Time to upgrade, but where to start???

[anderson0196]

Here is my current setup:
- Toshiba 50HX81, 50” RP
- Pioneer VSX-D711 Receiver
- Toshiba SD-3900 DVD Player
- Onkyo Speakers: D30 Left and Right Sats and a D30C center

I have 2 other D30's and an old Wharfdale Sub (model cube 8) but they are not hooked up as we're renting so running wires is not an option.

My living room is rather large, 23'x21' - It has a large archway into the dining room as well as a large cutout into the kitchen along the right side (21'). The left side is nearly all sliding glass doors (21'). The Front and rear wall are solid (23'). The ceiling is also high, I'd estimate 10' in the rear to 12' in the front.

Viewing distance is about 12 feet.

Its evident to me that it's time to upgrade all around - My question is where to start and how to divy up the budget ($3k-$4k hopefully).

Is anything worth holding on to? I loved this system 6 or 7 years ago, but it is definately dated now...

From a TV perspective, I'm leaning towards DLP - Just seems like a lot more bang for the buck. But I'm concerned I'll be disappointed in a couple of years and ready to upgrade again.

Thanks in advance for the help and for all the free advice the boards have provided already.

 

[MUDSHARK]

Nothing wrong with DLP. I have had a 50 inch Samsung for three years now and have no urge to upgrade. You will need to change the bulb every three years or so for $150 unless you get one of the new LED types. This would leave plenty of room for speakers and a sub. Hit the electronics last if at all.

4K
say 40 percent for TV $1600 (go 720P for better value)
15-20 percent sub 6-800 (SVS or equivalent several to choose from)
40-45 percent speakers 1600-1800 ( many many choices)

3K 45% TV 1350
35% speakers (suggest used) 1050
20% sub 600

Happy hunting

 

[jostenmeat]

Heh... Im going to try not get carried away, but I have learned (with help), more or less, that the order of importance in HT is:

1 Display, Display, Display
2 Room acoustics
3 Speakers that can handle extreme dynamics
4 Amp that can handle extreme dynamics
5 sources, pre, etc

That being said, the first thing that popped out is the large volume of the place. I think a beast of a sub is called for, if not a couple. Maybe dual MFW-15s for 1k. Or an Ultra-13?

Can you do a projector? Ambient light is the issue for sure, but if doable, Costco has been selling the Panny 2000U for around 2.6k IIRC. Perhaps a drop down screen that covers the Toshiba for night time movies? Tosh for daytime news, sports, etc?

Well, the above already add up to 3.6k, prolly 4k with screen, if not a tad more.

BUT, I imagine with those sub(s) and the FP, you might feel that the system has gone thru an extreme makeover. I can understand why others may feel that I might have recommended disproportionate spendings....

jostenmeat

 

[corey]

My thought, for where to start, would be your front 3 speakers.
Then a sub. Then a receiver, maybe.
You've got a wide screen display, so use it as long as you can, because your options for replacement will keep getting better & cheaper.

 

[3db]

My thought, for where to start, would be your front 3 speakers.
Then a sub. Then a receiver, maybe.
You've got a wide screen display, so use it as long as you can, because your options for replacement will keep getting better & cheaper.

Solid advice there!! I'd take his approach .

 

[anderson0196]

Thanks all for the advice.

Here's what I'm thinking at this point:
- Add a sub and replace the onkyo speakers for about $2000
- Buy a new display (probably DLP) for about $2000. Although a local store has a 60" LG plasma 720p for $2200 (LG 60PC1D)
- Stick with the current receiver and dvd

The Pioneer recvr doesn't have any HDMI in/out's - Is this something I should be concerned about? Will the component cables I'm currently using suffice?

I've basically ruled out wireless rears based on what I've read on the forums and my room is too big for a soundbar - Are these decisions accurate?

Should I be looking to go 2.1 or 3.1 with $2k? I was looking at the CMT 340 SE from Ascend Acoustics based on some recommendations to others. I can get a pair w/ stands for $668, add a matching center for $298 then get a SVS sub - Maybe the PB12-NSD/2 for $900 - All in under $2k.

 

[anderson0196]

One other thing - Most of my place is tile. In the room referrenced above we do have a large area rug (8x10) but the place is still rather sparse.
Any thought on how to make the room more acoustically friendly that is budget friendly as well (and my wife will approve of...)?

 

[chas_w]

Any thought on how to make the room more acoustically friendly that is budget friendly as well (and my wife will approve of...)?

I would start a new thread in the Room Acoustics forum, and include a drawing/photos of your room.

 

[yettitheman]

Speakers would be first, seeing as your TV is nice enough. Wait until it dies

Axiom seems to have a good bang for the buck:
http://www.axiomaudio.com/products.html

SVS also has some speakers going for it, however, they are for the time being, more regarded of having very nice subwoofers:
http://www.svsound.com/

HSU also makes highly regarded subwoofers:
http://www.hsuresearch.com/

Paradigm also makes good speakers:
http://www.paradigm.com/en/paradigm/news/

ERA makes very small profile, but great sounding speakers. Great Bose killers
http://www.signalpathint.com < site seems to be down


Blu-Ray seems to have won the format war, and being said, the PS3 is considered the best Blu-Ray player. It will also play other formats and upconvert DVD's if I'm not mistaken.

Oppo makes good upconverting DVD players on the cheap:
http://www.oppodigital.com/

Reciever wise, you might be content with 5.1.
However, the Yamaha RX-V663 is a promising little reciver that's about $550.
The Onkyo TX-SR805 is also a good choice, considering it's a little more than the RX-V663 and has more power. (HDMI Might be a little sketchy though on the 805).

Your room would probably benefit from acoustical treatment (tile floor, sliding glass door, tall ceilings and arches can make the sound echo in strange ways). Cheapest and easiest thing to do, is make sure that no clutter is around the HT area and lay out everything as geometrically perpendicular and parallel as possible (seating position, speaker angles, TV placement).Then you might try to put rugs on tile or wood flooring. It may look strange (if you love looking at a tile or wood floor), but it will absorb sound reflection that could echo somewhere else. Soft, thick fabric curtains hung above your sliding glass door will help that area of reflection also.

If you have time and some foam (http://www.foambymail.com/Eggcrate.html), you can just start putting this in different places and see what a difference it makes. I would try to put it on arches (depending on where it was), sharp, hard corners of the room, and anywhere behind the listening area. It will take time and a lot of experimenting, but you can achieve good results.

Lastly, you can call a pro and he'll do the work for you.