, improving the setup are twofold:
- To get that surround feeling which I enjoy in movies and gaming on the couch
- To get the centre channel which helps especially with speech during movies. The current setup sort of has it drown out and often times I need to turn it up to understand speech and then down to not get neighbours angry during louder scenes.

I do not need every single new software feature (then again - I don't know which ones are bling bling and which ones are essential for surround to work), for now I'd be happy to simply be able to get any surround sound at all.

Now I wonder what the simplest change might be to enable surround sound. I have two existing wall mounted Canton speakers as well as a Canton center speaker from a previous setup. I gave up the AVR I had ( a cheap Denon) a while ago.

I have HDMI, Toslink and USB lines from the computer I use for gaming to where I have my audio devices. The distance is about 10 meters. Video output is happening via a 1080p Epson beamer, which might one day be replaced by a 4K beamer, if the money is there.

So far, I am aware of the following options:
- buy an AV-preamp such as the IOTAVX AVX17, which would then feed the Rega as well as the surround and center speakers (which would need their own amps)
- buy a full AVR and use pre-outs for the stereo front channels

Unfortunately money is quite tight and none of the AV-preamps are anywhere near what I can afford right now. In fact I'd rather stay below the 500 Euro mark.

Another issue is convenience: Obviously I adjust the volume from time to time; but if I have different amps for the stereo speakers and the rest, would I need to match the other speakers whenever I wanted to use them?

Perhaps there are some chinese models analogous to the DACs and amps of recent years that are so popular, like from Topping? Or maybe someone can recommend some second-hand "old but gold" component?

 

[staticV3]

Another issue is convenience: Obviously I adjust the volume from time to time; but if I have different amps for the stereo speakers and the rest, would I need to match the other speakers whenever I wanted to use them?

No, you'd simply adjust the Rega once during setup, to match levels to your other speakers, then never touch the Rega volume knob again.

From that point, all volume adjustment will happen through the AVR (AVR volume knob, AVR remote, AVR App, TV remote via CEC), or upstream of the AVR at the difference source devices.

 

[DVDdoug]

An AVR is usually the best and most straightforward solution. And you may not even need the power of external amplifiers.

I'm happy with my "basic" 5.1 channel AVR (for music and movies). The only thing it's "missing" is room correction. I don't feel the need for more channels.

I do like using a "theater" or "hall" setting with regular stereo for the feel of a larger space, but that's a personal thing and hi-fi heresy since I'm not listening accurately as-intended.

I would keep your stereo speakers for your front left & right even if they don't match the surrounds. But center is "important" because movie dialog is important so you don't want to "cheap-out" too much, and a lot of people do boost the center a bit. AVR's usually also have optional compression ("DRC" or "midnight mode") so you can hear the dialog without getting blasted by the effects.

You also usually need a subwoofer for the "point one" LFE channel, even if you configure your AVR for "full range" speakers so the regular bass doesn't get re-routed. The LFE isn't normally included in the downmix so it's lost without a sub, but some AVRs do apparently allow you to route the LFE to your main speakers.

 

[Robin L]

I've gone the route of using one type of speaker for the front channels, another for the surrounds and still another for the center. I lucked into a full set of speakers from Infinity—their Primus 360s for the front, 250s for the surrounds and the C 25 for the center. There were at a thrift store for $89. The surround effect was much better. You can use a mix of speakers in a 5.1 system, but a set of speakers designed to work together is preferable. I had an Onkyo 7.1 AVR and wish I still had it as it would work with HDMI. Right now my system is 2.1, I'm still using the Primus 250s with one of my subs, works well in the small space I have for my audio system right now.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

If you can source everything off your computer (Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Tidal) you could just get JRiver on your PC. which will supply a full front end of an audio receiver on your computer, then port the decoded LPCM audio output via USB to something like a Motu M5 Lite which is a ten channel DAC for around $600 (send video output via HDMI to your TV). From there it's just a question of getting speakers and amps, the way you would with any other DAC.

 

[olds1959special]

You can do this with a MiniDSP and a stereo to mono adaptor for the center channel.