Should I upgrade my speakers or my receiver first?

[mattg03]

I have a ok onkyo receiver and speakers. I wanna replace them both but its gonna be a work in progress. I want a Onkyo 807 receiver and not sure what polks to buy. I know the sub I want already too. A PC12-NSD. Thoughts/input?

[Johnny Vinyl]

If you could tell us what Onkyo model and speakers you currently have, along with a budget, then we can help you for sure.

John

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by John72953

If you could tell us what Onkyo model and speakers you currently have, along with a budget, then we can help you for sure.

John

I agree with John, we really need more info, but, on a blind answer, I'd say upgrading your speakers to better ones (check the ohm ratings to match existing or to match your sources capability) will probably improve your system sound right away, then upgrade your receiver/amp to a better one to power those upgraded speakers better and perhaps give you newer features overall.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

I agree with John, we really need more info, but, on a blind answer, I'd say upgrading your speakers to better ones (check the ohm ratings to match existing or to match your sources capability) will probably improve your system sound right away, then upgrade your receiver/amp to a better one to power those upgraded speakers better and perhaps give you newer features overall.

Like solarrdadd said..you will get the biggest bang from upgrading your speakers first. Do keep in mind the rest of his post.

John

[Intamin]

Upgrade your speakers first, but like John said, more info such as models of your speakers and receiver, as well as a budget would be useful.

[Kryptonic]

Speakers come first. With good quality speakers, it doesn't matter as much what receiver you're using.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by mattg03

I have a ok onkyo receiver and speakers. I wanna replace them both but its gonna be a work in progress. I want a Onkyo 807 receiver and not sure what polks to buy. I know the sub I want already too. A PC12-NSD. Thoughts/input?

I will partially disagree with the others on this subject, however I am sure that the most notable improvement in sound will probably come from upgrading the speakers. The primary issue to upgrade the receiver first is if the new speakers need more power than the current receiver can deliver cleanly you can drive the amp into overload, clipping, where the output becomes a pure DC signal instead of the normal AC soundwave. The speakers are basically inductors and a DC current is not resisted nearly as much as the AC current it should be getting. This causes the speaker to get too much power and can damage its wiring, etc. So to figure out your problem consider how much power your new speakers will require and whether your existing amp can deliver it, along with the previously noted ohm value of the speakers. Most likely you are in safe limits and upgrading the speakers first is not a problem but as a general rule receiver first is safest. You don't want to burn out a new set of speakers using them on an old receiver.

[mattg03]

Originally Posted by John72953

If you could tell us what Onkyo model and speakers you currently have, along with a budget, then we can help you for sure.

John

I have HTIB Onkyo ht-s5100.
http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...ss=Systems&p=i
I have an idea what i want.
An onkyo 807 receiver, a PC12-NSD sub, a Polk CSI A4 center, polk TSi400 fronts, and Polk RTI A3 bookshelfs.
I know if I upgraded the speakers first to start with the center, then the fronts, then sub, then surround. Do you guys think this would be a nice fit wth eathother.