When most audio lovers set up a high fidelity sound system at home, the primary goal is a delightful and engaging musical presentation with clarity, realism, depth, and breadth. One of the great side benefits of achieving this goal is that, if you insert a decent TV or projector screen in between the main speakers, this can translate into incredibly delightful home cinema experiences as well!
Unlike those in more lucrative fields, for the longest time as an educator, funds have not been hugely bountiful for me. Hence, as I built up my system through the years, I had to scrimp, save, and sacrifice. And in a striking moment of clarity years ago, it dawned on me that if I had a limited amount of money available for speakers, why not spend it on two excellent ones rather that sum over six or more mediocre ones (i.e., front, center, sides, and rear channel speakers)? That thought has always stayed with me, even as I skipped traveling summer vacations as a younger man in order to save more money for my audio needs. Through the years as my sound systems evolved, the results were generally quite satisfying for guests and me.
And, I’d have to say that, more than ever, that’s the case with my hi-fi system now. Sure, I’ve had louder, more visceral systems. Take for example, when I hooked up my mobile DJ system in my living room with a pair of Bag End TA-15 loudspeakers (with 15″ woofers) and a Crown PB-3 Power Base amplifier (that peaked somewhere around 500 watts): when watching the World War II classic, Saving Private Ryan, the explosions, roaring Tiger Tanks, and P-51 Mustangs roaring overhead were hugely visceral, house-shaking events. But now as my speakers and components have become more refined and better matched, I not only get a larger swath of the rumbling, gut-shaking experience when called for, but also a more realistic and lifelike presentation of in the room dialog, doors closing, and other effects that ring truer to life. And quality music scores and performances in HD movies? Forget about it! It never, ever sounded this good!
So, for what it’s worth, if we’re not off visiting grandkids, walking our dog, running errands, or off to some social event — and if I’m not listening to music or working on a review — chances are you might find the missus and me sprawled out and catching a show in front of the hi-fi. It’s a blast and, doggone it, it sounds pretty amazing!