Help on next upgrades!

[Kyle Braunlich]

This is my current system:
Avr - denon x1400h
Front/center - definitive technology sm55
Surrounds - definitive technology sr-9040
Top middle-definitive technology pro monitor 1000
Subwoofer - HSU VTF3-MK5

I have been trying to play at reference volume but it sounds harsh especially dialog. I haven’t upgraded in a while so I thought I would go big. Was thinking of spending around $3000.

Got all these recommendations from chat-gpt and just want to make sure they sound good or if there is a better option.

avr - denon x3800h
Amp - Emotive basx a3 three channel amp
Center channel - kef q6 meta center channel
https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/chatgpt%3A//product-detail?product-number=3

 

[Cos]

• Are you more movies or music?
• If you are going with an X3800h, I would skip the emotiva, save more for speakers. How big is your room?
• Not a fan of mixing brands and tech from mains and center channel, would advise against it
  
  

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

• Are you more movies or music?
• If you are going with an X3800h, I would skip the emotiva, save more for speakers. How big is your room?
• Not a fan of mixing brands and tech from mains and center channel, would advise against it
  

Movies only. Room is 19x9. Will the x3800h be good enough to power all the speakers cleanly?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Movies only. Room is 19x9. Will the x3800h be good enough to power all the speakers cleanly?

It will help, but the bottle neck is the speakers. How far do you sit from them? I never trust DT’s specs(crutchfield shows 90db fwiw), but reference is really loud, and you just need speakers with higher sensitivity and more output capability.

 

[lovinthehd]

Better speakers are the usual route to better sound quality. What distance are you from the speakers?

The avr upgrade to a 3800 will at least give you pre-outs so you can use a more powerful amp if needed, plus some other nice features the 1400 doesn't have. The Emotiva Basx line of amps are not much more powerful than many avrs' amp sections, wouldn't bother with them. I'd first figure out speakers, tho.

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

It will help, but the bottle neck is the speakers. How far do you sit from them? I never trust DT’s specs(crutchfield shows 90db fwiw), but reference is really loud, and you just need speakers with higher sensitivity and more output capability.

Ok cool. I have two rows. Front row is 6ft away and the back Row is 11ft away from the center channel. My room is half home theater, half bedroom. Which is why I am so close. What speakers would you recommend? Should I upgrade my front three speakers? If I did that I would probably take two of the sm55 speakers and make them surround speakers.

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

Better speakers are the usual route to better sound quality. What distance are you from the speakers?

The avr upgrade to a 3800 will at least give you pre-outs so you can use a more powerful amp if needed, plus some other nice features the 1400 doesn't have. The Emotiva Basx line of amps are not much more powerful than many avrs' amp sections, wouldn't bother with them. I'd first figure out speakers, tho.

What speakers would you recommend with the x3800h? Front row is 6ft away and back row is 11 feet away. Room is 9x19.

 

[lovinthehd]

You can play around with something like this to approximate your amp power needs http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html for the distances involved from the speakers.

How large a speaker can you accommodate?

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

You can play around with something like this to approximate your amp power needs http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html for the distances involved from the speakers.

How large a speaker can you accommodate?

left and right i can do anything really. the center just has to be like 3ft or less tall

 

[Bobby Bass]

That Denon will be an upgrade. I tried it out and it works well as you know having a Denon now. I think the reason it sounds harsh is your speakers. Based on your budget and needs I would start with new speakers and then your AVR. The key is your center channel for dialogue. I haven’t heard that KEF center channel. I’ve had a good experience with Revel centers and I now have a SVS Evolution center channel in my main surround sound system. It should fit your space and it sounds great for dialogue and music vocals. You can buy it, try it for 45 days and return for free in the US if necessary. Definitely go with a 3 way center that will fit your space And get right and left fronts to match if you can To make it easier to integrate With the rest of your system. Suggest taking your time and upgrading one step at a time. Keep trusting your ears and enjoy the process.