What's my next move (upgrading)

[pbatty]

Hi all, new to the world of home theater and looking for input on the weakest link in my set up. It is mostly for movie watching and gaming.

I currently have:
AVR - Marantz SR5007
LCR - PSB Imagine W2 Soundbar
Surround L/R: PSB XB Bookshelf
Sub: JBL 550P

The room dimensions are 16' X 20' X 8'. I have a sectional sofa opposite the tv on the back wall, with a foot or two of room behind it that I can play with.

Most of this equipment was gifted to me years ago. I feel like there are a few directions I can go in but not sure which would give me the biggest value for dollar.

1. Atmos? I know for 5.x.4 I will need to upgrade to an Atmos capable 9.2 receiver. I'm looking at the Marantz SR6013.
2. Replace the soundbar with individual fronts? The soundbar sounds great to my ears but I can't help but feel I'm missing out on a better experience with real fronts/larger fronts.
3. Upgrade or add additional subwoofer? At first I considered getting a second JBL 550P, but I'm starting to feel like these are not powerful enough for the effect I want in my room. Looking at SVS PB2000 or the Monolith 12".

Currently my budget only allows for 1 of these steps. So, if you were in my shoes which would you choose? Or is there another option I'm not thinking of?

Advice greatly appreciated!

 

[Pogre]

2. Replace the soundbar with individual fronts? The soundbar sounds great to my ears but I can't help but feel I'm missing out on a better experience with real fronts/larger fronts.
3. Upgrade or add additional subwoofer? At first I considered getting a second JBL 550P, but I'm starting to feel like these are not powerful enough for the effect I want in my room. Looking at SVS PB2000 or the Monolith 12".

This is where I'd start, and in this order. A good pair of speakers will always outperform a sound bar. Your sub, honestly I don't know a lot about, but it's a common weak link with home theater systems.

What kind of budget are you working with?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Replace the soundbar with individual fronts?

Winner right there.

Get some matching PSB fronts to go along with your PSB surround bookshelf speakers. At least just get 3 more of those PSB bookshelf speakers for the front 3.

 

[ryanosaur]

Agree. I recommend proceeding in this order:
1: Lose the soundbar for a proper Front 3 speaker set up.
2: Upgrade the Sub to at least 1 good quality sub like the Monolith, SVS, Hsu, Outlaw...
3: Upgrade you receiver
4: Re-evaluate if you want Atmos or not... if so, add Atmos speakers.

 

[2channel lover]

Hi all, new to the world of home theater and looking for input on the weakest link in my set up. It is mostly for movie watching and gaming.

I currently have:
AVR - Marantz SR5007
LCR - PSB Imagine W2 Soundbar
Surround L/R: PSB XB Bookshelf
Sub: JBL 550P

The room dimensions are 16' X 20' X 8'. I have a sectional sofa opposite the tv on the back wall, with a foot or two of room behind it that I can play with.

Most of this equipment was gifted to me years ago. I feel like there are a few directions I can go in but not sure which would give me the biggest value for dollar.

1. Atmos? I know for 5.x.4 I will need to upgrade to an Atmos capable 9.2 receiver. I'm looking at the Marantz SR6013.
2. Replace the soundbar with individual fronts? The soundbar sounds great to my ears but I can't help but feel I'm missing out on a better experience with real fronts/larger fronts.
3. Upgrade or add additional subwoofer? At first I considered getting a second JBL 550P, but I'm starting to feel like these are not powerful enough for the effect I want in my room. Looking at SVS PB2000 or the Monolith 12".

Currently my budget only allows for 1 of these steps. So, if you were in my shoes which would you choose? Or is there another option I'm not thinking of?

Advice greatly appreciated!

In order.

2. Getting 3 timbre matched speakers across the front is the 1st step towards a good surround sound system. I've heard exactly one sound bar that I thought could compete with a trio of modest book shelf speakers...Golden Ear Super Cinema XL and it's $1600 + the cost of the sub which it needs.

3. Obviously the sub is the foundation of all low end signals and makes movies sound more realistic.

1. I would focus on this one last. It can be tempting to do this one 1st to get into Atmos. Atmos is nice, but it's not something I would chase or force...in ceiling speakers serve this purpose better than speaker top reflecting Atmos from my experience. What I'm really saying here, is you could spend a lot of money on this step and if not done correctly, the return of investment could be disappointing.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Agreed. Get a good quality LCR first.
Second, while the 550p is a pretty decent little sub, your hunch(and hunches in general) is correct. 16x20x8 is 2560cuft. That’s too big for your sub to do what you want(agreeing with your words). Then consider a new AVR and atmos. I’m lucky enough to have Atmos and I will tell you absolutely make a run for it. But only in the future... after you’ve built a good foundation for all your base belong to us. Lol

 

[pbatty]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone!

Looks like the general consensus is upgrade the fronts first. I'm looking at a budget of $1000-1500 at the moment. Recommendations? I figured I should stick to PSB to match my surrounds but if that's not too important I am open to anything within the budget. Also, aesthetics is important because all of this has to be approved by the wife She likes the way the soundbar looks so this may be the tricky part!

 

[2channel lover]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone!

Looks like the general consensus is upgrade the fronts first. I'm looking at a budget of $1000-1500 at the moment. Recommendations? I figured I should stick to PSB to match my surrounds but if that's not too important I am open to anything within the budget. Also, aesthetics is important because all of this has to be approved by the wife She likes the way the soundbar looks so this may be the tricky part!

I'm sure someone will come up with something...the surrounds matching is nice, but not necessary....not knowing your set up, can you (and wife) work with 3 matching book shelf speakers (maybe on stands)?

 

[pbatty]

I'm sure someone will come up with something...the surrounds matching is nice, but not necessary....not knowing your set up, can you (and wife) work with 3 matching book shelf speakers (maybe on stands)?

Tried to take a picture of my setup but the file size was too large to upload. I could do stands for the left and right but there is a large center console underneath a wall mounted tv, so there wouldn't be room to put one in the middle. Was thinking two floor standing towers and then I could put a center speaker on top of the console (or mount it under the TV). Started looking at the PSB Imagine X2T and the Imagine XC, but wonder if I could get an equally good sound from a lower priced brand.

 

[Pogre]

Tried to take a picture of my setup but the file size was too large to upload. I could do stands for the left and right but there is a large center console underneath a wall mounted tv, so there wouldn't be room to put one in the middle. Was thinking two floor standing towers and then I could put a center speaker on top of the console (or mount it under the TV). Started looking at the PSB Imagine X2T and the Imagine XC, but wonder if I could get an equally good sound from a lower priced brand.

Just use a program or app to resize the image. I'm on a tablet so I use an android app. I usually go 40-50% smaller depending on file size. I think @lovinthehd said he right clicks (Win10) on the image and does it in paint?

 

[pbatty]

Just use a program or app to resize the image. I'm on a tablet so I use an android app. I usually go 40-50% smaller depending on file size. I think @lovinthehd said he right clicks (Win10) on the image and does it in paint?

Thanks for the tip, was able to edit it into the last post.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I use Tapatalk and 99% of my posts are from my phone. Whenever I do upload a photo(not too often) it just asks me if i want good, better or best. FWIW...

 

[Pogre]

I use Tapatalk and 99% of my posts are from my phone. Whenever I do upload a photo(not too often) it just asks me if i want good, better or best. FWIW...

What?! I demand to have this service as well!

Admin!

 

[Pogre]

Boy I think a pair of Prime Pinnacle towers might look pretty nice there. Tho if you can stay in the same family (PSB) they would match better. Not a deal breaker, but something to consider. PSB make good speakers too.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

What?! I demand to have this service as well!

Admin!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Tried to take a picture of my setup but the file size was too large to upload. I could do stands for the left and right but there is a large center console underneath a wall mounted tv, so there wouldn't be room to put one in the middle. Was thinking two floor standing towers and then I could put a center speaker on top of the console (or mount it under the TV). Started looking at the PSB Imagine X2T and the Imagine XC, but wonder if I could get an equally good sound from a lower priced brand.

Would you be able to take a wider shot? Hard to tell where to put everything lol

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah if you right click on a photo's file (not the photo itself) and go to edit it'll put the picture in paint with resize options. I usually do 30%. The times I've used a photo in my phone with Tapatalk don't think it's offered me that quality thing, just does it.

 

[Pogre]

Omg. I might actually break down and use the tapatalk app. That's a nice feature.

 

[pbatty]

Took a couple more wide angle shots... hopefully those give a better idea of what I'm working with!

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Omg. I might actually break down and use the tapatalk app. That's a nice feature.

Yeah, it’s pretty smoove. MOST of the time. Lol