Where to start? - Blu-ray Forum

efesbe · 04-24-2009, 12:01 AM

I'm nowhere near an expert but I would suggest saving your money first for the speakers since you already have a receiver. Speakers tend to not become old technology and there always seem to be some new feature on receivers every year or so. I remember buying my receiver for almost full price of $1200 and a year later they came out with DTS-HD MA which I don't have. Now I need a new one and can't afford one that I really want. Just my personal experience but I'm sure there will be some that agree. I had my previous speakers for over 10 years and they are still good now but I just had an upgrade bug that replaced them. I really didn't need to, but I couldn't pass up a deal. So with that said, get some decent main speakers (L,C,R) first. Use your current surrounds and save for some better ones later. Next, buy a receiver. You can get a very good used one on some forums and ebay. Spend more on the Speakers.

masob98 · 04-24-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efesbe

I'm nowhere near an expert but I would suggest saving your money first for the speakers since you already have a receiver. Speakers tend to not become old technology and there always seem to be some new feature on receivers every year or so. I remember buying my receiver for almost full price of $1200 and a year later they came out with DTS-HD MA which I don't have. Now I need a new one and can't afford one that I really want. Just my personal experience but I'm sure there will be some that agree. I had my previous speakers for over 10 years and they are still good now but I just had an upgrade bug that replaced them. I really didn't need to, but I couldn't pass up a deal. So with that said, get some decent main speakers (L,C,R) first. Use your current surrounds and save for some better ones later. Next, buy a receiver. You can get a very good used one on some forums and ebay. Spend more on the Speakers.

Yeah that makes sense as well. I kind of had that thought running in the back of my head. I guess I'll just wait and save my money and see where I go from there. I dont want to get in a hurry and end up regreting what I buy or dont buy.

Driver_King · 04-24-2009, 01:08 AM

If you wait, you will be disappointed when you find there aren't any good deals left on the receivers. I found a really good deal on a used Yamaha 663 (sells for $400 plus shipping or more generally new). I am a member over there and found it while looking around. If the Marantz isn't good enough, the 663 is even better since it has pre-outs in case you want to purchase a separate amplifier.

efesbe · 04-24-2009, 03:52 AM

You're a perfect example of what I was talking about Driver King. From your gallery, I noticed all the older style speakers and apparently you still enjoy them and use them. If they sound good to you, why change it. I still have my Polk Audio's from the early 80's but apparently not being used, but I can't bring myself to get rid of them. You can update the electronics anytime and there will always be good deals on them because something new keeps popping up and people want to upgrade.
If you just buy the speakers you really want, that you can afford, get them first and they should last you for a long time.

Driver_King · 04-24-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efesbe

You're a perfect example of what I was talking about Driver King. From your gallery, I noticed all the older style speakers and apparently you still enjoy them and use them. If they sound good to you, why change it. I still have my Polk Audio's from the early 80's but apparently not being used, but I can't bring myself to get rid of them. You can update the electronics anytime and there will always be good deals on them because something new keeps popping up and people want to upgrade.
If you just buy the speakers you really want, that you can afford, get them first and they should last you for a long time.

I have auditioned quite a few speakers in even out of my range ($1.5k+) and the SDA's are still the best speakers I've heard. I upgraded from some old Technics speakers to the SDA's. They aren't just old speakers. I would love to give you a demo of them to show you how great they sound.

callas01 · 04-24-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masob98

Yeah that makes sense as well. I kind of had that thought running in the back of my head. I guess I'll just wait and save my money and see where I go from there. I dont want to get in a hurry and end up regreting what I buy or dont buy.

What sony sound system do you have?? Do you have a budget??

masob98 · 04-24-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

What sony sound system do you have?? Do you have a budget??

Heres the deal, Im gonna try to provide as much detail as possible, which I apologize for not previously. I have a sony 5.1 surround sound system (HTWWD900) I believe. Its about 2 years old. Basically at this point I really cant afford a complete upgrade, receiver and speakers, at the same time. So what I would like to do is start by upgrading the speakers, piece by piece. I am on a budget, I just want some decent speakers. I want to buy maybe the fronts and then save more money, then buy the center, save up more money and so on, until I upgrade all the speakers. Then I'll start saving for a receiver. My original question was though, what component should I start with that would improve my sound, even if it is just a little improvement. Should I get the center first or the fronts, sub or what. This is where I need help. Right now I have about 150 to 200 saved.

efesbe · 04-24-2009, 05:08 PM

Your gear is not bad. If you're more into HT, I would suggest upgrading the center first and let your current speakers do the rest. If you are more into music, then the main L/R should be your first upgrade. How about selling off that HD-DVD player

since you already have a PS3, then again, it's a very good upconversion for DVDs and you might not get much for it.

CosmoKid · 04-24-2009, 06:28 PM

I think the receiver should be the last thing you upgrade. unless you want to do it before your rear speakers.

You will hear a much bigger improvement with upgrading your speakers than you will with upgrading your receiver. And when I say "you" I mean you personally.

Upgrading your receiver to something with lossless won't change the way those speakers sound much. You will see much more of an improvement with that Dolby Digital receiver and better speakers. Running lossless with crap speakers just isn't worth it.

By the time you are ready for a new receiver, the new release models will have been out for a while and will have come down in price. So instead of getting a 663, you can get a 665 for under $400.

a good budget set-up is the Polk's from Newegg. Start with the front 3. Try to get the CS2 as opposed to the CS1 if you can.

Then use your Sony's for rears and save for your receiver. Once you buy your receiver you can worry about the rear speakers.

callas01 · 04-24-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masob98

Heres the deal, Im gonna try to provide as much detail as possible, which I apologize for not previously. I have a sony 5.1 surround sound system (HTWWD900) I believe. Its about 2 years old. Basically at this point I really cant afford a complete upgrade, receiver and speakers, at the same time. So what I would like to do is start by upgrading the speakers, piece by piece. I am on a budget, I just want some decent speakers. I want to buy maybe the fronts and then save more money, then buy the center, save up more money and so on, until I upgrade all the speakers. Then I'll start saving for a receiver. My original question was though, what component should I start with that would improve my sound, even if it is just a little improvement. Should I get the center first or the fronts, sub or what. This is where I need help. Right now I have about 150 to 200 saved.

I cannot find any info on your sony system, I would say, try and save up to about $600-900 and then start listening to speakers and receivers.

You could invest more into the Reciever and Front 3 speakers which is always the best way. but a decent entry level place to start is with polk monitor 50s/TSi300 ($99ea) and a CS2 center perhaps one of the newer entry receivers, Onkyo 507/607, Pioneer 819/919, Sony BH800, Yamaha 465/565/665, and then add an Acoustic Audio HD-SUB10 ($158).....

Good luck, let us know and we'll try to help.....

masob98 · 04-24-2009, 11:14 PM

I appreciate the help guys. I have a decent idea what I want to do and yes I was gearing towards some polk monitors and center to start with.

Trueno · 07-21-2010, 08:26 PM

If you don't have the money for all of your new equipment, i would suggest to begin with a new receiver, center channel and sub. These three component are very important to built a good and solid base.

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04-24-2009, 12:01 AM	#1
efesbe Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:24 Blu-ray collection:14	I'm nowhere near an expert but I would suggest saving your money first for the speakers since you already have a receiver. Speakers tend to not become old technology and there always seem to be some new feature on receivers every year or so. I remember buying my receiver for almost full price of $1200 and a year later they came out with DTS-HD MA which I don't have. Now I need a new one and can't afford one that I really want. Just my personal experience but I'm sure there will be some that agree. I had my previous speakers for over 10 years and they are still good now but I just had an upgrade bug that replaced them. I really didn't need to, but I couldn't pass up a deal. So with that said, get some decent main speakers (L,C,R) first. Use your current surrounds and save for some better ones later. Next, buy a receiver. You can get a very good used one on some forums and ebay. Spend more on the Speakers.

04-24-2009, 01:08 AM	#3
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	If you wait, you will be disappointed when you find there aren't any good deals left on the receivers. I found a really good deal on a used Yamaha 663 (sells for $400 plus shipping or more generally new). I am a member over there and found it while looking around. If the Marantz isn't good enough, the 663 is even better since it has pre-outs in case you want to purchase a separate amplifier.

04-24-2009, 03:52 AM	#4
efesbe Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:24 Blu-ray collection:14	You're a perfect example of what I was talking about Driver King. From your gallery, I noticed all the older style speakers and apparently you still enjoy them and use them. If they sound good to you, why change it. I still have my Polk Audio's from the early 80's but apparently not being used, but I can't bring myself to get rid of them. You can update the electronics anytime and there will always be good deals on them because something new keeps popping up and people want to upgrade. If you just buy the speakers you really want, that you can afford, get them first and they should last you for a long time.

04-24-2009, 05:08 PM	#8
efesbe Active Member Member since:Dec 2008 Home Theater Gallery:24 Blu-ray collection:14	Your gear is not bad. If you're more into HT, I would suggest upgrading the center first and let your current speakers do the rest. If you are more into music, then the main L/R should be your first upgrade. How about selling off that HD-DVD player since you already have a PS3, then again, it's a very good upconversion for DVDs and you might not get much for it.

04-24-2009, 06:28 PM	#9
CosmoKid Active Member Member since:Oct 2008 Location:Nutley, NJ Blu-ray collection:82 Trading Score:1	I think the receiver should be the last thing you upgrade. unless you want to do it before your rear speakers. You will hear a much bigger improvement with upgrading your speakers than you will with upgrading your receiver. And when I say "you" I mean you personally. Upgrading your receiver to something with lossless won't change the way those speakers sound much. You will see much more of an improvement with that Dolby Digital receiver and better speakers. Running lossless with crap speakers just isn't worth it. By the time you are ready for a new receiver, the new release models will have been out for a while and will have come down in price. So instead of getting a 663, you can get a 665 for under $400. a good budget set-up is the Polk's from Newegg. Start with the front 3. Try to get the CS2 as opposed to the CS1 if you can. Then use your Sony's for rears and save for your receiver. Once you buy your receiver you can worry about the rear speakers.

04-24-2009, 11:14 PM	#11
masob98 Power Member Member since:Apr 2008 Home Theater Gallery:15 4K collection:9 Blu-ray collection:384 DVD collection:9 Blu-ray reviews:11	I appreciate the help guys. I have a decent idea what I want to do and yes I was gearing towards some polk monitors and center to start with.

07-21-2010, 08:26 PM	#12
Trueno Junior Member Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:27	If you don't have the money for all of your new equipment, i would suggest to begin with a new receiver, center channel and sub. These three component are very important to built a good and solid base.

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