ericsch
I would never use AV receiver for a dedicated 2 channel music system.
But, starting with a Video System, and also wanting 2 channel stereo music from it can be done, and your original question indicates how confusing it can be.
Let’s not forget, golden eared reviewers, equipment behind a curtain, could not tell a low-fi Pioneer receiver from high end separates way back when, and it would be even harder today.
They are very complicated, I know this stuff, read and underline the manual, and still need to call the help lines to clarify options, usually restrictions.
Video Sound, small home theater:
I have used and currently use AV Receivers for a lot of years, there are many very good ones. Onkyo, Pioneer, now Sony. I select them based on features, typically wait for a sale when new ones come out, staying 1 generation back.
AV Receivers, for me, do either 5.1 dolby surround sound, which can be very involving if original was created and properly reproduced 5.1. BluRay DVD best, HD monitor, AV Receiver capable of 5.1 is needed.
The receiver SEPARATES the frequencies as intended/coded, the center channel information is NOT present in the mains, so a center channel speaker IS required for 5.1. The rear channel information is NOT present in the mains, so Rear channel speakers ARE needed.
the .1, the sub, is optional, for 5.1 sound, and it’s hookup and AV Receivers are critically important using the system for 2 Channel sound, both 2 channel video and 2 channel music.
Depending on the bass capability of your mains. IF you tell the AV Receiver’s brains that you will use a sub, then it does NOT send low bass to the mains. This is critical to how you hook up your sub, because
WHEN using the AV Receiver’s 2 channel stereo mode:
EITHER no low bass is sent to the sub, mains try to do low bass, whatever their size,
OR, your setup has stripped the low bass out, and low bass is NOT sent to the mains and missing because the sub is/may be OFF.
Much 5.1 content, movies particularly, specifically create low bass typically below MOST main speaker’s capability, and a SUB IS needed to get the effect i.e. Dinosaur Stomp.
If the original was/is 2 channel, then I/you use the receiver’s 2 channel mode.
IF cable has created psudo surround, or your AV receiver’s brain randomly, inadvertantly creates Pseudo surround from a 2 Channel original, pay atteention, change your AV receiver to 2 channel mode, most often it is better.
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1 or 2 subs: I am quite happy with my single sub added effects for video, and, my mains have enough bass for 2 channel bass when it is off. 2 subs could be better, not for me.
btw, Don’t forget to tell the AV receiver’s brains what size your main l/r speakers are, mine are LARGE (10" woofers), so it knows it can send more bass to them.
IF wanting best 2 channel sound out of a small home theater (limited size mains probably) then I would want a stereo pair of subs, adjacent to the mains, capable of creating stereo bass, creating imaging via the fundamentals and overtones.
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Now we have the ’how wide a center image for Video sound? for 2 channel Audio only? Enough for 3 people wide, on a couch or separate chairs.
The center channel speaker MUST anchor the dialog to the Video Image, I find just below the monitor best. For 2 channel, the mains MUST create the phantom center and various balances l/r to create imaging. Imaging for how many people?
