Looking to upgrade... - Blu-ray Forum

volcomsocal · 03-26-2010, 01:23 AM

I started a thread in the receiver section because I was looking into upgrading my receiver. I currently have 5 year old Sony HTiB HT-DDW670 that doesn't have HDMI. It's been working just fine ever since I bought it but I was looking into upgrading the receiver so I could get High-Def audio from my Blu-ray's. But one person mentioned it might be better to upgrade the speakers first rather than go with a new receiver. His reason was that I wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference between DD 5.1/DTS vs. Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio while watching Blu-rays if I were to upgrade my receiver.

So that's why I posted a thread in here. I was wondering how much of a difference could buying a good center channel make on my current HTiB setup? I was looking to spend no more than $500 on a receiver (Onkyo, Pioneer) but now I'm thinking maybe I should take that money, or at least part of that $500, and use it towards a good center channel. Thoughts? Ideas?

ChadFL · 03-26-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

I started a thread in the receiver section because I was looking into upgrading my receiver. I currently have 5 year old Sony HTiB HT-DDW670 that doesn't have HDMI. It's been working just fine ever since I bought it but I was looking into upgrading the receiver so I could get High-Def audio from my Blu-ray's. But one person mentioned it might be better to upgrade the speakers first rather than go with a new receiver. His reason was that I wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference between DD 5.1/DTS vs. Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio while watching Blu-rays if I were to upgrade my receiver.

So that's why I posted a thread in here. I was wondering how much of a difference could buying a good center channel make on my current HTiB setup? I was looking to spend no more than $500 on a receiver (Onkyo, Pioneer) but now I'm thinking maybe I should take that money, or at least part of that $500, and use it towards a good center channel. Thoughts? Ideas?

In my opinion you'd really need to upgrade your front speakers along with the center. Just upgrading the center probably wouldn't work well with low-end HTIB fronts. I recently purchased a Polk CSI A4 off Amazon for $199 shipped and Polk RTI A1 bookshelf fronts for $340 and am very pleased with them. You could probably get slightly lower level Polk speakers for quite a bit less and still enjoy a HUGE upgrade over what you have now.

un4gvn94538 · 03-26-2010, 01:41 AM

depends on your ear. you may or may not tell the diff between lossy and lossless. but looking at your current set up, i would agree, start with the speakers. you will hear a difference with better speakers. then, when your ready, the receiver.

callas01 · 03-26-2010, 05:23 AM

well a good place to start with speakers in your budget you would be bookshelf speakers. You are used to smaller speakers already and since they are 6 ohm rated speakers let me suggest these PSB bookshelfs. I defintely like the Image series better then the Alpha, but its up to you. See if you can listen to either if you can.

PSB Image B25s and the C40 $588 @ http://www.saturdayaudio.com look for the PSB Image sale.

OR

PSB Alpha B1 and C1 $388 @ http://www.dmc-electronics.com

volcomsocal · 03-27-2010, 03:14 AM

I've decided on getting the Definitive Technology ProCenter 1000 center channel. I have no idea how good it is in relation to other brands of it's size or price but I listened to it at Best Buy and it sounded good. It's $220. If I don't like it I can always return it. I'm driving to the store to get it right now. Opinions or thoughts?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Definiti...nter&cp=1&lp=3

callas01 · 03-27-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcomsocal

I've decided on getting the Definitive Technology ProCenter 1000 center channel. I have no idea how good it is in relation to other brands of it's size or price but I listened to it at Best Buy and it sounded good. It's $220. If I don't like it I can always return it. I'm driving to the store to get it right now. Opinions or thoughts?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Definiti...nter&cp=1&lp=3

I thought you were trying to get away from the HTiB type speakers. To me the ProCinema series is basically a better version of a HTiB, Much like Energy Take Classics, Klipsch Quintets, Polk RM6750, etc.

Also, I don't personally fine BB to be the place I like to shop for speakers. JMO.

volcomsocal · 03-27-2010, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

I thought you were trying to get away from the HTiB type speakers. To me the ProCinema series is basically a better version of a HTiB, Much like Energy Take Classics, Klipsch Quintets, Polk RM6750, etc.

Also, I don't personally fine BB to be the place I like to shop for speakers. JMO.

Well there are no other stores around here to buy A/V equipment, so it's BB or nothing. And second, I had no idea this speaker was just one step up from a HTiB speaker. And third, like i said in my previous post, I can always return it. Thing is, I needed a center channel that would be short enough to fit in between my wall mounted plasma and my cabinet that holds all my A/V equipment... and this speaker fit the bill. It all comes down to sound quality. So I'll check it out, and figure out if I want to keep it or return it.

callas01 · 03-27-2010, 05:25 AM

can you post your TV stand that you are using, and how big is the space you thinking about using?

volcomsocal · 03-27-2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

can you post your TV stand that you are using, and how big is the space you thinking about using?

I'm not using a tv stand. My plasma is mounted on the wall. I made a custom wood cabinet, that is anchored to the wall, to hold my a/v equipment. And the space between the bottom of the tv and that cabinet is only 5 inches, max. I wasn't thinking for future possibilities, so I'm stretched for room on the height of a center channel. My center channel sits on that wood cabinet, right below my tv, perfectly. I'll take a picture tomorrow and put it up asap.

MikeDaWiz · 03-27-2010, 07:33 AM

Might i suggest Checking The Forum for fellow members selling their equipment. Talstarone has a great Polk Center for sale. At the price it is at, its basically a steal.

Here is the address:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/home-theat...-like-new.html

volcomsocal · 03-27-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeDaWiz

Might i suggest Checking The Forum for fellow members selling their equipment. Talstarone has a great Polk Center for sale. At the price it is at, its basically a steal.

Here is the address:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/home-theat...-like-new.html

No longer available.

callas01 · 03-28-2010, 05:37 AM

try the Jamo E7CEN and E 680 on http://www.wwstereo.com, the center channel is about 5.5" high I believe.

03-26-2010, 01:23 AM	#1
volcomsocal Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:98 Blu-ray reviews:9	Looking to upgrade... I started a thread in the receiver section because I was looking into upgrading my receiver. I currently have 5 year old Sony HTiB HT-DDW670 that doesn't have HDMI. It's been working just fine ever since I bought it but I was looking into upgrading the receiver so I could get High-Def audio from my Blu-ray's. But one person mentioned it might be better to upgrade the speakers first rather than go with a new receiver. His reason was that I wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference between DD 5.1/DTS vs. Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio while watching Blu-rays if I were to upgrade my receiver. So that's why I posted a thread in here. I was wondering how much of a difference could buying a good center channel make on my current HTiB setup? I was looking to spend no more than $500 on a receiver (Onkyo, Pioneer) but now I'm thinking maybe I should take that money, or at least part of that $500, and use it towards a good center channel. Thoughts? Ideas?

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03-26-2010, 01:41 AM	#3
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	depends on your ear. you may or may not tell the diff between lossy and lossless. but looking at your current set up, i would agree, start with the speakers. you will hear a difference with better speakers. then, when your ready, the receiver.

03-26-2010, 05:23 AM	#4
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	well a good place to start with speakers in your budget you would be bookshelf speakers. You are used to smaller speakers already and since they are 6 ohm rated speakers let me suggest these PSB bookshelfs. I defintely like the Image series better then the Alpha, but its up to you. See if you can listen to either if you can. PSB Image B25s and the C40 $588 @ http://www.saturdayaudio.com look for the PSB Image sale. OR PSB Alpha B1 and C1 $388 @ http://www.dmc-electronics.com

03-27-2010, 03:14 AM	#5
volcomsocal Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:98 Blu-ray reviews:9	I've decided on getting the Definitive Technology ProCenter 1000 center channel. I have no idea how good it is in relation to other brands of it's size or price but I listened to it at Best Buy and it sounded good. It's $220. If I don't like it I can always return it. I'm driving to the store to get it right now. Opinions or thoughts? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Definiti...nter&cp=1&lp=3

03-27-2010, 05:25 AM	#8
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	can you post your TV stand that you are using, and how big is the space you thinking about using?

03-27-2010, 07:33 AM	#10
MikeDaWiz Blu-ray Knight Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Corpus Christi, TX Home Theater Gallery:25 Blu-ray collection:368 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:4	Might i suggest Checking The Forum for fellow members selling their equipment. Talstarone has a great Polk Center for sale. At the price it is at, its basically a steal. Here is the address: https://forum.blu-ray.com/home-theat...-like-new.html

03-28-2010, 05:37 AM	#12
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	try the Jamo E7CEN and E 680 on http://www.wwstereo.com, the center channel is about 5.5" high I believe.

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