Me and my fiance just got into a huge argument

it's OK to vent and rant, but the part of the concert example you left out is the acoustics of the theater or arena - you actually do hear reflected sound from all around and "surround sound" tries to recreate that. If you listen to true multi-channel music, SACD or DVD-A, then the original source material is actually recorded with mics at key positions to creat the "concert effect".

There is absolutely nothing wrong with stereo sound, but you still have that choice with a modern a/v receiver which will turn off the other speakers and drive the front L and R speakers as a stereo pair if you choose that mode.

There's a lot of threads and discussion on AVS about "serving two channel and HT needs" or similar topics - many users ultimately come down to the debate you're having. The easy answer is that you set-up a system that can properly do 5.1 or 7.1 or what have you, and it will (by virtue of being set-up right) properly do stereo as well. Yes it costs more (you're paying for more speakers after all). And, I'm aware of no surround processors made in the last say, 12 years, that cannot be switched into two-channel downmix (even for surround sources).

The girlfriend/fiance/wife actually wanting MORE speakers is a new one though; maybe you can convince her that you need a fancy 7.1 separates system with active multi-amplification and bridged monoblocks for every channel!

Wait, let me get this straight. Your fiancee wants you to spend more money on audio gear, and you don't want to?

WHAT THE F*** IS WRONG WITH YOU, MAN????

OK, I've calmed down. So let's start with the basic life lesson here:

She's right, you're wrong. Get used to it.

And she really is right in this case. (But that's optional anyway.) Movies are made for surround sound. Think about the sound system in a movie theater. To listen to movies any other way is a compromise.

As for music, as Walbert says, sound is always coming from all around you, even if the performers are all in front of you. Besides, any multichannel system can play just two channels, so you aren't losing anything.

So, in other words, she wants you to spend your money on things that really matter sonically, and you want to waste it all on stuff that doesn't. Got it.

Right, but the rear speakers in a home system are there to reproduce the acoustics of the original hall, which your living room walls cannot do.

The external DAC is jewelry, to be quite blunt. The streaming hardware is something you can get out of a Blu-ray player (do DVD players have this yet?) or a receiver, so that's a logical conflation too.

An AVR can still run your system in stereo, and it's not like each speaker for the surround set has to be as expensive as the mains (yes, in an ideal world it'd all be the same perfect speaker, but most people don't live on that planet, and surrounds are usually a compromise - there's lots of options for compact and good performing speakers that will make good surrounds).


I really have to agree with everything mcnarus has said, and I like this point quite a lot.

Lemme guess. You're not married either.

Actually, there is a compromise, and it doesn't involve two systems and two rooms. Insist on a good pair of fronts in the surround system. That way, you can listen to two-channel music (or 2.1) whenever you want. And it'll sound just as good as a system with a lot of high-end boxes. I promise.

In your mind, can you show all of us an example of what you think a Surround sound system is? Look at it this way. If you do not do it, she will end up finding someone with a Home Theater, or who will spoil her. Really, just make an agreement with her and compromise. That is how relationships work.

My guess is that she knows more about Home theaters than you do, and you are upset about that fact.

Any woman that wants you to spend more money on a larger system is a keeper. She's right in this case. Surround sound for movies and blu ray concerts or SACDs is great. You can still have 2.1 for your music and 3.1, 5.1 or 7.1 for movies and blu ray concerts. If you don't want her send her over to me. I'm newly divorced and have a huge 7.4 system and a couple other smaller systems that I bet she will be happy with. Just kidding of course. The external DAC and the other things you mentioned are really not going to make a difference. Sorry for the bad news.

Here's the thing: You and your fiancee have to resolve this between yourselves. Even if we took your side (and, apparently, we do not), it would not make a difference in this situation where both of you have strong opinions.

You can go 5.1 and, in the future, add the bells and whistles you want.
You can go stereo but converting/adding mch/HT in the future will be more complex.
In the meanwhile, how happy will the two of you be, together?

11x15 is a pretty large room, and you could easily set-up 5.1 or 7.1 in there without much hassle. A competent AVR will replace/handle what all of the outboard jewelry will do, for less money (so now you've saved money and gotten the same performance), and let you compromise with the fiance (which is worth more than money). Isn't it Charlie Sheen that says "winning" all the time?

Of course, jesting aside, I agree with Kal.

With you outlaw.....a good 2 ch system beats a crappy multi anything.
If your on a limited budget, your better to spend it on quality not quantity.

At $365 it's somewhat tough - there's a few AVRs in that price range that will be very competent for stereo playback and handle surround sound (which is truly ideal for movies), but you'd probably need to spend a bit more to get a good AVR (say, $400-$500 total). Look at what kinds of streaming and other features are available. It looks like Sirius is available in Canada, and there are a number of receivers that can do that; I would believe XM to also be available based on that (since they merged). No idea on other services (gotta love American copyright laws).

I'm not saying the A-S500 is bad, but neither is surround. And again, as we're telling you, it can be turned off and the system run in stereo (which will be audibly no different than what you'll get from the A-S500) - that's a compromise.

That is what you think. Wait until you leave.

I can guarantee if you ever let her hear movies or music with a properly calibrated subwoofer or subwoofers it will be all over. I see a lot more speakers and subwoofers in your future. I don't want to insult your audio intelligence but I think she knows what she's doing. 2.0 for movies is alright but when compared to even 2.1 it's inferior. 5.1 or 7.1 movies and now you're talking.

I can guarantee that just because right now she has you skypeing her now, or vice versa, does not mean that things will change, or she is just playing you, until you leave to go home.

Oh, I know just like you know, that she knows what she is talking about. Not too many girls out there want to go whole hog with wanting a good home theater. My wifes eye's were rolling in the back of her head, when I took her out to one of the local Mom & Pop shops that has been in our town for over thirty years, to go check out some new speakers. Only reason was due to the ones that she had, that were over 25 years old, that I married also, finally gave up and decided that it was beyond their lifespan.

She of course stated at that time very clearly that she was not going any more than $300 on the first set. Then she heard the pricing on the sub, the center, the surrounds, and the AVRS. But she is still going to let me do it, just that I have to do it over time, but she gets her couch this next week, and I got her to agree to a Home theater style couch, with power recliners.

Now, of course, the OP is probably going "What is wrong with these guys, that they get their women to let them do what they want, and actually get along with them."

Sorry, but at this point I firmly believe that the OP is just pulling everyones legs, due to if it was for real, and his girl knows anything about home theater, she could easily find this thread by doing a websearch, or coming to the website.

I'm kind of curious now, what leads you to believe surround sound will "damage" things, and in what way?

Then why are you posting that you are acting like a toddler having a Temper Tantrum, due to your girl wanting to go with a home theater, and you don't. Sorry, but you lost all confidence with anyone, when you posted your so called rant, which I do not believe it. If I did, I have some Ocean Front property in Colorado for sale.

What damage? What, your hearing? What, your cat starts climbing the drapes, or the dog starts howling? Sorry, but either you are just pulling everyones leg at this point, because this is more far fetched than the people who state that wifi gives them headaches, or you are more whipped than the 80lb guy with the 300lb girlfriend/wife.