Go from a AVR receiver to a 2 channel receiver for 2.1?

I posted this on the avs forum as well but would probably be better suited here since we all have Ascend speakers.

I’m running a 2.1 system (Ascend Acoustics Sierra 2’s and a JL Audio e112 powered by a Yamaha RXA 1030) I have had the speakers for about 3.5 years now and I have really enjoyed them. They still make me smile every time I get a chance to actually sit down and listen to some music. Ive got little ones that are BUSY and my free time comes in 5 minute increments about once a day. lol

I started with the Yamaha AVR a few years ago due to the lack of a 2 channel receiver with bass management and digital inputs, or at least I couldn't find one at the time.

I’m probably a 50/50 mix of music and movies.

Would I be crazy to go to the new Outlaw RR2160? Would there be any appreciable sound difference? I use the YPAO room correction and only run it in 2 channel stereo or straight. I realize I would lose all of the room correction software.

The system sounds really nice, but I have the itch to go to a more simplified 2 channel receiver. With the RR2160 I can still take advantage of my other components since it has digital inputs for sound. It also has bass management so I can still cross over to the sub.

Would I be making a lateral/negative move? Would there be anything to really gain from making a switch like this?

I know the best option is to trial the Outlaw, but just wanted some other opinions as well.

I wont be expanding to anything bigger/more speakers. I barely got this approved. lol

One option would be to get an external 2 or 5 channel amplifier. I would think that a Yamaha with an external amplifier would be very hard to distinguish from the Outlaw RR2160.

On the other hand you might not even need the amplifier at all. Are you far away from the speakers and/or do you listen quite loud? If so, you might be in need of an amplifier. If not, then the the difference in what you would hear with the Outlaw or an external amplifier might be either very subtle or nothing at all. In that case, it might be best to take that money and spend it elsewhere.

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Originally Posted by diesel79

I wont be expanding to anything bigger/more speakers. I barely got this approved. lol

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I know the feeling. But you have to know that the biggest bang for your buck is going to be 5.1. Especially that center channel for movie dialog. You wife would probably love that; mine did. She likes that I can run the center channel a couple of dB hot so she can hear the dialog a bit easier. Imagine that -- she wants to hear the dialog. I want to hear the effects, from explosions and door slams (and anything else that exercises my subs), to all the noises that come from behind the visual (that is, behind our seats), be they bullets, door creaks, helicopters in the distance getting closer, phone's ringing, shoes approaching, all that. All that stuff supports the story being told, all of it makes it easier to "get into" the movie and "suspend your disbelief".

I'm just sayin', there's something about women and dialog. I'm not saying they are wrong, just that they often have different priorities than guys. Which is part of the attraction for me.

I just read the review, https://www.stereophile.com/content/...tereo-receiver For 799 it has a lot of value. And as a previous outlaw and yamaha owner they both make a nice product. But imho I doubt it would be a lateral move. I would venture to say the yamaha probably measures and sounds better they typically do a nice implementaiton with their dac's and have a much better noise floor. Plus and you have the room correction, airplay streaming, remote app and many other features etc.. I think you'd be crazy to switch even though you don't use all it's capablities. Why may I ask your looking to do this? Are you looking to repurpose the yamaha?

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Originally Posted by Bruce Watson

I know the feeling. But you have to know that the biggest bang for your buck is going to be 5.1. Especially that center channel for movie dialog. You wife would probably love that; mine did. She likes that I can run the center channel a couple of dB hot so she can hear the dialog a bit easier. Imagine that -- she wants to hear the dialog. I want to hear the effects, from explosions and door slams (and anything else that exercises my subs), to all the noises that come from behind the visual (that is, behind our seats), be they bullets, door creaks, helicopters in the distance getting closer, phone's ringing, shoes approaching, all that. All that stuff supports the story being told, all of it makes it easier to "get into" the movie and "suspend your disbelief".

I'm just sayin', there's something about women and dialog. I'm not saying they are wrong, just that they often have different priorities than guys. Which is part of the attraction for me.

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I didn’t read as careful as I thought. I thought diesel79 already had a 5.1 setup. I’m with Bruce on this. Definitely try to fill out the 5.1 speakers first before you think about a different receiver or amplifier. But, I would suggest surround speakers first, as they will make the bigger impact. If they can only be sold with wife approval factor, focusing on how the center can improve dialog intelligibility, then maybe that is fine. But, with Sierra 2s, dialog intelligibility is not really an issue. I remember watching the Dark Knight Rises in the theaters and couldn’t understand half of what Bane was saying, even thought it was playing at reference volume. In my untreated basement it comes through loud and clear without listening anywhere near reference volume. While the Sierra 2s can often trick you into thinking that you have surround speakers when playing a well recorded stereo mix, dedicated surround speakers give you that effect much more frequently.

I wasn’t looking to repurpose the Yamaha. I was more or less wanting to see if I could squeeze anything more out of the S2’s with a high quality dedicated stereo receiver. After reading input I’m thinking there are a lot of pros with the yamaha and it might not be the best use of funds.

The S2’s for movies are crazy good. Even with my 2.1 setup you would swear there was a center channel and at times surrounds.

I used to have a 5.1 and I miss it. My newish house is all open and to get surround speakers my only option would be ceiling speakers. It’s not an ideal setup for a good listening room/movie room.

One good thing is I have it all pre wired so it would be pretty easy to cut some holes in my ceiling. I can get sonance speakers at dealer cost. I would prefer Luna’s but no idea how I could mount them.

Now ya got me wanting a S2 center and some surrounds. Lol

Maybe speaker stands for surrounds?

For you sitting in the sweet spot, I’m not even sure you would notice the difference with a center channel. If others care about sound quality and ait off axis, then maybe there is a case for it.

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Originally Posted by N Boros

Maybe speaker stands for surrounds?

For you sitting in the sweet spot, I’m not even sure you would notice the difference with a center channel. If others care about sound quality and ait off axis, then maybe there is a case for it.

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Speakers on stands wouldn’t be an option. They would back up to my dining area and a busy walkway. I also have a 1.5 year old son who is extremely busy and curious. He would have them tipped over in no time. Lol.

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Originally Posted by diesel79

Speakers on stands wouldn’t be an option. They would back up to my dining area and a busy walkway.

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That makes sense. I have a living room that is also open concept, being open to the entire rest of the house. So I didn't even try to put my Ascend speakers and plasma TV in that room and just opted for a better room in my basement. It is still open to everything, but just in the finished basement. The nice thing about this room is that my wife doesn't care about aesthetics. Eventually I plan to put up a couple of walls to make an enclosed room though.

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Originally Posted by diesel79

I also have a 1.5 year old son who is extremely busy and curious. He would have them tipped over in no time.

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I have a 3 and 6 year old right now. I had speakers on speaker stands with both of them and I haven't had any issues. It just watched them closely when they were between 1 and 3 years old, making sure that they know not to get near the speakers. But, my situation is different where the kids usually stay upstairs, so they are not around the speakers as much. It is funny though... last year my 6 year old, who was 5 at the time had some friends over in the basement when I wasn't home. My wife was telling me that she was the one telling her friends to not go near the speakers, since I would be really mad if anything happened to them. I don't really worry about it at all anymore. I was really nervous when I first got my Sierra 2s about 3 years ago and putting them on 30" stands.

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Originally Posted by N Boros

I have a 3 and 6 year old right now. I had speakers on speaker stands with both of them and I haven't had any issues. It just watched them closely when they were between 1 and 3 years old, making sure that they know not to get near the speakers. But, my situation is different where the kids usually stay upstairs, so they are not around the speakers as much. It is funny though... last year my 6 year old, who was 5 at the time had some friends over in the basement when I wasn't home. My wife was telling me that she was the one telling her friends to not go near the speakers, since I would be really mad if anything happened to them. I don't really worry about it at all anymore. I was really nervous when I first got my Sierra 2s about 3 years ago and putting them on 30" stands.

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When my kids were that age, I made sure that I didn't do anything to the system when they were around. Because I didn't make a big deal out of them, and they didn't see behind speaker grilles, or see me fiddle with controls, neither did they.

They are now 18 and 20 years old, they love music and appreciate good sound. The first time either of them gave an opinion was when I picked up a pair of Sierra-1's...my daughter said she liked the way they looked, but would rather have piano black. I got the naturals.

With my little guy it’s not even about him seeing me fiddle with stuff. He hears sound coming from the speakers and goes up to investigate. It’s funny to watch his curiosity trying to figure out what is making all of that noise. Needless to say the grills don’t come off of mine. :)

We had a custom tv stand built specifically to house my S2’s and keep them from messing with them/tipping over speaker stands. Most people dont even notice there are speakers in it, but my little man does. My 5 year old daughter could care less.

I have a pic attached. Never mind the mess. Kids were helping mom wrap presents and I opted to catch up on The Walking Dead vs picking up. Also, pay no attention to the distracting mirrors behind the tv. I tried. Lol. I usually have a chair in the sweet spot but had to temporarily relocate for Christmas tree, etc.

Hopefully in the next year we can get the basement finished, then I can have some freedom and much more space.

On another note, I can’t get a pic to attach.