I am finishing my basement, and am trying to figure out how to outfit the space with home theater equipment. I currently have a nice 2-channel system that I am considering moving to the basement because I think it might get more use down there once the home theater is set up. I also think that I might save some money and end up with a better system if I try to incorporate my 2-channel system into the HT setup.
Here's what I currently have:
Paradigm Studio 40 speakers Acurus A200 amp Acurus preamp Rega Planet CD player
I was originally thinking that I'd buy a home theater receiver and all new speakers, and leave the 2-channel system upstairs for serious music listening. But if I move my existing equipment downstairs, then I'm wondering if perhaps I should keep with the separates philosophy that I went with for the 2-channel system. I know very little about separates with regards to home theater equipment. The only piece I've got for the HT is a Sharp Aquos 52". I'd like to set up a 5.1 system. (I'm a bit skeptical about the need for 6 or 7 channels for surround sound, but if I'm wrong, please correct me.)
So here are my questions: 1. What would you recommend that I consider adding to my existing system to make it a decent HT setup? 2. Are my Paradigm Studio 40s good as front speakers for a 5.1 setup? (The basement is about 30' x 24', but the TV viewing area is only about 15' x 15', and the back half of the room will have a pool table.) 3. Would the Acurus amp and preamp have any place in the 5.1 setup? I assume if I wanted to use the Paradigm speakers as my front speakers for the 5.12 setup, I'd need to have some kind of A/B switch so the 2-channel system used the Acurus amp and the 5.1 system used the amp for the 5.1.
I clearly don't have much of a clue about the details of connecting this all up, and whether it makes any sense to use my existing equipment in my 5.1 setup.
This my suggestion: if you are finishing the basement then run the wires through the wall to look like wireless and use the ceiling speakers (small) and have a base in the middle of the room. You can use the 2 channel sytem that you have. Or buy 5.1 set . If you don't have out put on your receiver for base then you may purchase the one which uses speaker wires... then from the base to the speakers.