How much of a difference I am looking at here?

[JJ]

Hmm, wonder how many times this question has been beaten to death, but let's see if I can word it a little different.

Alright, right now I am running a $500 Samsung HTiB via optical to the PS3, only using DD5.1 @ 640/448 or DTS @ 1.5 for sound. That has a specific quality all itself.

Now, in a few weeks, I will be upgrading to an Onkyo 605/705 and a complete set of either Klipsch or JBL tower speakers + sub, somewhere around $2000 total.

Now, will the switch from DD/DTS to TrueHD/PCM/DTS HD MA combined with a difference in THD that the Samsung HTiB receiver and the Onkyo have, along with the speaker quality difference, I'm looking at a much more enveloping sound experience, correct?

Regardless, I'm going to upgrade anyway, I was just curious.

[Beta Man]

I don't really have any experience with those brands, but It would stand to reason that you should notice it quite dramatically...... My last speaker upgrade was very noticeable, and I just got new fronts, and moved the existing ones to the rears....... big improvement in sound....

[J6P]

Massive.

To my ears the HD audio difference is just as stark as going from 480i to 1080p, assuming the proper equipment.

And it's the warmth of the sound that gets me, not the big explosions. Even during a "quiet" movie the presence is amazing with all of that bandwidth churning away. I don't even have towers, just a 7.1 set of separates I've cobbled together over the years.

Even on my system the soundstage sounds so much more open and lush listening to lossless. Lossy sound is a strain on my ears now. The low bitrate is fatiguing and you don't really notice that until you get some good PCM time under your belt. Enjoy.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by J6P

Massive.

To my ears the HD audio difference is just as stark as going from 480i to 1080p, assuming the proper equipment.

And it's the warmth of the sound that gets me, not the big explosions. Even during a "quiet" movie the presence is amazing with all of that bandwidth churning away. I don't even have towers, just a 7.1 set of separates I've cobbled together over the years.

Even on my system the soundstage sounds so much more open and lush listening to lossless. Lossy sound is a strain on my ears now. The low bitrate is fatiguing and you don't really notice that until you get some good PCM time under your belt. Enjoy.

Jesus, that was well-said. Thanks, Joe; now Im going crazy, I want to buy it now. Exactly what I needed to hear.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Jesus, that was well-said. Thanks, Joe; now Im going crazy, I want to buy it now. Exactly what I needed to hear.

He's absolutely correct... your new equipment will turn your home movie experience into an ACTUAL EXPERIENCE instead of just watching movies or playing video games!

[TOP_GUN]

yep

[iNCREDiPiNOY]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

He's absolutely correct... your new equipment will turn your home movie experience into an ACTUAL EXPERIENCE instead of just watching movies or playing video games!

+1

[quirkmanly]

I pretty much did the same thing two weeks ago. I had a relatively crappy Sony box set-up and upgraded to the 605 and set of JBL speakers. My budget was limited, but I was able to pull something nice together for what I had available and it has made such a difference to my enjoyment of my collection. With judicious use of the funds you have available to you, you will be able to put something together that moves into a new realm of experience. Good surround sound is so much more than simply having sound all around you.

I'm going to leave it to the genuine resident experts to guide you along the path of choice though......

[Clark Kent]

A monster difference. Most HTiB setups I've heard sound weak and anemic compared to a full complement of speakers driven by lossless sound. Sound quality is almost never a priority for the designers of HTiBs.

[rox addict]

I'm in the same boat right now ! I just watched Apocolypto through my Yamaha HTR- 5740 3 year old receiver. I am using all Infinity speakers with a 7.1 setup and two huge Interlude IL-50's. I use the Interludes as my bass as they have two powered 12" woofers and it sounded amazing just running Dolby Digital EX. Now I have been feeling a little blue because I scraped my pockets to order a new receiver and a seperate sub which come in on Tuesday. I ordered the Yamaha RX-V663BL receiver and an Infinity SW-12 subwoofer all totaling $900. I'm not gonna go bankrupt but I will be eating Ramon Noodles for a while If it sounds better than the Dolby Digital EX 7.1 setup I have right now then I will be no longer depressed. I hope Lossless audio is everything I have read about and if it can sound better than what I have now then I'll be a happy camper.....

[trey]

What can you these days upgrade to other than in wall speakers that wil be more along the lines of mounted tv's minimal cables. I'd like to be able to move the system later so I don't want to put them in the walls, but I would like to at least get close to my old acoustimass system (the sub woofer has died). Any suggestions for easily hidden/super small good surrounds

[HAMP]

I recently moved from HTiB, a Panasonic to a Onkyo 605(wasn't totally satisfied), then to the Onkyo 805.

Since the change I have a new problem, I have been looking for the TrueHD or PCM on the cases of movies. Since I have upgraded to the 805(thursday the 13th), I have bought 7 new blu-ray movies.

It would seem sound is my issue now.

[rox addict]

Trey I have In-Celing Infinity speakers (4 of them ) and both my plasmas are wall-mounted with hidden cables. I got real lucky cause a friend of mine works for a real high Audio store where I am from and they charge $80 an hr He charged me $20 an hr so I put him to work. I installed all in wall and ceiling speakers in my bedroom ( Accurian Speakers $20 a piece for a total of $100 and they sound phenominal ! ) I used my old Onkyo receiver and Onkyo sub. I put my Toshiba HDA-2 in the bedroom with a 37" plasma. I then had him install two speakers in my kitchen and on my backyard patio ( Sonance ) w/ two Nile Speaker controls. I then moved to the new system in my den where he installed 4 surround Infinity in ceiling speakers and mounted my 50 " Samsung plasma. He also installed two phone jacks for my my DS DVR's. I think I paid him around $500 to do all this work so I saved a butt load there but still spent a buttload on equipment and accessories

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by trey

What can you these days upgrade to other than in wall speakers that wil be more along the lines of mounted tv's minimal cables. I'd like to be able to move the system later so I don't want to put them in the walls, but I would like to at least get close to my old acoustimass system (the sub woofer has died). Any suggestions for easily hidden/super small good surrounds

As far as micro systems go that are "small" yet offer great sound..... The B&W M-1's (mini theater) speakers sound great.... I auditioned them, and several people here have said they have them. I'd go take a listen for yourself if you get a chance.

Also Cambridge Soundworks makes some nice satellites.