My setup : Advice/Help welcome!

[riverbelow]

Love seeing the setups of others but my setup isn't exactly what I would wish for. I fell into this setup and do what I can? I live with family (2 cousins) because of high rent prices. I bought with me all the blu-rays, the player and 3D capability to this house. After 6 months we all combined for a 3D TV and I get it to myself when everyone is out. They have normal jobs.
=====

This is thousands of dollars of stuff, though I do know it's probly not gonna be considered a "home theatre" in comparison to some. I just want to know if the general consensus is if this is nothing to sneeze at. And maybe even what could be improved? If anyone needs specifics I'll gladly oblige, and gallery pictures are here

Speakers 5.1 = KEF 2005.2 - 5 (identical) satelites/250watt 10" KEF psw2010 powered sub
Specs
All speakers attached with good quality in-wall grade speaker wire, attached bare at all points.

Receiver = Onkyo 7.1 TX-SR604 (silver)

Blu-ray player = panasonic DMP-BDT310 (twin hdmi)
One hdmi to the display (video only mode), one to the receiver (audio only setting). both hdmi 1.4 cables - audio sent in PCM or bitstream modes yield same lossless results taken to receiver.

HDTV 1080p = Panasonic 50" 3D plasma p50vt20a
=================
Distance from couch (sweet spot) to display is 9 feet when blu-rays are watched, and its a living room in an open apartment layout. So I know the room can't be 'tight' by standards, and things like acoustic panels is I think out of the question.

I guess any real handy advice would come when you see the layout the equipment is presented. This blu-ray environment has been running strong for 18 months with the big TV and before we got the 3D TV I'd configured the Receiver to "pure audio" and bitstream from the player so we've been getting the full lossless tracks. Everyone who visits loves watching movies here - None who you'd call audiophiles or who have better setups, admittedly.

I always want to improve what I can for my own satisfaction though This week was sub experimentation and learning to try calibrate the crossover settings on receiver and sub. Been using LOTR:Fellowship prologue, Jurassic Park T-rex attack, and Top Gun opening credits, mostly. And the sub is now close to corner position as ever.

I did notice a difference. More tomorrow.

[Prox]

It sounds like you do have a good home theater setup. Were I to be in your position and seeking possible improvements, I might look at getting some floor standing speakers and a full-size center channel. The center channel will really improve the movie experience while the floor standing speakers will make everything have more definition and "fullness."

You should definitely post some pics, though. That will really help people get a better impression of what you're talking about.

The most important thing to remember is that YOUR opinion matters the most. If you love it, you're good to go. If visitors love it, too, that's a bonus.

[rkolinski]

An eventual front soundstage upgrade might be good as suggested above. You should try to stick with the same speaker brand (if possible and if you like how your KEF's sound) so try 2 ea. KEF C7's & 1 each KEF C6 or 3 ea. KEF C6 LCR.

[riverbelow]

Uploaded a gallery and some general info might help the advice

Thanks so far! I do want floorstandings flanking the cabinet, and will need a riser for the plasma to stop a view blocking from a full size centre. I do like KEF so thats good recommendations, rkolinski!

Actually if I do go floorstandings by the end of 2012.. I can use the leftover front satelites as back surrounds wall-attached under the shelf you see in the gallery. Then I can put the current surrounds side facing on stands. Thoughts?

I am happy for now though. Just thinking forward

[Prox]

If/when you get a larger center channel and riser, please post more pics. I'm encountering a similar predicament, so I'd love to see what route you go.

I think the shelf + stand idea will work nicely. You already have the speakers, so why not use them to bump up to 7.1? I hadn't even thought of that.

Originally Posted by riverbelow

Blu-ray player = panasonic DMP-BDT310 (twin hdmi)
One hdmi to the display (video only mode), one to the receiver (audio only setting). both hdmi 1.4 cables [...]

I meant to ask about this in my last post. Is there any particular reason you have this arrangement rather than one HDMI cable to the receiver for audio & video, which would then feed video to the TV via its HDMI out?
Your current setup certainly isn't problematic, quality-wise, but it does seem like more cables and more switching (which means more time playing with the remote, etc.).

[BluBrown]

Upgrading your front soundstage would definitely be the next step in my opinion, but you have a very nice looking setup going already. I really like your media shelves...especially the one hanging at the back or the room.

[rkolinski]

Originally Posted by riverbelow

Uploaded a gallery and some general info might help the advice

Thanks so far! I do want floorstandings flanking the cabinet, and will need a riser for the plasma to stop a view blocking from a full size centre. I do like KEF so thats good recommendations, rkolinski!

Actually if I do go floorstandings by the end of 2012.. I can use the leftover front satelites as back surrounds wall-attached under the shelf you see in the gallery. Then I can put the current surrounds side facing on stands. Thoughts?

I am happy for now though. Just thinking forward

Great minds think alike; just kidding because I'm not suggesting that I have a great mind. Anyway, I made my suggestion about your front soundstage because I assumed you might want to use your current speakers as side and back surround speakers. One thing to think about is the smaller front soundstage I suggested because full floor standing speakers will dwarf your surround speakers with respect to sound pressure. Just a thought!

[riverbelow]

Originally Posted by Prox

I meant to ask about this in my last post. Is there any particular reason you have this arrangement rather than one HDMI cable to the receiver for audio & video, which would then feed video to the TV via its HDMI out?

Your current setup certainly isn't problematic, quality-wise, but it does seem like more cables and more switching (which means more time playing with the remote, etc.).

I brought 3D capability with the panny player - but in my research of the Onkyo system in the appartment (while excellent 7.1 HT receiver at the time it was bought -2005?) pre-dates blu-ray setups and is hdmi 1.1 ; can't do 3D going into the receiver and out to the TV

I take the players v1.4 signal right to the TV to enable 3D, and use the player to decode and send the lossless audio with its secondary hdmi out, and audio only to the receiver ensures the audio isnt choked of bandwidth along with a pointless video signal.

edit: I watched super 8 hooked to the receiver with a ps3 one time and it was way worse quality for video. No deep color and certainly was struggling compared to my preferred setup.

[riverbelow]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

One thing to think about is the smaller front soundstage I suggested because full floor standing speakers will dwarf your surround speakers with respect to sound pressure. Just a thought!

I understand what you are getting at. And I highly doubt the room would ever act like a dedicated space to warrant too full on of a setup. (I'll save that impact for when I have my own place and am building a setup - when it's your own place anything goes heh)

With the first step for this setup - at 300ish $ australian each ; the 3 LCR C6 KEF's are an upgrade I could budget for getting by late this year.

[riverbelow]

I was sitting around thinking.. and because well Im not currently a wealthy person. But pretend for a second I hit lotto numbers and even got a couple hundred grand winnings.

Knowing me, I would see it as an opportunity to indulge in a HT (and get my life on track of course ) that in my world is a dream. This might not impress many aficionados, but the lower class citizens might drool along side me (pricing in AUD)

projector = Optoma HD83 Full HD 3D Home Theatre Projector (4,000$)
screen = 110" Majestic 16:9 Fixed Frame - Evo3D screen and Fidelio Velvet (1350$) ---> 1.26 gain <---
receiver = Onkyo TX-NR609 7.2-Channel 3D THX Network Receiver (900$)

l/r-Klipsch RF-82 II Floorstanding Speaker (pair) 2400$
ctr-Klipsch RC-62 II Center Speaker 1750$
s.side-Klipsch RF-42 II Floorstanding Speaker (pair) 1080$
s.back-Klipsch RS-41 II Surround Speaker (Pair) 600$
sub-Boston Acoustics RPS1000 Subwoofer 1400$

rough estimate..
cables = 600$
power management = 500$

AUD$13,680 -home theatre

note* bearing in mind australian home theatre pricing are always much higher than U.S equivalent equipment, irrespective of comparable exchange rate as a possible variable)

/end dream

edit : possible projector alternative : Epson 3D Projector EH TW8000 (3000$) or wireless model TW9000!