Do nothing until after you move. Once you are in your new home, access your needs then. If you are like most people when you move into new digs, there will be many, many more needs for the $1,500. |
I'm about 100% certain that all of your guests will mostly be WOWED by a huge HD front projection screen image, over any upgrade you could make to your audio system!
There's simply no replacement for the immersive impact that a large screen experience offers!
If it's me, I'd ditch the 60", and you can get STUNNING huge screen, ulta high quality imagery, going JVC projector, from any of the following - HD350/RS10/RS250/RS15/RS20/RS25/HD750/HD550/HD950/X3/X30/RS40/RS45/RS35.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE CAPABLE OF DARN NEAR WORLD CLASS 1080P IMMAGES OFF A STANDARD WHITE - even cheapo - projection screen! (dark room, necessitated, in any case though - uness you got light rejection screen for bigger budget).
I dare you to get more "WOW" out of your system than upgrading to quality front projection!
That's just my thoughts .. but then I have been in and out of high end audio/video for 18 years. Now, sound isn't a huge priority, as is video. But that's me.
If sound is going to be most important for you right now, you're going to find you get most upgrade from speakers!
Better, more effective home theater speakers are going to have the most dramatic improvement in sound for you, yes.
You'll spend more on higher end music capable speakers, that also do super dynamic, coherent, transparent, effective HT speakers, but they're out there.
Look through your Stereophile and Ultimate Home Theater, even HT magazine recommended components and reviews for high end speakers that double for HT duties, effectively, and that should help.
Sure,..stay with your B&K (I'd upgrade if no current HD codecs or HDMI switching though), and focus on loudspeakers for audio, yes. If you must do full range loudspeakers for 2 channel, etc, then look into ultra high efficiency, Dappolito, multi-woofer/tweeter designs for strongly reinforced sound propegation, and solid soundstage, speed of and impact of mid/hi freq sound, with good focus (especailly vertically) and coherence. Powered woofers help GEATLY for dynamics, and horns always have lots of pressence, and focus, and strong dynamics and efficiency. So consider.
I would stay away from more delicate, open, single mid-woof/tweeter traditional stereo speakers for all out dedicated movie speakers. You'll find they're the opposite of what a good dynamic, hard hitting movie theater loudspeaker - with lots of presence (not laid back) - has to offer! So choose wisely.
Yep, first front pj upgrade, then consider maybe high end dedicated movie monitors, and mate quality subwoofers with em!
There's a ton of monitor system upgrades you could have, USED, for $1500 invest, sure!
Hope this helps |
I know that I will need to spend money on a good projector. I will make the room with no windows. So light isn't an issue. I also know I will spend thousands of more dollars. Just anxious to buy something now. Hahaha.
My speakers already sound darn good. Won't I have to invest tons more money to get better sound out of my speakers? |
I appreciate both of your suggestions. I am looking for as many opinions as possible to make an educated decision. |
AVgoround wrote I would stay away from more delicate, open, single mid-woof/tweeter traditional stereo speakers for all out dedicated movie speakers. You'll find they're the opposite of what a good dynamic, hard hitting movie theater loudspeaker - with lots of presence (not laid back) - has to offer! So choose wisely. Does AV's POV on HT speakers have a lot of support? ... IE... you have to go very high end speaker to get the impact and presence that you want for HT... Basically the two tasks are different enough that you have a fork in the road choice to make. If so... the advice of keep your two channel rig separate from your HT rig carries even more weight.. |
Good point. I do have a different system for stereo. Very simple and only plays CD's. |
Ok,
So I bought an all BOSE system! Acoustimass 33 from the BOSE outlet store! It is gonna be so awesome!! |
So I bought an all BOSE system! Acoustimass 33 from the BOSE outlet store! It is gonna be so awesome!!
Apparently... you are fully into he spirit of the day! (I would have thought BOSE would have gone away 30 years ago! I of course failed to recognize the WAF) |
No, not what was intended. I was stating that, if he did need high end 2 channel music duties, and wanted to stay same speakers as HT speaker, "combo" system (I'm assuming his dedicated theater room was for "all out, dedicated theater"- could be wrong), then he'd likely have to pay-up!
Yes, you can get a darn good, high out-put, quality, effective, and yet budget type of home theater speaker system, which fills a large space with potent theater sound, yes! I am assuming that his love of DCM's, means he's into this stuff a bit. I also assumed he was doing double duty for music and movies with the same system.
Let me clarify a bit, you can get a very strong sounding theater presentation from some innexpensive Klipsch Horns in that eventual dedicated space, I'm certain! I would also suggest that you would get a stronger offering for HT duties from that same Klipsch system, then your DCM's! They look like music speakers to me.
Of course, if you stay separate music/movie systems, and you like female vocals, light chamber music, modest level rock/pop, jazz, blues, etc, then most any higher ambition audiophile offering can do pretty darn nice sounding music, from a speaker. I think many here know that.
Thiels, B&W's, higher Paradigms n NHT's, Snells, Dyn's, you name it! Much nice sounding music speakers in these, and similar line-ups. However, throw a full THX system effort into a "request", and now what does what? -and in a large room, no less?! It's all I'm saying...n to each his own.
The age old sying, "a good speaker is a good speaker", just doesn't equate ..that is unless you come to the realization that most commercial home audio speakers aren't adequate to do full justice to a lot of high demand source material out there, without coming apart at the seams, n flattening out when you put the gutts to em! ..and movie sountracks are murder on a lot of gear out there.
You have choices...chose wisely
If anyone here like's to embrace the Bose Cube for their HT needs. I say, "God Bless em!" |
I think I am going to try to demo some speakers. I will look into some Martin Logan and B&W cause they are close to my house at best buy. I will see if I have an improvement over my DCM. |
Dcmlover,
Remember, "delayed gratification" is a concept embraced by sane, rational and successful humans. Meaning don't let your new found funds burn a hole in your pocket; read, listen to as many options as you can, be patient and make the right choices for your ears and wallet.
Just my 2 cents
Tim |
Thanks Tim. Trust me, I am very careful about the money I spend. That is why I am looking for advise . I want to make sure I spend my money wisely. |
Dcmlover,
On the other hand, sometimes you just have to say:"WTF", live a little and just go for it. I think Avgoround's suggestion of a front projection system (JVC?) is a good one. This would form an excellent basis of a very nice ht, especially if you're able to dedicate a room in your new house to a ht.
Thanks,
Tim
Devil's Advocate |
Thank you for that. I know I will buy a nice projector for sure. I might just hold on for 6 months and buy one, or blow it now. I am like a kid in a candy store!! |
Dcmlover,
I think your B&K ref50 still holds up as a good processor if you're just going to setup a 5.1 system and don't want to use one of the newer codecs.
Also, adding an OPPO (new 103 or 105, used 93 0r 95) is a very good move. I don't currently own one but, from what I've read and heard, these sre versatile and excellent players. This will most likely be the brand I get when I upgrade to Bluray.
Good luck,
Tim |
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.
I dont know much about your speakers & sub, but I do know I like dynamic speakers for HT. Hard to beat Kkipsch reference. You could almost get Klipsch KLF 30's, 20's, and the C7 for just over 1500. If you upgraded their tweeter diaphrams from Crites to titanium(another 160 aprox) your theater would rock.
I have owned all the Logans. They will play loud with a good amp, but their dynamics stink IMO. I now use the KLF setup, and smile with every movie.
Again I am not familiar with your speakers.
I also prefer 2-4 quality subs that may have less spl, but go deep, verses 1 monster sub in one location. |
"Thanks Tim. Trust me, I am very careful about the money I spend. That is why I am looking for advise . I want to make sure I spend my money wisely."
(Dcmlover)
Albert Einstein (kinda smart guy -had a few answers) once said something like: -"It wasn't that I was smarter that I learned these things, but that I merely stayed with the problem longer"
-"I have no special talents, only that I am passionately curious"
If you really wan't to know for yourself, YOU'RE GUNNA HAVE TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE! Otherwise, you'll settle for what someone else thinks is right for you. You'll get out of it what you put into it. For those of us, it's a Hobby. |
04-18-13: Sthomas12321
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.
Isn't the DAC in my Sony just kind of mediocre? A better dac like oppo would sound better I think. |
If you really wan't to know for yourself, YOU'RE GUNNA HAVE TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE! Otherwise, you'll settle for what someone else thinks is right for you. You'll get out of it what you put into it. For those of us, it's a Hobby.
Avgoround (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
That is why I have't bought anything yet. I am asking for opinions, then experiencing for myself. I won't just blindly purchase based on someones option. It is however a way to direct me to certain products or ideas. Especially with areas I am not as familiar with. That is the great thing about forums. You look for random opinions from hobbyists with similar passions, and look for what other people like and don't like and why. |
04-22-13: Dcmlover
04-18-13: Sthomas12321
Your B&K's are great for older formats, and if your Sony has analog out, it will be fine for HD formats.
It isnt the best DAC, but with HD audio its not likely to sound terrible. For me, once your at HD audio, its more about dynamics and tonal preference of different brands. Personally I would go with your blu ray player with HD audio over your B&K standard dolby digital DTS. But I love B&K's characteristics over Sonys with what I have owned. If your playing DVD the B&K is the ticket.
There is a point of limited return for your money. HD audio really makes even the cheaper DAC's sound pretty good. The difference in my ps3 fat pcm losless, vs a transport to my Onkyo 866 prepro doing the decoding is extremely small. I'm not a huge Onkyo fan, but thats just tonal preference, it does play clean. So, I think your combo is not your wealk link. I'd go with speakers and projector. I am sound over video btw.
Again, just my opinion. |
Hi
If you are not a all show person I would not buy any new speakers. You can find lots of great speakers on CL. Wives (I Know no emails) make lots of men get rid of there old school large speakers. You can find amazing sets of speakers that sound amazing. Pick up a new school Sunfire or similar powered subwoofer or make your own 12" woofers and power them with high quality mono or stereo amps, also from CL. 7.1,2 or 3 or 9.1,2 or 3. Just my 2 cents
Lemon |
That is how I have gotten all my gear. My B&K amp was $200.00. My BD player was $50.00. My Thiel Sub was $250.00. After getting deals like that, I can't buy new! |
I got a pair of time window 7's recently. Going to get a projector.
Any suggestions for best bang for the buck? |
