Upgrading My Home Audio System

[imported_cinder]

I currently have a 5.1 Home Theatre in a Box from Onyko (passive sub). It is a from around 2005 and I am getting in a position where I can afford to get something better.

I will be buying in segments.

I like Onkyo receivers and I believe the one I am looking into getting is the HT-RC160. Features I like on this unit are the multiple optical and digital coax inputs as well the large amount of HDMI inputs with 1080p upconvert(maybe i). My old reciever had only 1 optical and one digital coax so it made it to where I can only my ps3 and and not the 360 in a surround mode. Plus it has all the HD codecs for Blu-Ray movies.

Next are the speakers. I want something pretty powerfull sounding for Movies and games mostly, but I do listen to music when I throw parties. I wanted to pair some polk floorstanding speakings (they look fantastic and are not killer on the wallet). TSi400 were what I was looking at. I would then pair them with a new center speaker to handle the bigger drivers, most likely the polk cs20. (This would be my first speaker upgrade).

I would then want a better subwoofer. I really like deep bass but I don't want the rest of the system to be over powered. I know speaker pairing is important and I dont know how to pair the above front floors and center to the sub. I also think the polk sub looks ugly haha.

I will slowly change the side speakers and the rear speakers to match the front speakers I have chosen. Any suggestions there?

 

[Onita]

Budget?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Yeah, receivers in the $300-$400 range are pretty full featured now. It should be a nice difference to get all your sources doing proper surround sound.

For the speakers, try to audition some different options. Now that you'll actually have a lot of different manufacturers and models to choose from, you can test some out to see what appeals to you. This is probably where you'll want to spend the bulk of your budget.
(See the auditioning section of the sticky thread)

For the subwoofer, it's going to depend on how big of a room you have. A solid subwoofer from any of the recommended companies should be able to be integrated well into just about any speakers you'd buy.
There are great values in Internet Direct subwoofers, so I would recommend going with one of those products from
Elemental Designs
Epik
SVS
or HSU.

You can adjust the relative volume of subwoofer and speaker independently, so you will not be in a situation where a sub choice will overwhelm the speakers. You can adjust it to your liking. A more powerful sub will allow you to have more headroom in your system overall.

Matching the side and rear speakers isn't a huge deal. Save that for last.

As Onita asked, budget is going to be a big determining factor for what your options are.

 

[imported_cinder]

Reciever - $400
Floors - $300
Center - $200
Side/Rear (4 speakers) - $500 max but want less

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cinder
Reciever - $400
Floors - $300
Center - $200
Side/Rear (4 speakers) - $500 max but want less

sub?

Based on that, I would recommend continuing to use the Onkyo speakers as surrounds / rears if possible and spending the surround / rear budget on the sub.

 

[Onita]

Originally posted by: cinder
Reciever - $400
Floors - $300
Center - $200
Side/Rear (4 speakers) - $500 max but want less

Do you really need 7 speakers? I'd stick with 5 personally... and I wouldn't spend as much on my surrounds as I would on my front 3.

 

[imported_cinder]

I meant to add a sub... I was at work and had to hit enter before my manager saw me messing around on the forums haha!!!

Sub - $300 - $400

 

[Onita]

I'd probably look into the 607 before the 160. Have you listened to any speakers that you like the sound of?

 

[imported_cinder]

Originally posted by: Onita

Do you really need 7 speakers? I'd stick with 5 personally... and I wouldn't spend as much on my surrounds as I would on my front 3.

I love movies. Lots of Blu-Ray movies use 7.1 surround, so I figure in order to hear the movie as the creators intended, a 7.1 setup would be ideal.

 

[imported_cinder]

Originally posted by: Onita
I'd probably look into the 607 before the 160. Have you listened to any speakers that you like the sound of?

I listened to the Polk TSi400's and I like them a lot. In my opinion they were very clear and had a much broader sound-scape compared to my current setup and other speakers in the same price range.

My current fronts made into sides and my current rears would be nice to keep if it could keep up with my new front floors, center and sub. Onkyo HT-S580 Manual (PDF) <<My setup now.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I was looking at your plan of attack again.

I don't know if you've thought about this already, but in getting a new receiver, you'll have to be a little creative about using your existing passive sub. You should be able to use the S580 receiver as just an amplifier for the passive subwoofer, but it might make sense to do the receiver and subwoofer upgrade at the same time.

 

[imported_cinder]

Buying the sub and receiver at the same time won't be a problem..

My current sub is weak and I need that more than anything else..

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I agree with YOyoYOhowsDAjello. Spend your budget primarily on the receiver and sub. ime, you should make some room for a good center as well. Use what you have now for mains/rears/sides and you can upgrade those at a later time.

 

[imported_cinder]

I was hoping you guys might give some recommendations for a sub and speakers besides the ones I listed... Any ideas? The tv area is about 17' x 15' not huge or anything.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well speakers is largely a personal choice. If you did a demo of the Polks compared to some other retail options and you liked those the best, then that's probably a good choice.

I'd personally probably be looking for a good deal on some used well reviewed speakers that I could hopefully demo before purchase.

For the subwoofer, any of the $400-ish options from Elemental Designs, HSU, or SVS will be a great option for you.
SVS PB10-NSD
HSU VTF-1
Elemental Designs A2-300 or A3-250?

Any of those should do a much better job than your current sub and still fit the general pricerange you're looking at.

 

[imported_cinder]

I just saw Fry's had a Velodyne VX-10C sub for only 129.99...would that be a good purchase with the floor speakers I was looking at?

 

[Onita]

Originally posted by: cinder
I just saw Fry's had a Velodyne VX-10C sub for only 129.99...would that be a good purchase with the floor speakers I was looking at?

If your price range is $300-400, listen to yoyo... you won't regret those subs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cinder
I just saw Fry's had a Velodyne VX-10C sub for only 129.99...would that be a good purchase with the floor speakers I was looking at?

That would probably be a good choice if you only had $130 to work with... or if you were setting up in a dorm room

If your budget allows for some of the basic models from those internet direct subwoofer companies, those subs are really a step up from almost all of the subwoofers available at retail locations.

 

[s44]

Velodyne makes some nice subs... for a gazillion dollars.

The Fry's deal you should be looking at is the Infinity P362 sale ($100/per) that seems to happen regularly. Subs should be ID or DIY unless you have tons of money to waste.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: s44
Velodyne makes some nice subs... for a gazillion dollars.

The Fry's deal you should be looking at is the Infinity P362 sale ($100/per) that seems to happen regularly. Subs should be ID or DIY unless you have tons of money to waste.

And if you already have the few hundred dollars' worth of tools you'll need or know someone who does. DIY isn't for everyone.

 

[imported_cinder]

Yeah I think the ID route is the way I am leaning..I'm going to try to get one with a piano black finish.. any ideas?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: cinder
Yeah I think the ID route is the way I am leaning..I'm going to try to get one with a piano black finish.. any ideas?

Most of the internet direct ones tend to have more "rugged" exteriors.

Just trying to think of anything with piano black
Ascend's Rythmik line
http://www.ascendacoustics.com...cts/subs/subintro.html

The mid and high end SVS line
http://www.svsound.com/products-sub-box.cfm

I don't know... can you just hide the sub somehow?
Right now mine are attempting to hide in the middle of the front and back wall. If I put them on their sides, they'd be pretty hard to see.

 

[imported_cinder]

http://www.overstock.com/Elect...43-aa4e-85c47846f69c.1<<original link

http://www.overstock.com/Elect...m/3935942/product.html <<<new link

These look nice..and they seem to have good reviews.. and I saw this manufacturer on the Sticky Post as a good buy.. what do you think? Seems to be in a good price range..

The second link I posted seems to be a little better deal for me..the 8" woofers on the towers from the first link might be a little more than what I need..

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

When you get a good price, the subs are supposed to be a solid deal. I don't know about the speakers though.

 

[imported_cinder]

Since I'm this close to the holiday season is it smart to wait?