"Would I actually hear a difference?"
It depends on your system. You need to let us know what the rest of the system is.
My guess is that if the HT setup cost much under $5000 then the difference will not be pronounced. If it cost under $2000 I doubt you'll hear any difference at all.
The reason I say this is I used to own a Mission Cyrus 2 amp and Cyrus speakers .... great stuff, but mid-level. It would be a $1000 amp and $500 speakers at today's prices. I couldn't hear any difference between a cheap Yamaha CD player and a Meridian 506.20 in that system. That same system could clearly resolve the difference between a $250 turntable and a $1000 turntable, indicating to me that the "source first" argument of hifi is not so applicable with digital playback.
Fast forward, and I now have a more transparent amp and speakers, but the difference between an inexpensive DVD player and a $1000 stand alone player is subtle. It may be worthwhile, but it definitely will not make your "jaw hit the floor" as some others would have you believe.
It depends on your system. You need to let us know what the rest of the system is.
My guess is that if the HT setup cost much under $5000 then the difference will not be pronounced. If it cost under $2000 I doubt you'll hear any difference at all.
The reason I say this is I used to own a Mission Cyrus 2 amp and Cyrus speakers .... great stuff, but mid-level. It would be a $1000 amp and $500 speakers at today's prices. I couldn't hear any difference between a cheap Yamaha CD player and a Meridian 506.20 in that system. That same system could clearly resolve the difference between a $250 turntable and a $1000 turntable, indicating to me that the "source first" argument of hifi is not so applicable with digital playback.
Fast forward, and I now have a more transparent amp and speakers, but the difference between an inexpensive DVD player and a $1000 stand alone player is subtle. It may be worthwhile, but it definitely will not make your "jaw hit the floor" as some others would have you believe.