2.1 surround sound any good?

Does anyone have 2.1 surround sound? If so what is your opinion on it? What brands are recommended? I know 5.1 and 7.1 are the way to go but all I want is a little better sound than what the TV plays. I read a review that sony has a good system but it looks like everything gets plugged into the subwoofer and I don't want those wires and cords showing.

 

A nice 2.1 system will most likely sound better than your TV speakers. 2.1 would also be good for lots of music listening. If you're going to be watching movies, maybe investigate a sound-bar. I know a couple of guys with them and they appear to like them.

 

Anything will sound better then TV speakers so I guess a 2.1 would be fine for just TV but if you really want it to sound good and get true surround sound I would go with at least 5.1

 

i dont think 2.1 can be considered surround sound can it? just basically stereo with a sub. i know they can "simulate" surround sound but its never very good

 

X2 I have the 321 system in my garage and is sounds pretty dam good but I only use it for music.

 

thanks, i think the bose system is pretty pricey though.

 

whats your budget? you can score a decent 5.1 for pretty cheap now a days.

 

my concern is that I don't want all those speaker wires all over the place. I have a small living room

 

Do you own the house?

 

For decent sound from a home a/v theater system, the most important speaker is your center channel, as most of you sound comes from there. At least get a 5.1 system, and just use the three front channels plus the sub. You can use a sound bar to simulate surround. They work okay IF you have th proper room and placement (need walls for the simulated sound to bounce off of). Even if you don't have the perfect room, it will still probably be good enough for you.

 

I tried sound bars and was not that impressed for what they cost. Imo the Bose is way over priced but thay seemed to sound good. I finally just went with a good Clipsch powered sub and it's been great. Will definatly shake the floors.

 

Virtual surround works well in square rooms with walls to bounce sound off of. For my place, I just ran wire through the attic and walls. I wanted a beefy stereo with 5 speakers and a sub.

 

i have a surround bar that i think is 2.1 or something like that. i like it

 

I have 2.1 for my computer. Great for general purpose, louder, higher quality listening. 99.9% of my speaker use is music and from my experience, nothing beats the traditional ol' two speakers and maybe a sub for in house music listening.

 

x2

do you rent or own? if you own, just run the speaker wire through the walls/ceiling.

if your dead set on 2.1, go to bestbuy or something and check them out.

 

Buy the 5.1 & only hook up 2 sides, 1 center, & the sub. So one day when you want the 5.1 surround, you don't have to buy something else. Also if a speaker goes out, you have backups.

They make wireless systems so you don't have wires running all over the place. Best buy sells one. Rocketfish wireless speaker kit

I currently have my 7.1 Denon hooked up with 2 side speakers (spaced at opposite corners, diagonally from the seating area), a center, & a sub. Never got around to hooking the back speakers. My living room in my new house is small & I really don't need to hook them up. With the 2 speaker diagonally I get good surround sound for the space. You will be much happier if you get the 5.1. You can play with your setup & maximize your sound for your space.

 

Yes I own my house er...well..the bank does. My thinking was if I could get a decent 2.1 I would get it instead of having to run all those speaker wires, receiver to tv, wires to ps3, wires to direct tv or does on cable do it all now.

 

No matter what system you get. You will have to run a cable(wire) from the receiver to the cable/directtv box, & then another to the PS3.

For Sound - I have Digital optical (Fiber optics-do not bend the cables, they are glass) cables for my sound from my receiver:

to my PS3, to my PC, & to my cable box. - 3 cables/wires


For Video - My TV is connected via HDMI cables.

From my PS3, Cable box, & PC. - 3 cables/wires

Then I have Monster speaker wire running along the baseboards for my speakers.

 

I have a sony soundbar w sub. It is 200watt and has 2 right, 2 center, 2 left speakers in the soundbar and a sub box. It sounds 10x better than my 55inch flat screen. It was 350dollars and worth every penny.

The sound is full and rich, but it is no 5.1 Bose. It makes my PS3 wake up and looks good.

I really like it because it is compact and not obnoxious like all the dam speakers in a 5.1.

 

Do you have the small square room people have mentioned you need for a soundbar?