Poll: How important is surround sound to you?

Just how far audiophiles will go to experience sensory nirvana -- and whether it's all in their mind or in their ears -- is a subject that can be discussed forever, but for now we'll try to break down just how much it means to you. We know the vast majority of the Engadget HD community is already surround sound equipped, but how far do you go to get the absolute top notch experience? Drop the details of your setup in the comments below, especially whether you think you've done enough or have even further to go in the audio quality arena.

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audiophile, hd, poll, polls, receivers, speakers, surround sound, SurroundSound

[UnnDunn Posted Nov 16th 2009 5:27PM]

Well said.

[EM1 Posted Nov 16th 2009 7:36PM]

Well said.... I read those posts and thought to myself, spending 2x on audio over video is easy. Hit up craigslist for $50 tv and a $100 Bose stereo setup and I could be an audiophile too!!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2009 4:22PM]

I've never not bought something because it wasn't surround sound, but I much prefer things that are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyeemtS1j

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2009 5:31PM]

For both music and movies, I've been very happy with the sound quality of my stereo setup. My sources are a PS3 and mostly Apple Lossless files from both iTunes and foobar2000.

Creek 5350SE Integrated Amplifier
Stello DA220 MKI DAC
Paradigm Studio 100 Mains
AV123 MFW 15 Subwoofer

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2009 5:59PM]

When it comes to pure numbers, my current audio setup cost roughly 15x my video setup, but I've had three TVs/projectors while maintaining basically the same 5.1 audio setup for the past 6 years. That fact alone speaks volumes of the value you will get from buying quality speakers/amps. Sure, you might have a very large initial outlay when you buy some high end speakers, but as mentioned, they are comprised of materials and technology that are time-tested and durable. I expect to have these speakers for at least another 5 years unless have a windfall or a premature midlife crisis.

Only recently have I decided to put some more money into the audio to update my processor with HDMI, but that really only amounts to a convenience/aesthetic feature for me, adding video switching and decreasing cable clutter; there was no major upgrade in terms of quality, even though I simultaneously updated the projector to a 1080p model.

For me, it only took one really amazing demo in a dealer showroom to convince me of the importance (for me) of audio done VERY well. After I demonstrate my home theater to someone, their first question is usually, "How much was this?" After their jaw drops, I explain that I bought it all when I was first out of college with a new job, low rent, and all my hipster girlfriends wanted for a romantic evening was a burrito, a Miller High Life, and drunk sex. Now I've got a mortgage, plans for "the future," and a girlfriend who shaves her pits. "Buy it when you're young," as they used to tell me. F'ing right.

It's awesome and I feel lucky to be able to enjoy it very often:

Panasonic PT-AE4000U Projector
B&W Nautilus 802 (L/R), Nautilus HTM1 (C), Nautilus 805 (SL/SR)
Rotel RSP-1570 Processor
Bryston 6B-SST (L/C/R), Bryston 3B-ST (SL/SR)
Denon 3910 Universal Disc Transport
PS3
Pro-Ject RPM 6 SB, with Tube Box Preamp
No name or Blue Jeans cables (here's where you save money, kids)
A decent rug in front of the speakers ("room treatment")

[EM1 Posted Nov 16th 2009 7:26PM]

I don't think I could be considered an audiofile or a videofile or audio/video guy. Sure, it's important to me. If I had a few grad lying around, I'd get the 50" Panny V10, trade in the Yamaha receiver I just ordered for a NAD, and get some PSB Imagine all around. If I had an unlimited amount of cash I'd go to McIntosh and B&W.

But seeing right now I don't know what a good system sounds like I can't know if at what point I am satisifed with audio or video quality. But I guess I would choose audio quality over video quality.

I ordered the V-765 Yamaha receiver because it seemed the nicest under $500. In a few months I will lay down some cash on the PSB Image speakers (probably two B-5s) and slowly make my way up to 5.1. But again, I'm not by any means rich, I almost move about once a year, and have yet to move to a place condudive to a HT setup. So settling on a 2.1 setup with the added center channel is sufficient for me. Netflix streaming is sufficient but I wait for the DVD or Blu-ray copy, even if I am only getting higher video/ audio bitrates.

I guess I don't fit into a category until someone decides to put me in one.

[besi Posted Nov 17th 2009 12:33AM]

people just dont care about good sound anymore,they dont know what good sound is.
go to any store you can see 50 hdtv's but only 3 crappy HTIB. it sucks.they missing out.
but i dont give a sh...t. i can get better deals on high end stuff.im happy with my klipsch rf83 setup.
enjoy ur mp3 player dude !!!!

[luinstra Posted Nov 19th 2009 2:51PM]

In my opinion, you are missing out on a huge part of the overall experience without a good surround setup. The examples of movies and football games given previously are all very valid, but the one that really stands out for me is gaming. I happen to be a big fan of the Modern Warfare games, and I can't tell you how many times I have gotten the drop on another person in multiplayer mode because I could hear them approaching from behind on my surround speakers. It just really completes the experience for me, and I'm always disappointed when I play w/o surround, or on a crappy HTIAB.

My setup isn't the absolute best by any means, but I am very pleased with it. I've yet to be in a movie theater that sounds better.
It consists of:
Denon AVR-2309CI receiver
Polk RM7400 series front, center and surrounds
Klipsch Synergy 12" sub (rumbles the walls of my house on 1/4 max volume!)

[redeye091776 Posted Nov 29th 2009 12:46AM]

How important is surround sound to me? Very important. No more/no less important than the display itself IMO- they're both a key part of the entire audio/video experience (incl the interconnects for that matter). I've been listening to hi-res 2ch/multi-ch audio for many years at this point (96/24 PCM, SACD, 192/24 BD audio content, lossless BD codecs for movies, etc)... hi-res displays are of course great (and necessary)- but without a commensurate surround system to go with it, it's really only half the story.

[redeye091776 Posted Nov 29th 2009 1:02AM]

Oh yeah, forgot the info on my gear... some of these pieces still serving me well after many years of (literally) daily use.

Sony str-da777es 5.1 a/v rec'v (related to the Sony 9000-series separates)
Sony dvp-s9000es DVD/2ch SACD player
Sony scd-xa777es 2ch/multi-ch SACD/CD player
Sony bdp-s5000es Blu-ray player
NHT VT-2.4 mains (stereo bi-amped, 2 x 250w NHT SA-3 amps)
NHT VS-2.4 center/surrounds
Velodyne HGS-15 Series II sub (w/servo)
Velodyne SMS-1 sub eq (not yet installed)
Monster Z-series/M-series interconnects