My Home Theater is missing something... next upgrade should be?

[pieper53]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to the forum as well as to home theater set up so all comments and suggestions, tips, or advice are welcome. I use my system primarily for movies but also enjoy listening to music.

So, a few months ago I purchased two towers and a center speaker which rekindled my interest in my home theater. They are okay speakers (I didn't really know how - nor do I now for that matter - to understand specs) but am curious if I should sell and upgrade.

My towers are Pinnacle S-Fit 1050 and my center is their S-FIT CTR 350. The towers cost me $300 ($150/speaker) and the center was $80.

My sub is a Kplisch RW-12d.

My receiver is the dated Sony STR-D865 (I've rocked this for 18 years!).

My rears are speakers from a Sony HTIB.

The towers have no bass by themselves. I am wondering where my next purchase should be. It was going to be to upgrade my receiver to Sony's STR DN-1040 and take advantage of their HDMI hook ups but I am debating to hold out until the price drops and spend my cash on either upgrading my towers or buy fancy rear speakers.

What would the consensus lay on my next purchase? (Upgrade receiver, towers, or rears). There seems to be something lacking in my set up and am not sure what it is.

Thanks for listening.

p.

 

[markw]

You need to be a bit more specific. What do you feel is lacking?

But, offhand, speakers generally determine the overall personality of the system.

 

[Nestor]

This is a tough one. Speakers, as markw says, determine personality, but your receiver is dated enough that it's probably pre-dolby digital.

 

[Pyrrho]

This is a tough one. Speakers, as markw says, determine personality, but your receiver is dated enough that it's probably pre-dolby digital.

It is pre-Dolby Digital:

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/STRD965.PDF

So I would probably replace the receiver first in this case, though as already mentioned, the speakers make the most difference in sound. But in this case, there is no listening to even 5.1 DD or DTS, and obviously also none of the newer formats on BD.

Also, modern bass management may significantly improve the sound.

Now, if one does not like the basic sound one gets already from a CD, then maybe the speakers should be replaced. But the receiver should be replaced for a home theater regardless, and maybe the bass management and automatic setup of a modern receiver will bring satisfaction. So I would replace the receiver first in this case.

Usually, though, what people should change is either placement, settings, or speakers, when they are unhappy with the sound.

 

[jimi loukoutos]

I need help also I'm pretty experienced with speakers and everything I install car subs for buddy's and speakers but I'm stuck on hooking up my equalizer 20 band to my reciever. I've looked everything up but no help. Anything?? It's a technical pro 20 band and a Kentwood receiver what do I plus it into to where I can also plug in my aux cord and xbox but equalized I'm not that advanced yet or to stupid to figure it out

Any help will be much appreciated

 

[markw]

Years ago, when I first dipped my toe into the HT waters, I had a full-blown 5.1 speaker system (which I still have - see link in my sig) driven by a DPL receiver* before my current Denon and it sounded amazingly good, particularly in stereo. Yes, when I went to true DD/DT, my HT experience improved somewhat but not as much as I would have expected. ...and the stereo really didn't improve.

BTW, that DPL receiver lives on in my bedroom system driving Sound Dynamice RTS-3s and it still sounds superb.

* JBL JSR-400, bought on closeout for $100 from 6th Ave Electronics in 1998 for $50

 

[markw]

I need help also I'm pretty experienced with speakers and everything I install car subs for buddy's and speakers but I'm stuck on hooking up my equalizer 20 band to my reciever. I've looked everything up but no help. Anything?? It's a technical pro 20 band and a Kentwood receiver what do I plus it into to where I can also plug in my aux cord and xbox but equalized I'm not that advanced yet or to stupid to figure it out

Any help will be much appreciated

You should really start your own thread for this rather than hijack some one elses thread. When you do that, you might want to include the model number of your "Kentwood" receiver. That helps us provide answers. But, if it's only a few years old, odds are you can't incorporate that eq.

 

[tmurnin]

For the OP, some idea of a budget would help us guide you. You can pick up a decent 5.1 receiver for $250-300 that will give you Dolby Digital and many of the current features at a reasonable power rating. Many people prefer not to spend big $$ on the receiver because it is the part of the system that will be upgraded most often as technology changes, whereas a good set of speakers will last years and years. Others are really into the electronics part of their systems. If you're trying to stick to a tight budget, I'd probably replace the receiver now, then the front L/R, then the center. I'd invest in a good subwoofer before I'd bother with the surrounds, but all of that is subject to your budget, your goals, and your room aesthetics.

 

[pieper53]

Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for the replies.

So I also used my roommate's Sony STR-K840P receiver and it still lacks that "punch" I'm looking for. As I'm new to this scene, I don't have the vocabulary to best describe what I'm experiencing and/or what I'm going for.

I guess another question would be -- what "level" can I achieve with my speakers and how much do I need to spend to take it to the next level? I am willing to commit another ~$600 to my system and am not sure where that money should be spent.

Thanks again,

p.

 

[markw]

It looks like you got a really, really good price on your mains but, as you are learning, it's not really a bargain if you don't like the sound.

You need to go out and listen to speakers for yourself to answer that quetion. Odds are that if you did this initially, we wouldn't be having this discussion now. I suggest you bring music CD's you're familiar with and listen to music on the speakers, without a subwoofer, until you find a pair that satisfies you. Then go for the matching center and surounds and it'll all fall into place.

 

[3db]

Years ago, when I first dipped my toe into the HT waters, I had a full-blown 5.1 speaker system (which I still have - see link in my sig) driven by a DPL receiver* before my current Denon and it sounded amazingly good, particularly in stereo. Yes, when I went to true DD/DT, my HT experience improved somewhat but not as much as I would have expected. ...and the stereo really didn't improve.

BTW, that DPL receiver lives on in my bedroom system driving Sound Dynamice RTS-3s and it still sounds superb.

* JBL JSR-400, bought on closeout for $100 from 6th Ave Electronics in 1998 for $50

Sound Dynamics? That's a brand you don't hear anymore. Even their replacement brand fell away too which is too bad. Both were solid brands.

 

[markw]

Sound Dynamics? That's a brand you don't hear anymore. Even their replacement brand fell away too which is too bad. Both were solid brands.

I agree. My HT speakers ARE their replacement brand, Athena. Here's a link to a review of what's almost my exact same system. The only difference is that my surrounds are the AS-B2s, a little bit larer than the B1s. Even tough paid full price because I bought it when it first came out, it still came in at < $800. Subwoofer extra.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'd get an AVR w/ Audyssey XT or XT32 and get dual subs from Rythmik, HSU, PSA, SVS, Outlaw, etc.

 

[lsiberian]

I took another look at these speakers and they look exceptional. I've never had the fortune of hearing them, but I think a proper sub is the order. Check out the SVS offerings.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to the forum as well as to home theater set up so all comments and suggestions, tips, or advice are welcome. I use my system primarily for movies but also enjoy listening to music.

So, a few months ago I purchased two towers and a center speaker which rekindled my interest in my home theater. They are okay speakers (I didn't really know how - nor do I now for that matter - to understand specs) but am curious if I should sell and upgrade.

My towers are Pinnacle S-Fit 1050 and my center is their S-FIT CTR 350. The towers cost me $300 ($150/speaker) and the center was $80.

My sub is a Kplisch RW-12d.

My receiver is the dated Sony STR-D865 (I've rocked this for 18 years!).

My rears are speakers from a Sony HTIB.

The towers have no bass by themselves. I am wondering where my next purchase should be. It was going to be to upgrade my receiver to Sony's STR DN-1040 and take advantage of their HDMI hook ups but I am debating to hold out until the price drops and spend my cash on either upgrading my towers or buy fancy rear speakers.

What would the consensus lay on my next purchase? (Upgrade receiver, towers, or rears). There seems to be something lacking in my set up and am not sure what it is.

Thanks for listening.

p.

Your front three speakers have a really good pedigree. I suspect you are confusing a defined bass with a sloppy resonant one. The designers of those speakers I know do not tolerate the prevalent sloppy bass.

Having said, that, I think designers now assume their speakers will be used with a sub, at least in the HT environment.

I would recommend you get a refined low Q sub to complement those fine speakers, and get amplification with modern bass management.

Then you will have a really good system.

Your current sub is well below the quality of your main and center speakers.

With those speakers, I would be looking at upper end receivers or preferably separates.

From the look of that design with MTM plus two additional woofers, you can go to the bank that the impedance is low where the power is, and I bet the amplification you have now is just no match for those speakers. A nice powerful amp that can handle low impedance loads well will work wonders.

 

[pieper53]

Thanks for the replies.

Bummer to hear the sub is the weak link. As I just bought it.

For educational purposes can you teach me how to read the specs below (they are for my towers)... maybe a little "specs for dummies"?

Pinnacle S-FIT TWR 1050 specs:

Component Drivers:
1" liquid cooled silk dome tweeter
(2) 4" glass fibercone midranges with butyl surrounds
(2) 4" glass fibercone woofers with butyl surrounds
Frequency Response: 50 - 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB)

Crossover Frequencies: 200 Hz & 5 kHz

Maximum Power Handling: 250 Watts Peak

Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 1 Watt / 1 Meter (2.83 Volts Pink Noise)

Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms

Thank you in advance,

p.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the replies.

Bummer to hear the sub is the weak link. As I just bought it.

For educational purposes can you teach me how to read the specs below (they are for my towers)... maybe a little "specs for dummies"?

Pinnacle S-FIT TWR 1050 specs:

Component Drivers:
1" liquid cooled silk dome tweeter
(2) 4" glass fibercone midranges with butyl surrounds
(2) 4" glass fibercone woofers with butyl surrounds
Frequency Response: 50 - 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB)

Crossover Frequencies: 200 Hz & 5 kHz

Maximum Power Handling: 250 Watts Peak

Sensitivity: 90 dB @ 1 Watt / 1 Meter (2.83 Volts Pink Noise)

Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms

Thank you in advance,

p.

The only spec you need to understand is that these speakers roll off at 50 Hz, so there is no deep bass. You would expect this with 4" drivers. So the speakers need a good sub to accurately handle the range from 20 to 50 Hz. This is easiest to achieve with a good powerful sub and a receiver or pre pro that offers bass management. Since those speakers have 4" drivers, I would cross them over to the sub at 60 or 80 Hz, which ever sounds best.

Nominal impedance means nothing, and I can bet those speakers are four ohms or less.

They have average sensitivity.

 

[Bryceo]

Did you get drunk and leave it some where?

 

[pieper53]

Thanks for the reply. If I set my crossover frequency to 80hz what should I be setting my low pass frequency on my sub to?

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks for the reply. If I set my crossover frequency to 80hz what should I be setting my low pass frequency on my sub to?

If you use the crossover on the receiver (which is what you should do in most cases), you should bypass the subwoofer's crossover if possible, but if that is not possible, set the subwoofer's crossover to its highest possible setting.

The reason is, the receiver's crossover should give a good crossover slope for the main speakers and subwoofer by itself, and if you use the subwoofer's crossover also, it will give a steeper crossover slope and adversely affect the sound.