Ive got 2000 to burn. How should I optimize my system??

[mrbigsho83]

So I have a samsung ln-t4071 with an onkyo 706 connected to an emotiva xpa 5 amp and aperion speakers (5c centers, 4b satellite surrounds, 5b bookshelves fronts). I've also got a ps3 as my bluray player.
I was thinking I could:

a) sell my tv and use all the money to get a maybe a 52 samsung a650
b) upgrade the fronts to towers and make the bookshelves my surround speakers and the satellites my rears
c) buy a standalone blu-ray player
d) buy a lot of games and movies
e) save it up for something later

What do you guys think? Any other ideas are also appreciated...

[SDBlu]

Do you have a sub? How much do you like your current speaker set-up? How much do you like your current TV? What do you feel is lacking most? You gotta set some priorities, and get whatever is lacking first

[bluseminole]

Alot depends on how you answer the above questions, but if you already have a sub, I'd upgrade the L/R mains to tower speakers and also upgrade the center channel--you don't want to let your center fall behind your L/R if you can help it (hypocrite that I am--that's the situation I'm in now). It's noticeable when the center channel isn't on the same level performance-wise as your mains.

[doctorsteve]

Your system would be so much better if you sent me the two grand and I'll remind you daily how great your system is...

[sokrman14]

Tell us what you have first, then we can help what you may need to upgrade or add

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

On the first thought...you wouldn't have to sell your tv for a 52" Sammy 650...if you should around you could get one with money left over to buy a couple blus

[Sith]

Originally Posted by mrbigsho83

So I have a samsung ln-t4071 with an onkyo 706 connected to an emotiva xpa 5 amp and aperion speakers (5c centers, 4b satellite surrounds, 5b bookshelves fronts). I've also got a ps3 as my bluray player.
I was thinking I could:

a) sell my tv and use all the money to get a maybe a 52 samsung a650
b) upgrade the fronts to towers and make the bookshelves my surround speakers and the satellites my rears
c) buy a standalone blu-ray player
d) buy a lot of games and movies
e) save it up for something later

What do you guys think? Any other ideas are also appreciated...

Sell your t.v. and buy a KURO

[richard lichtenfelt]

Originally Posted by Sith

Sell your t.v. and buy a KURO

I couldn't agree more. I got my 5020 about a month ago and it still wows me on a daily basis.
I gave my Sony LCD to my mother b/c there's no way I'd watch anything other than the Pio now.

[mrbigsho83]

I have a bravus 8d sub also from aperion. Its a great subwoofer and I dont want to disturb my roommates living two floors above me any more than I already do. Here is the speaker system I currently have. http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/...17,70,269.aspx

That pioneer kuro pdp5020 is very tempting. It also got me dreaming of getting the pro-111fd. How much of a performance difference would I have between those two models? If I got the pro, id definitely have to sell my old tv...

[kingofgrills]

You may have your heart set on a new TV, but I would suggest investing a bit in accoustical room treatments. That would help you get the most out of your current and future equipment.

If you check out www.auralex.com , they will give you a free basic room assessment if you fill out the form. It costs nothing to get the assessment done, and once you do it you aren't obligated to buy anything. It's worth considering though.

[richard lichtenfelt]

Originally Posted by mrbigsho83

That pioneer kuro pdp5020 is very tempting. It also got me dreaming of getting the pro-111fd. How much of a performance difference would I have between those two models? If I got the pro, id definitely have to sell my old tv...

The only difference is that the pro gives you some extra calibration controls, it is the same exact tv otherwise.
From D-Nice's (a very well known hdtv calibrator from avsforum.com, and calibrationforums.com) review of the pdp-6020:

Conclusion
The 6020FDs introduction poised many challenges for Pioneer. Could Pioneer improve on a series that
has won more awards than I have fingers to count? Could Pioneer drop the minimum luminance level of
a PDP that to date, no other manufacturer has yet equaled or surpassed? Could Pioneer create a PDP
that expresses a voluptuous color pallet that is second to none? Is it possible? Overall, I would have to
say yes. The 6020FD will quench any potential owner’s thirst for unparallelled picture quality like no
other display I’ve encountered. Mouthwatering colors, mystifying black levels coupled with mindboggling
contrast dynamics. Unfortunately, the 6020FD is not without flaws: soft SD PQ performance,
paltry number of user picture controls….especially on a $5,500 TV, A/V picture mode performance
(minus Movie and Optimum mode) that you would expect on a Vizio, Olevia, or other cheap <censored>
display. However, the 6020FDs overall presentation in Movie mode is second to none. I’ll end this on a
Will Smith quote from Independence Day:
“I have GOT to get me one of these!!!!”

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by mrbigsho83

So I have a samsung ln-t4071 with an onkyo 706 connected to an emotiva xpa 5 amp and aperion speakers (5c centers, 4b satellite surrounds, 5b bookshelves fronts). I've also got a ps3 as my bluray player.
I was thinking I could:

a) sell my tv and use all the money to get a maybe a 52 samsung a650

46a950 is 2544 on amazon

[Mondo Rock]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Your system would be so much better if you sent me the two grand and I'll remind you daily how great your system is...

[red_5ive]

Get a prepro like the upcoming Emotiva UMC-1, and you should have enough to add some decent towers (maybe the Aperion Intimus 6T?). That'll probably put you at a little over $2k, but I think it'd be worth it and you could sell the 706 to make up the difference.

[mrbigsho83]

alright, ive narrowed it down to three options:

a) saving a little longer and getting the 46a950
b) selling the bookshelves and getting towers and (potentially the umc-1)
c) getting the kuro pdp-5020

I gotta say im leaning towards the kuro, that tv is beautiful. im a big gamer however, and i really like the effect 120hz mode has on games and ive heard the contrast of the a950 is better than the pioneer...

[kpkelley]

First of all, the 950's dynamic contrast may be better, but the native contrast of the Kuro exceeds that of the Sammy. Furthermore, LCD's need 120hz processing because they are susceptible to motion blur, Plasmas are not nearly as susceptible and the motion processing on the kuro exceeds that of any other television.

One idea that no one has thrown around yet is you could spend the 2k to get a 720p projector with an electronic screen to come down in front of the television for those times when you want to watch a movie in an immersive environment. Also, a second subwoofer might be a good idea to give you more balanced and responsive bass.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

First of all, the 950's dynamic contrast may be better, but the native contrast of the Kuro exceeds that of the Sammy. Furthermore, LCD's need 120hz processing because they are susceptible to motion blur, Plasmas are not nearly as susceptible and the motion processing on the kuro exceeds that of any other television.

One idea that no one has thrown around yet is you could spend the 2k to get a 720p projector with an electronic screen to come down in front of the television for those times when you want to watch a movie in an immersive environment. Also, a second subwoofer might be a good idea to give you more balanced and responsive bass.

+1. Do not know the room dimensions, but for $2 grand, this is definitely something you might be able to do. It wouldn't hurt to look into it anyway.

[Cisco in HD]

How long have you had your 5Bs? I ask because if they're under a year you can upgrade your fronts and get full credit of what you paid for your 5Bs. The 5Bs wouldn't be great as surrounds since they are rear ported. You'll need a bit of space from the wall, not to mention they are real hard to wall mount being a 22lb speaker. Upgrade your 5Bs for 5T towers. The towers will cost 990 and you'll get $450 refund for the 5Bs. You'll get 2 towers for $540. That's what I did. Then you'll have about ~$1500 to burn with new towers. That's what I did. Plus the towers are front ported, so you could push them against the wall, if you wish.

[blujacket]

Forget a new tv, get a projector.