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.

 

[Teetertotter?]

Buy the X3800H and see how it works with current speakers. Go from there. I manually adjust the speaker crossovers, per the speaker specs. You can read up on that.

 

[lovinthehd]

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

Do you really need a center? I like that you have three of the same speakers now and assume they're all oriented the same for best effect. Be nice if you could accommodate some towers in the same way, as "center" speakers are often compromised.

Might review these articles

Pros & Cons of Various Center Channel Designs

This article and YouTube Video takes you on a tour of the most common center channel driver arrangements and discusses their strengths and weaknesses to help make the best selection for your needs.

www.audioholics.com

Center Channel Speaker Design Additional Considerations

This article explores the various center channel designs while also referencing past works on the topic. Horizontally mounting drivers can compromise off-axis performance but there are alternatives.

www.audioholics.com

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

Do you really need a center? I like that you have three of the same speakers now and assume they're all oriented the same for best effect. Be nice if you could accommodate some towers in the same way, as "center" speakers are often compromised.

Might review these articles

Pros & Cons of Various Center Channel Designs

This article and YouTube Video takes you on a tour of the most common center channel driver arrangements and discusses their strengths and weaknesses to help make the best selection for your needs.

www.audioholics.com

Center Channel Speaker Design Additional Considerations

This article explores the various center channel designs while also referencing past works on the topic. Horizontally mounting drivers can compromise off-axis performance but there are alternatives.

www.audioholics.com

Would you say I should go with a new receiver? Would that give a noticeable difference?

 

[lovinthehd]

Would you say I should go with a new receiver? Would that give a noticeable difference?

The differences in the avr you have now and the one you propose likely won't be a particularly noticeable difference IMO. You can check the differences here https://www.zkelectronics.com/compare/denon-avr-x1400h/denon-avr-x3800h. I like the 3800's full set of pre-outs, multiple sub features, XT32 over XT for Audyssey, the possibility of Dirac. Basic amp section isn't greatly different, only about 1.2dB difference. I would rather have the 3800 in the long run, but for any immediate change in audio quality, I'd still concentrate on speakers first.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

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

Just off the top of my head, I would look at JBL HDI-1600 bookshelf’s and HDI 4500 center.
That would be about 2600 from crutchfield, and JBL frequently puts their speakers on sale. If it were my space, I would look at the HDI towers instead, which imo take up the same footprint with stands. They would also take more power when appropriate, and imo be more dynamic overall.
You mentioned reference level, and I think these would be a great long term solution. There are a zillion speakers out there, and it’s hard to whittle the choices down. Especially with a budget, and there are others that would work too.
FWIW, I will very likely choose HDI-3800 and center when I upgrade from my studio II’s.
ShadyJ has experience with the series, and can hopefully chime in with personal experience, and recommendations.
Also. The Svs ultra line has shown to be very dynamic too, and also has “free” shipping both ways if you don’t like them. The new naming structure is stupid, but the speakers seem very good.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

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://product-detail?product-number=3

Do you feel that the only weak link in your system is the dialogue? And that’s why you just want add a Center speaker plus a new AVR and Amp?

I agree that the AVR and Amp usually won’t fix the issue with the dialogue.

In most cases, I would also agree that I prefer not to mix brands with the Center with the other speakers. But if you feel that you only need better dialogue and the rest of your speaker system sounds good enough, I think you could get a big center speaker - one with dual 6.5” (like the RBH 661C) or dual 8” woofers (like the RBH 821C) depending on how much room you have available for the Center speaker. The bigger driver and cabinet usually means more dynamics.

Thus, I would upgrade the speakers first - whether you want just the center or entire speaker system.

I also think that for movies, nothing beats having a dedicated big dynamic Center speaker for DIALOGUE - even if you have 200 lb 60” tall Front Left and Right speakers that cost $20K. But I think this is personal preference since some people feel that good stereo speakers is all you need for movies.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just off the top of my head, I would look at JBL HDI-1600 bookshelf’s and HDI 4500 center.

The 4500 center looks interesting with 4 x 5.25” woofers and horn tweeter.

@shadyJ would the JBL 4500 center produce more dynamics than most center speakers with dual 6.5” woofers and 1” tweeter?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

The 4500 center looks interesting with 4 x 5.25” woofers and horn tweeter.

@shadyJ would the JBL 4500 center produce more dynamics than most center speakers with dual 6.5” woofers and 1” tweeter?

To me it sure looks like a nice CC. Very interesting indeed. Mine has dual 5.25 woofers and 4” mid and has been very good, even at higher volumes. I have to believe the 4500 will be very dynamic, especially with that compression tweeter. One of OP’s complaints was trying to play at reference level. I think the HDI series will help get him there. The AVR is definitely a weak link, but to me, the speakers will make more of a net positive than the AVR.
Speakers first, then AVR. Of course we dont know about setup and speaker location.
Pics!!!