Is new AVR worth it?

[pinky & the brain]

Current system: Yamaha rx-v863 avr, crown xls1502 amp, Fronts Paradigm Prestige 95f, center paradigm prestige 45c, surrounds: polk lsi9 booshelf, rear surrounds: Bose 191, front presence: Boston acoustic CR6 bookshelf, Subwoofer: Klipsch KSW10 Sub Woofer.

Is it worth upgrading to Yamaha RX-A2070 receiver or anthem MCA325 amplifier? We like to listen to our movies and music on the loud side and feel submersed in the surround sound. Other audio/video equipment Kenwood CD player, Sony Blu Ray, Mac mini, Roku & Tivo. We could really use more HDMI inputs... And like to connect via bluetooth.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

tbh the weakest link in your system is the sub. Definitely, start with upgrading it first.
usual suspects ID subwoofer brands: HSU, Rhythmic, SVS, PSA

p.s.: Love the cartoon. I find myself occasionally quote:

Gee, Brain. What are we going to do tonight? The Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world.

 

[pinky & the brain]

hehe, I like that quote too. Thanks about the sub info.

 

[snakeeyes]

Another vote for a sub first. The brands listed are the best values. I have Rythmik but looked seriously at all 4 of those. Calculate cubic feet and whether space is closed or open to other rooms. Also the 2070 is similar to the 2060 I have if you have any specific questions on them. I haven’t cut into the ceiling yet to get atmos going in 5.1.4 but it’s on my wishlist for this year...

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

+1 for sub

 

[lovinthehd]

If the new avr gives you additional connectivity or features you want, that could be a good reason. Having an additional channel of power might be nice, but you could just add another 1502 for a lot less and have more power. I'd also consider a sub upgrade (or perhaps multiple subs depending on room volume).

 

[pinky & the brain]

Thank you for all of the feedback. Have considered another 1502 to run the polk lsi9's since they are 4 ohms. We are currently researching the subs that everyone mentioned and will probably upgrade it next and then go from there.

Have to say though, I'm surprised Everyone said to get a new sub instead of a new receiver. We were mainly looking at new receiver for additional connectivity options and being able to get atmos, dts-x and the rest of the new video sound formats that we don't have. Haven't done the math (not sure I could , but the new receiver running more speakers vs what we have now is probably a wash regarding the power it provides per channel.

We just added the amp yesterday and really was expecting more volumne/power just by adding it. I think we might have had unrealistic expectations of what an amp would do for the system. With that being said, I think it gave piece of mind knowing that the front speakers have enough power now.

room size is 21 x 31 x 10=6510 cf (open floor plan).

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thank you for all of the feedback. Have considered another 1502 to run the polk lsi9's since they are 4 ohms. We are currently researching the subs that everyone mentioned and will probably upgrade it next and then go from there.

Have to say though, I'm surprised Everyone said to get a new sub instead of a new receiver. We were mainly looking at new receiver for additional connectivity options and being able to get atmos, dts-x and the rest of the new video sound formats that we don't have. Haven't done the math (not sure I could , but the new receiver running more speakers vs what we have now is probably a wash regarding the power it provides per channel.

We just added the amp yesterday and really was expecting more volumne/power just by adding it. I think we might have had unrealistic expectations of what an amp would do for the system. With that being said, I think it gave piece of mind knowing that the front speakers have enough power now.

room size is 21 x 31 x 10=6510 cf (open floor plan).

6.5k CU FT??? This is what you really want: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-15hmk2Dual.html

 

[snakeeyes]

That’s a good size space. I would look at ported 15 in subs. If you don’t want a movie theater like setup what are your goals? What display do you have or plan to have? Do you have an iPhone and plan to use it as a remote and to stream audio via AirPlay? Do you plan to stream with the receiver via pandora or Spotify? Do you have a plan for adding Atmos ceiling speakers?
I went from RXV3300 to RXA2060 so a 15 year jump forward and I had no hdmi or lip sync delay adjustments or Dolby truehd... but upgrading a sub is something amazing that you will definitely notice! Sub first then go upgrade the AVR too...

 

[pinky & the brain]

I do want a theatre like setup!!! That is primarily what we use it for, but we also use it just for music listening and that sounds pretty good to us.

We have a 65" 1080 tv. Probably won't be upgrading the TV for quite a while, but maybe eventually. (We did see the Qled 9's at best buy yesterday and they looked fantastic).

No iPhone, but stream with android via screen mirroring through Roku and bluetooth through yamaha adapter (usually comedy or specialized talk). Would prefer to stream directly through receiver, either Tunein or Pandora (whatever's free), but we also listen to local Ota radio stations and cd's, more than streaming music.

We are looking at a 15" sub now. Hadn't really considered it before, but it does seem like a logical upgrade.

Would love to add Atmos in ceiling speakers eventually. But really, plan on just using current back surround and front presence for a while.

Funds are not unlimited and we just dropped way more than we planned on to upgrade speakers (really only went in for center channel because we couldn't make out what was being said without cranking up the volume), we had to go back and get the matching fronts (did I mention we went in for klipsch?). Realized our receiver was under-powering them. And so the journey begins....

 

[pinky & the brain]

6.5k CU FT??? This is what you really want: http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-15hmk2Dual.html

That looks really good, but more than we can afford to spend right now on a sub. I do like their description of giving you a massage though

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I think your upgrade path is pretty logical so far. I’m definitely an advocate for an atmos upgrade too as my rsl C34e’s just got here and my avr will follow suit. Atmos will be a considerable upgrade over “presence” speakers. However, the base of your theater is solid, except for the sub. You will see great returns on that. As said, Rythmik and HSU are probably the best value although the monoprice monolith subs are getting good feedback. PSA should be on the list too.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

That looks really good, but more than we can afford to spend right now on a sub. I do like their description of giving you a massage though

This pair would give you practically same output and extension at a bit cheaper and smaller boxes.
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HPDual.html
Or you could get just one for now and add a second one later. You still should be able to get same discount if you contact them. I've met with Dr. Hsu - very nice dude.

 

[PENG]

Current system: Yamaha rx-v863 avr, crown xls1502 amp, Fronts Paradigm Prestige 95f, center paradigm prestige 45c, surrounds: polk lsi9 booshelf, rear surrounds: Bose 191, front presence: Boston acoustic CR6 bookshelf, Subwoofer: Klipsch KSW10 Sub Woofer.

Is it worth upgrading to Yamaha RX-A2070 receiver or anthem MCA325 amplifier? We like to listen to our movies and music on the loud side and feel submersed in the surround sound. Other audio/video equipment Kenwood CD player, Sony Blu Ray, Mac mini, Roku & Tivo. We could really use more HDMI inputs... And like to connect via bluetooth.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

I would say yes, because the RX-V863 is not that great, not much better than the RX-A860 that AH reviewed recently. The RX-A2070 should be much better, but probably not as good as the Denon AVR-X4400h or Marantz SR6012.

Upgrading the sub first, as others mentioned, may give you more bangs for the buck. In the meantime, make sure you set the XLS1502's input sensitivity to .775 Vrms instead of the default 1.4 Vrms (my assumption).

 

[pinky & the brain]

In the meantime, make sure you set the XLS1502's input sensitivity to .775 Vrms instead of the default 1.4 Vrms (my assumption).

I have no idea what this is. We did switch it and then put it back because we didn't know what it did or didn't do. Can you educate me?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Current system: Yamaha rx-v863 avr, crown xls1502 amp..

Is it worth upgrading to Yamaha RX-A2070 receiver or anthem MCA325 amplifier?

It would be worth changing to a different brand AVR only if you prefer a particular EQ.

I prefer Audyssey Dynamic EQ (which boosts mainly the mid-bass and boosts some of the treble to create a more Dynamic lively sound). So to me, it would be worth changing to a Denon, Marantz, or McIntosh that has Dynamic EQ.

But it's not worth it going from one Yamaha AVR to another Yamaha AVR or from one Denon AVR to another Denon AVR or from one amp to another amp.

 

[snakeeyes]

What is the budget for sub? Any size restrictions?

 

[lovinthehd]

Thank you for all of the feedback. Have considered another 1502 to run the polk lsi9's since they are 4 ohms. We are currently researching the subs that everyone mentioned and will probably upgrade it next and then go from there.

Have to say though, I'm surprised Everyone said to get a new sub instead of a new receiver. We were mainly looking at new receiver for additional connectivity options and being able to get atmos, dts-x and the rest of the new video sound formats that we don't have. Haven't done the math (not sure I could , but the new receiver running more speakers vs what we have now is probably a wash regarding the power it provides per channel.

We just added the amp yesterday and really was expecting more volumne/power just by adding it. I think we might have had unrealistic expectations of what an amp would do for the system. With that being said, I think it gave piece of mind knowing that the front speakers have enough power now.

room size is 21 x 31 x 10=6510 cf (open floor plan).

Well not everyone, I didn't say sub instead of avr. Just depends on how much you want to spend on both, if you really want the expanded connectivity/features of a new avr If you want to do some calculating on power/speaker combos try an spl calculator to get an idea http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html. You're not the first to discover an amp doesn't magically make things better with power you're not using....keep in mind it takes a doubling of power to gain merely 3dB spl.

 

[PENG]

I have no idea what this is. We did switch it and then put it back because we didn't know what it did or didn't do. Can you educate me?

The preamp output of the entry level Yamaha AVRs seemed a little too low for comfort. By setting the Crown to 0.775V, it allows the amp to achieve it's rated out when the input is only 0.775V instead of the 1.4V default setting. That could result in lower distortions. Otherwise the Yamaha may have to work almost twice as hard, resulting in higher distortion at higher output levels.

 

[pinky & the brain]

Well not everyone, I didn't say sub instead of avr.

Sorry, I should have said almost everyone. I would love to get both right now, but can't. Still trying to decide. Leaning towards another amp for the 4 ohm speakers and maybe 1 sub for now.