a question about speakers and HD audio. - Blu-ray Forum

flicker · 01-19-2010, 05:27 PM

I've been doing my research and I'm pretty close to buying my first receiver and speaker set but there's one thing thats been bugging me. I figured I'd ask here because it does seem like a noob question lol.

I'm looking at getting a receiver with DTS-HD/MA and DD-THD. Now I cannot afford a high end speaker system so I'm looking to spend around 250-300$ on the speakers alone. Anyway, short story long.. Will the master audio/HD audio sound better then dts/DD with the 'cheaper' speakers? Or I'm I just wasting my time and money going with a higher up receiver?

hopefully that makes sense.
I'm looking into getting a sony STR-DH800 and Polk RM6750 speakers. Unless someone has a better suggestion for around the same price

thanks for reading and hopefully responses.

Beta Man · 01-19-2010, 06:14 PM

yes..... The HD codecs will still be beneficial with "less than amazing" speakers...... you'll always be limited by your speakers' abilities, whether they're $300 speakers, or $30,000 speakers..... they are one of the last links in the chain (your ears and comprehension being the last link)

With a smaller budget though, I'd recommending starting with a 2.0 or 3.0 setup..... and build from there..... if not, put the bulk of the budget in the front, and skimp on the surrounds.

repete66211 · 01-20-2010, 04:19 AM

I did an A/B test (blind) on some lossy and HD audio tracks with my old set of satellite speakers. YMMV but I couldn't tell one from the other. What I have now is much better (although still on the low end) and while I can hear a difference, it's hardly night and day. If I weren't paying attention I probably wouldn't notice one way or the other. So my recommendation is to get a good receiver and then save up for something more than what $300 will buy you. It might take a while, but it's better in the long run. If you skimp on speakers now you'll just end up buying a more expensive replacement in 6 months anyway (like I did).

1blufan · 01-20-2010, 07:22 PM

You will hear a difference. You will get a more defined sound and a more precise surround sound with the HD.
In my opinion it's best to start with the receiver then go on to speakers. Center,fronts,rears then sub.
It took me about 1 year to complete my speaker set-up,replacing old one's with new one's.
I played a small segment of Into The Blue for my girlfriend, she didn't understand why I bought a receiver with DTS-HD and True-HD when she thought DD and DTS sounded great.
We played the opening plane crash segment in DD and it sounded okay, then I switched it over and the difference was immediately noticeable. The sound field is wider and the smallest sounds are heard, and the precision is also by far better.
Get the receiver then work on the spekers,also don't go with a speaker package just because of your budget,you'll end up replacing them.
I did this when DD and DTS had come out and I wasted a few hundred dollars on crap speakers just so I could have a 5.1 setup.

flicker · 01-22-2010, 12:56 AM

Wow, thanks for the great suggestion guys, I didn't really think about starting at 2.1 then working my way up.. I suppose I could buy some good front/center with a sub and then get some crappy surrounds as a place holder for a few months.. I just want to have Call of Duty all around me lol

any ideas as to which 2/3.0/1 sets I can find that are worth a darn?

1blufan · 01-23-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flicker

Wow, thanks for the great suggestion guys, I didn't really think about starting at 2.1 then working my way up.. I suppose I could buy some good front/center with a sub and then get some crappy surrounds as a place holder for a few months.. I just want to have Call of Duty all around me lol

any ideas as to which 2/3.0/1 sets I can find that are worth a darn?

It helps to have surround sound in COD, especially for multiplayer in MW2. There's been many times I've heard someone running up behind me and I was able to spin around and get the kill.

As far as your crappy surrounds, until you get them replaced just tweak with the individual speaker levels till it sounds as good as you'll get it.

stcurell · 01-29-2010, 04:53 PM

Hey,

I really like the sound of my Polk CS2 center I got from newegg for $120.They also have a CS1 which has 5" instead of 6" drivers, right now the cherry one is on sale for $73... click on "email promotions" and there is a code in there if you want to go for it. Thats 65% off retail price.

Then watch newegg for deals on the Monitor 50, 60, or 70 towers for your front L/R channels. I got Monitor 70's for 160 each, retail is 400 each. I think for a starter system that you will be happy with for a couple years, the monitor 50's would be great. Another option for fronts is the BIC Venturi DV64

For a sub take a look at an Acoustic Audio HD-SUB10 or HD-SUB12 on ebay. Members on here have used the "make an offer" and gotten really low prices, like $145 for the 12. Or try bidding and get it even lower, i've seen the 12 go for $120. There is a thread on those subs here with tons of info, search the forum.

Also, look in the trading forum, someone is selling the front 3 channels of the 6750 system with sub for $150 shipped(make a lower offer of course...) Would be a good starter system for sure! Maybe buy that for center and surrounds along with 2 Monitor 50's for fronts, you'd be pleased for a cost of $350. Then later upgrade center and sub when you have money, the surrounds would be fine until you have upgraded everything else.

Check local ads for used equipment. I got a $125 Onkyo 10" sub brand new locally for $25. I went through my college's classifieds.

GOOD LUCK!

Beta Man · 01-30-2010, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flicker

Wow, thanks for the great suggestion guys, I didn't really think about starting at 2.1 then working my way up.. I suppose I could buy some good front/center with a sub and then get some crappy surrounds as a place holder for a few months.. I just want to have Call of Duty all around me lol

any ideas as to which 2/3.0/1 sets I can find that are worth a darn?

I wouldn't look at "sets" but various speaker manufacturers/models.

What budget would you want to stick to, and what do you want "now"

I would start with L/R/C and wait on the sub until funds are available.... especially if COD is your main usage.

Kryptonic · 01-30-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flicker

hopefully that makes sense.
I'm looking into getting a sony STR-DH800 and Polk RM6750 speakers. Unless someone has a better suggestion for around the same price

thanks for reading and hopefully responses.

I would highly advise you to go with bookshelf speakers. You could get at least a 3.1 setup for around $250 that the Polk RM6750 will cost you and you'll notice the depth and clarity of the HD audio more with bookshelf over satellite.

Polk Monitor 30 (L + R) - $100
Polk Monitor CS1 (Center) - $75
Polk PSW10 (Sub) - $100

When funds become available, check into getting another pair of Monitor 30's for surrounds.

The Sony receiver seems like a good unit, so you should be fine with that.

01-19-2010, 05:27 PM	#1
flicker Junior Member Member since:Jun 2009 Blu-ray collection:120	a question about speakers and HD audio. I've been doing my research and I'm pretty close to buying my first receiver and speaker set but there's one thing thats been bugging me. I figured I'd ask here because it does seem like a noob question lol. I'm looking at getting a receiver with DTS-HD/MA and DD-THD. Now I cannot afford a high end speaker system so I'm looking to spend around 250-300$ on the speakers alone. Anyway, short story long.. Will the master audio/HD audio sound better then dts/DD with the 'cheaper' speakers? Or I'm I just wasting my time and money going with a higher up receiver? hopefully that makes sense. I'm looking into getting a sony STR-DH800 and Polk RM6750 speakers. Unless someone has a better suggestion for around the same price thanks for reading and hopefully responses.

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01-19-2010, 06:14 PM	#2
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	yes..... The HD codecs will still be beneficial with "less than amazing" speakers...... you'll always be limited by your speakers' abilities, whether they're $300 speakers, or $30,000 speakers..... they are one of the last links in the chain (your ears and comprehension being the last link) With a smaller budget though, I'd recommending starting with a 2.0 or 3.0 setup..... and build from there..... if not, put the bulk of the budget in the front, and skimp on the surrounds.

01-20-2010, 04:19 AM	#3
repete66211 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Kansas City area Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray collection:196 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:3	I did an A/B test (blind) on some lossy and HD audio tracks with my old set of satellite speakers. YMMV but I couldn't tell one from the other. What I have now is much better (although still on the low end) and while I can hear a difference, it's hardly night and day. If I weren't paying attention I probably wouldn't notice one way or the other. So my recommendation is to get a good receiver and then save up for something more than what $300 will buy you. It might take a while, but it's better in the long run. If you skimp on speakers now you'll just end up buying a more expensive replacement in 6 months anyway (like I did).

01-20-2010, 07:22 PM	#4
1blufan Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2009 Location:The Road to Nowhere. Blu-ray collection:305 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:200	You will hear a difference. You will get a more defined sound and a more precise surround sound with the HD. In my opinion it's best to start with the receiver then go on to speakers. Center,fronts,rears then sub. It took me about 1 year to complete my speaker set-up,replacing old one's with new one's. I played a small segment of Into The Blue for my girlfriend, she didn't understand why I bought a receiver with DTS-HD and True-HD when she thought DD and DTS sounded great. We played the opening plane crash segment in DD and it sounded okay, then I switched it over and the difference was immediately noticeable. The sound field is wider and the smallest sounds are heard, and the precision is also by far better. Get the receiver then work on the spekers,also don't go with a speaker package just because of your budget,you'll end up replacing them. I did this when DD and DTS had come out and I wasted a few hundred dollars on crap speakers just so I could have a 5.1 setup.

01-22-2010, 12:56 AM	#5
flicker Junior Member Member since:Jun 2009 Blu-ray collection:120	Wow, thanks for the great suggestion guys, I didn't really think about starting at 2.1 then working my way up.. I suppose I could buy some good front/center with a sub and then get some crappy surrounds as a place holder for a few months.. I just want to have Call of Duty all around me lol any ideas as to which 2/3.0/1 sets I can find that are worth a darn?

01-29-2010, 04:53 PM	#7
stcurell Active Member Member since:Jan 2010 Home Theater Gallery:22 Blu-ray collection:39 Trading Score:3	Hey, I really like the sound of my Polk CS2 center I got from newegg for $120.They also have a CS1 which has 5" instead of 6" drivers, right now the cherry one is on sale for $73... click on "email promotions" and there is a code in there if you want to go for it. Thats 65% off retail price. Then watch newegg for deals on the Monitor 50, 60, or 70 towers for your front L/R channels. I got Monitor 70's for 160 each, retail is 400 each. I think for a starter system that you will be happy with for a couple years, the monitor 50's would be great. Another option for fronts is the BIC Venturi DV64 For a sub take a look at an Acoustic Audio HD-SUB10 or HD-SUB12 on ebay. Members on here have used the "make an offer" and gotten really low prices, like $145 for the 12. Or try bidding and get it even lower, i've seen the 12 go for $120. There is a thread on those subs here with tons of info, search the forum. Also, look in the trading forum, someone is selling the front 3 channels of the 6750 system with sub for $150 shipped(make a lower offer of course...) Would be a good starter system for sure! Maybe buy that for center and surrounds along with 2 Monitor 50's for fronts, you'd be pleased for a cost of $350. Then later upgrade center and sub when you have money, the surrounds would be fine until you have upgraded everything else. Check local ads for used equipment. I got a $125 Onkyo 10" sub brand new locally for $25. I went through my college's classifieds. GOOD LUCK!

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