Best system for this newb

[alexgill04]

Hi all,

I am looking to improve my set up. I am a hardware guy; starting to get interested in sound. I really have trouble telling the difference between good and bad sound. right now i have....

-polk r30 fronts( L/R)
- htr-5550 yamaha reciever
-optical out from my htpc

I am looking at going 5.1 or simply adding a center for better dialogue in films and disabling the sub.

Would like advice as to best way to proceed. I am interested in buying the Fluance SXHTB+ or perhaps just purchasing polk speakers to complement what i have???

Right now I play the front two speakers through stereo on my reciever and want the best way to improve this for 400 dollars or less; with shipping; thanks so much this will really help make my decision.

 

[bandphan]

add a sub that has some impact

svs
hsu
velodyne
av123
BIC
Cadance

 

[Halon451]

Hi all,

I am looking to improve my set up. I am a hardware guy; starting to get interested in sound. I really have trouble telling the difference between good and bad sound. right now i have....

-polk r30 fronts( L/R)
- htr-5550 yamaha reciever
-optical out from my htpc

I am looking at going 5.1 or simply adding a center for better dialogue in films and disabling the sub.

Would like advice as to best way to proceed. I am interested in buying the Fluance SXHTB+ or perhaps just purchasing polk speakers to complement what i have???

Right now I play the front two speakers through stereo on my reciever and want the best way to improve this for 400 dollars or less; with shipping; thanks so much this will really help make my decision.

Why would you disable the sub if you were to add a center channel?

$400 isn't a lot to work with if you want to truly build a real system, but you can add to what you already have. I would suggest going with a center channel from Polk along the same series as your R30's, which could probably be found for fairly cheap somewhere online. You'll want to keep the front three speakers as similar as possible, at least along the same Manufacturer and series lines to avoid improper timbre matching when audio pans across the front soundstage.

Other than that, I would suggest a better approach, which is to wait and save up more money so you can invest in a real upgrade over what you have now.

 

[alexgill04]

More info

I appreciate the replies. . I don't want a sub because i live upstairs in a condo and my downstairs neighbors are finnicky. I want better dialogue and perhaps rear speakers for effect; we watch alot of movies. I am just not good enough with audio to tell the difference between a 300 dollar and 1,000 dollar system and would rather spend that money on my htpc for now. I'm most interested if i can just add a center channel and how my reciever would handle that; I output in stereo mode right now; perhaps just two fronts and a center in pro logic 2? or would a fluance system be better; i have read good stuff about there sx system for beginner home theatre enthusiasts? The R30's are no longer sold by Polk to the best of my knowledge for the purposes of matching. Thanks. hope i get more feedback.

 

[Phil Taylor]

I would just get a couple of small Polk satellite speakers and a Polk center to compliment your tower R&L's from Amazon. Depending on the center you choose you should be able to do it for around $200. Your receiver is perfectly capable of handling the extra speakers as it is a 5.1 model and you can de-select the presence of a sub which will direct the LFE info to your front speakers. Also may I suggest you "de-couple" your front towers from the floor for your downstairs neighbors sake by elevating them off the floor or placing a pad underneath them to reduce the physical transmission of sound to the floor below.