Big picture (no pun intended) audio setup choices

[Craig234]

I've had a bad habit of picking up audio items, usually on sale, but they sit new and unused.

Now I'm ordering an LG G3 tv, and considering options for audio.

Option one: starting point is a "PIONEER VSX-1120-K R" bought in 2010, four inexpensive (low 3 figure) Polk upstanding speakers, subwoofer, center speaker.

Option two: starting point is Sonos Beam soundbar and two Sonos 1 speakers.

Option three: scrap all or most of that, and start over.

This is for a smallish living room.

 

[isolar8001]

I've had a bad habit of picking up audio items, usually on sale, but they sit new and unused.

Now I'm ordering an LG G3 tv, and considering options for audio.

Option one: starting point is a "PIONEER VSX-1120-K R" bought in 2010, four inexpensive (low 3 figure) Polk upstanding speakers, subwoofer, center speaker.

Option two: starting point is Sonos Beam soundbar and two Sonos 1 speakers.

Option three: scrap all or most of that, and start over.

This is for a smallish living room.

I have that same AVR in the closet now, but truthfully...it sounded great and only lacked 4K inputs, which your LG will have. MCACC works just fine if you ask me.
I would use it and invest in a new speaker system for it.
I always recommend RSL products.
Polk is making some good speakers lately (their upper models) but cheaper models from the same era as your AVR were pretty dicey.

https://rslspeakers.com/cg3m-overview/

 

[j_garcia]

Sounds like you would need to scrap it and go all new, only because the AVR does not support 4K. Not that the AVR isn't capable beyond that, but it would not really work with that TV. What devices do you have to connect? 4K BD player? 4K streaming devices?

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd setup the existing avr and speakers/sub and go from there as to what to change out for better speakers/sub, or what you want in the way of audio codecs/video resolution handled by the avr....

 

[isolar8001]

Sounds like you would need to scrap it and go all new, only because the AVR does not support 4K. Not that the AVR isn't capable beyond that, but it would not really work with that TV. What devices do you have to connect? 4K BD player? 4K streaming devices?

That AVR will be just fine...his new set has some of the best 4K inputs out there for any 4K devices.
Why do you say it won't work with that tv? It won't work with 4K devices is all.
All he has to do is feed audio to the receiver.

 

[j_garcia]

That AVR will be just fine...his new set has some of the best 4K inputs out there for any 4K devices.
Why do you say it won't work with that tv? It won't work with 4K devices is all.
All he has to do is feed audio to the receiver.

Synching audio that has HDMI to two devices almost never works, or at least does not work reliably. If you have a device that has two outputs that can split the audio and video signal like some 4K players, sure, but most streaming and older devices are not like that. The AVR itself is fine, so it would just matter if the complexity of the connections is worth it vs. getting a new one that works with this TV.

 

[isolar8001]

Synching audio that has HDMI to two devices almost never works, or at least does not work reliably. If you have a device that has two outputs that can split the audio and video signal like some 4K players, sure, but most streaming and older devices are not like that. The AVR itself is fine, so it would just matter if the complexity of the connections is worth it vs. getting a new one that works with this TV.

I think you are seriously overcomplicating this....All he has to do is is plug all his devices into the set and ARC/EARC the audio to the Pioneer.
It will work just fine.
He can always get a newer 4K AVR down the road...for now, buying some real speakers would be the best use of his money.

 

[Craig234]

Thanks for all the replies. No one mentioned the Sonos, so I presume the opinion is 'don't use those, sell them'.

Devices are a Panasonic 4K blu-ray player, PS4, likely coming PS5 and gaming PC. And cough VHS player/PS3.

 

[isolar8001]

Thanks for all the replies. No one mentioned the Sonos, so I presume the opinion is 'don't use those, sell them'.

Devices are a Panasonic 4K blu-ray player, PS4, likely coming PS5 and gaming PC. And cough VHS player/PS3.

Soundbars/Sonos give most the creeps here

Your PS3 and 4 and the VHS can plug into that Pioneer.
A PS5, 4K player and gaming PC can plug into your set.
LG's have excellent HDMI inputs.
Later, you can get a newer AVR, but that good old Pioneer will do just fine until then...
Look at speakers like the RSL's...at least the Speedwoofer 10S. In a small room, it is king !

 

[j_garcia]

Soundbars/Sonos give most the creeps here

Your PS3 and 4 and the VHS can plug into that Pioneer.
A PS5, 4K player and gaming PC can plug into your set.
LG's have excellent HDMI inputs.
Later, you can get a newer AVR, but that good old Pioneer will do just fine until then...
Look at speakers like the RSL's...at least the Speedwoofer 10S. In a small room, it is king !

Sonos are not bad, my friends have one in their small living room. Not bad to get better audio than TV speakers, just not what you want if you are looking for a system that makes you go WOW.

I think you are seriously overcomplicating this....All he has to do is is plug all his devices into the set and ARC/EARC the audio to the Pioneer.
It will work just fine.
He can always get a newer 4K AVR down the road...for now, buying some real speakers would be the best use of his money.

While I agree speakers are the best place to spend the funds, I think you are oversimplifying it. If the OP is asking the right way to do it and I would not say this is it long term. Will it work? Maybe, but I would expect issues. EARC did not exist in 2010 so this AVR doesn't have it. Likely it will have HDCP issues since the HDMI standard was 1.4 at the time, not the current 2.1. ARC does not work the way you think it does, the TV will need to encode that audio to a format that the AVR supports so it may be downgraded from the original signal. PS3 and VHS are analog so they need to send audio and video from the AVR to the TV because they cannot be connected directly to the TV without some other converter. The PS5 is HDMI 2.1 and also will look great on that TV; definitely worth the upgrade from the PS4. I still have 2 PS3s...in the closet and even the PS4 hasn't been turned on in about a year.

The speakers do sound like the weak link, but it depends on what the priority is as well. Those speakers will also still work but if sound quality is the priority, I'd start there. Next will need to be the AVR though.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Thanks for all the replies. No one mentioned the Sonos, so I presume the opinion is 'don't use those, sell them'.

Devices are a Panasonic 4K blu-ray player, PS4, likely coming PS5 and gaming PC. And cough VHS player/PS3.

If you already have the Sonos setup it’s worth listening to Especially if it’s just for TV. You May need the mini sub for movies since the Beam 2 doesn’t have much bass or low end for sound effects. The benefit of the Sonos is simplicity with no need for a separate amp. If you want higher quality sound I’d go with the amp and speakers you have to start.

 

[Craig234]

Thanks for the additional. Some of this isn't familiar to me, such as the particular issues the Pioneer has, but j_garcia at least made clear he sees some issues. I didn't realize '4k' was relevant to an audio device.

The feedback on Sonos sounds like 'that's decent sound, you'll want a subwoofer, but not at all great'.

The inexpensive Polk speakers I've had cluttering the room for 15 years sound like 'bad idea' also. appear to be " POLK AUDIO MONITOR 70 C R ". Center Polk CS1, Sub Boston MCS-100 I think.

 

[isolar8001]

Sonos are not bad, my friends have one in their small living room. Not bad to get better audio than TV speakers, just not what you want if you are looking for a system that makes you go WOW.



While I agree speakers are the best place to spend the funds, I think you are oversimplifying it. If the OP is asking the right way to do it and I would not say this is it long term. Will it work? Maybe, but I would expect issues. EARC did not exist in 2010 so this AVR doesn't have it. Likely it will have HDCP issues since the HDMI standard was 1.4 at the time, not the current 2.1. ARC does not work the way you think it does, the TV will need to encode that audio to a format that the AVR supports so it may be downgraded from the original signal. PS3 and VHS are analog so they need to send audio and video from the AVR to the TV because they cannot be connected directly to the TV without some other converter. The PS5 is HDMI 2.1 and also will look great on that TV; definitely worth the upgrade from the PS4. I still have 2 PS3s...in the closet and even the PS4 hasn't been turned on in about a year.

The speakers do sound like the weak link, but it depends on what the priority is as well. Those speakers will also still work but if sound quality is the priority, I'd start there. Next will need to be the AVR though.

Don't know why you still want to over complicate this...you must have missed the part where I said I have a Pioneer just like he has and used it in the fashion I'm suggesting for him to.
There will be no HDCP issues when all his set will do is send audio via ARC/EARC....in his case ARC.
There is no return signal from the old Pioneer.

I did exactly what I suggested for him to do before upgrading to a newer AVR around 4 years ago.....it works.
It will do until he gets a better AVR.
You are just creating unverified confusion with your replies.

 

[lovinthehd]

Most of the sound differences will come from speakers and their placement in your particular room. Sometimes you can do well with audio aside from the latest/greatest codecs, but depends what you want and what particular options for connectivity your gear provides. I've just not been a fan of Sonos myself, but didn't realize you already owned that as well....but I'd still stick to the better options from the avr/speaker/sub setup.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Thanks for the additional. Some of this isn't familiar to me, such as the particular issues the Pioneer has, but j_garcia at least made clear he sees some issues. I didn't realize '4k' was relevant to an audio device.

The feedback on Sonos sounds like 'that's decent sound, you'll want a subwoofer, but not at all great'.

The inexpensive Polk speakers I've had cluttering the room for 15 years sound like 'bad idea' also. appear to be " POLK AUDIO MONITOR 70 C R ". Center Polk CS1, Sub Boston MCS-100 I think.

yes the Sonos is great for TV but not for critical music listening. If you have the Beam you know what I mean.

 

[Craig234]

yes the Sonos is great for TV but not for critical music listening. If you have the Beam you know what I mean.

I grabbed it on a sale but it's still in the box so don't know how it sounds.

 

[Bobby Bass]

I grabbed it on a sale but it's still in the box so don't know how it sounds.

if it’s been less than 45 days since you bought it you can try it out and still return it if you don’t like the sound.

 

[Craig234]

if it’s been less than 45 days since you bought it you can try it out and still return it if you don’t like the sound.

Got all this stuff some years ago

 

[Bobby Bass]

Got all this stuff some years ago

Got it. Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!