reluctant about home theater

A lot of people combine the two using the HT pass-through when they want to go the purist 2-channel route. If you use a projection system instead of putting a big TV between the speakers then the imaging shouldn't be compromised.

Other folks have used Home Theater and transitioned to multi-channel surround sound, although I can't say I've heard any of those sound quite as pure as an excellent, dialed-in, 2-channel system. I allow that multi-channel systems with naturalness and transparency might exist, but I haven't heard one at this juncture. (When I use words like "naturalness," and "transparency," realize there are many levels to such adjectives and it's a matter of which particular levels (or degrees of those qualities) one has personally experienced.)

I don't know guys, I have a decent 5.1 system and I've watched and listened to MANY great 5.1 concerts on it. It still does not have the transparency and purity of either of my other two-channel systems (although if you just listen to the 5.1 by itself without comparing, it sounds quite impressive and decent enough).

What could be different, hmmm, let me think, maybe it's the extra digital processing required for surround sound....

Anyway, here's a challenge for all the multi-channel afficionados. I live in the Tucson area and can get up to Phoenix as well. If anyone thinks they have an exceptional multi-channel set up that competes with an excellent dedicated 2-channel system, well -- I'm all ears...?!