Race Bannon's setup -- what is the first thing you would upgrade?

[Race Bannon]

I have a low-end, but very functional and enjoyable system. As you peruse, my question for the expert panel is "What is the first thing you would replace?" (And then so on, and so on, and so on).

My home theater is in my basement, adjacent to the mancave.

The TV set is a newish Panasonic ST50, with a 60 inch screen (the smaller set is a Sony used almost exclusively for video games, occasionally for watching two football games at once.).

The center, left and right speakers are those white in-walls mounted up high. Not ideal to be high, but it sounds good.

[Race Bannon]

The in-wall speakers from from a great website of in-wall home theater enthusiasts.

They are the InWallTech Pro Golds -- essentially a custom designed and ordered speaker. Intended to be affordable, but no phony quality ripoffs.

http://www.inwallstore.com/InwallTec..._1W_p/m65w.htm

Same speaker for Center, FR, FL, RR, LR

[Race Bannon]

The rear placement is in wall, facing towards the ears of the seat. Again, not ideal. But I'm not going to rearrange the basement. This is a setting were it's just not practical to set the speakers behind the seats.

You can see the subwoofer there between the to two seats on the floor.



The subwoofer is a Sony SA-W3000/Z that I got cheap about 4 years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Race Bannon]

Finally, the receiver is a Sony STR-DN1000 7.1 I also got a good deal on about 4 years ago. It is in a separate "mech room" on a rack I built for components. In this room I play blu-rays on a PS3.

[Race Bannon]

Anyway, the two components that are most on my mind are the center speaker, which I would want to remain in-wall, and the subwoofer.

After that, probably receiver. The components I'm least likely to change out any time soon are the FR, FL, RR, RL. Those sound pretty good and the options are more limited for an in-wall rectangle.

[Spurrier Sucks]

I would say a matching display to the right for 3. Then Saturday and Sunday football would !

[BigAl87]

Welcome to the site

If you do not change your lef and right why would you change the center which is a perfect match?

The only problem here i see is placement but you are a bit limited so I would say change the sub in this case.

Your in walls would certainly sound even better placed at ear level vertically but I see your challenge. the sub for now is your best bet, the receiver is not bad at all.

Let us all know if you need help for choosing a new sub in the speakers threads.

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Welcome to the site

If you do not change your left and right why would you change the center which is a perfect match?

The only problem here i see is placement but you are a bit limited so I would say change the sub in this case.

Your in walls would certainly sound even better placed at ear level vertically but I see your challenge. the sub for now is your best bet, the receiver is not bad at all.

Let us all know if you need help for choosing a new sub in the speakers threads.

I agree with BigAl on the changing of the center channel. Although you would get a completely different sound from your speakers being at ear level while watching movies, I see the dilemma of moving them, and I'm sure they still sound good. If you plan on leaving them where they are, I would consider maybe tilting the center downward (of coarse this means some modification, but it would definately benefit you) And most definately +1 on upgrading the subwoofer

[DangeRuss]

First and foremost I'd get my gallery up

[Race Bannon]

Yeah, I was thinking it's probably best if C, L, R are all the same. So maybe that would need to be a 3x thing.

And on the sub, I did a separate thread a month or so ago, and got the lowdown from you guys. Thinking about it -- that probably is the first thing.

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

Yeah, I was thinking it's probably best if C, L, R are all the same. So maybe that would need to be a 3x thing.

And on the sub, I did a separate thread a month or so ago, and got the lowdown from you guys. Thinking about it -- that probably is the first thing.

May I ask which sub/subs you are contemplating?

[Race Bannon]

Originally Posted by Billy13

May I ask which sub/subs you are contemplating?

BIC
SVS
Polk

Here was the thread

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=220404

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

BIC
SVS
Polk

Here was the thread

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=220404

I kinda remember that thread. Looking at the pics of the area, and your budget being $300. The Klipsch RW-12d on sale for $279 or $299 would be great in that space.

I currently have that sub in my bedroom, which isn't much space, and I really can't brag about it. That same sub was played at a friends house, and it was open space, and I gotta tell ya, it was banging. I really feel that would be perfect for you for less then $300

All that I ask, is not too waste your money on a polk sub. I mean the sub, but not the speakers.

[Race Bannon]

Originally Posted by HAMP

I kinda remember that thread. Looking at the pics of the area, and your budget being $300. The Klipsch RW-12d on sale for $279 or $299 would be great in that space.

I currently have that sub in my bedroom, which isn't much space, and I really can't brag about it. That same sub was played at a friends house, and it was open space, and I gotta tell ya, it was banging. I really feel that would be perfect for you for less then $300

All that I ask, is not too waste your money on a polk sub. I mean the sub, but not the speakers.

I ended up deciding the Sony sub I have is good enough for low end, and that there's no real reason to do a "baby upgrade" to a slightly better one. At one time, I wondered if it was holding me back greatly. But after thinking about it, I feel like it's okay along with the other stuff I have and the limitations of the set-up. So I'm going to take the price limit off. It's why I wonder which thing should come first. I still think it probably comes first -- a good subwoofer can probably help any system at almost any price level.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

I ended up deciding the Sony sub I have is good enough for low end, and that there's no real reason to do a "baby upgrade" to a slightly better one. At one time, I wondered if it was holding me back greatly. But after thinking about it, I feel like it's okay along with the other stuff I have and the limitations of the set-up. So I'm going to take the price limit off. It's why I wonder which thing should come first. I still think it probably comes first -- a good subwoofer can probably help any system at almost any price level.

Do you have a new budget in mind right now? Depending on your new budget, two of the Klipsch would be great.

If the budget is $600 and below, then two of the klipsch.

If you are at about $1000, then I would look at SVS Dual PB-1000 $949

[Billy13]

Originally Posted by HAMP
All that I ask, is not too waste your money on a polk sub. I mean the sub, but not the speakers.

I thoroughly agree with HAMP.
Not to bash Polk, I absolutely love Polk speakers, but their subwoofer line, not so much. If you buy their flagship model, you still won't get the low Hz or sound quality that say, the SVS line will give you. I speak only from my own personal experience. I had the Polk PSW1000

[Show spoiler]http://www.polkaudio.com/products/psw1000

and don't get me wrong, while this was an excellent subwoofer, it wasn't $1000 worth of excellence. It had magnificent sound, and could just keep pushing the higher the db's went, but when it came to being able to keep up with the low end of the spectrum, it fell of at around 30Hz. So keep in mind, price isn't everything. Make sure to go with a sub that has a great, not good reputation for being a LFE MONSTER. And they can be found for less than $1000.

[Billy13]

Another thing I'd like to add is, if you're not afraid of buying used, there are great deals to be had when looking to upgrade.

[BigAl87]

HSU subs could work well too look em up they are a bit like SVS online direct company, great products too.