Need opinions on Amp for Polk Speaker HT system

[Durango2003]

Hey folks, could use your opinion on this one. Currently I am using Polk RTi8 mains, CSi3 center, and FXi3 rear surrounds with a Sony subwoofer. Right now I am using a Sony STR-DE635 amplifier. Although I am very pleased with the system for home theatre, the CD sound is very poor.

What is your opinion in an upgrade of the amplifier to give me better CD audio without sacrificing the HT sound? I would like to spend under $800.

Thanks for any help.

 

[T2T]

Why not consider something used? For that budget, you could get something like the older Denon 4802, the H/K AVR-7200 or even one of the Pioneer Elite receivers (56TXi). Your money would go a long way - and, you'd be able to get something that would have sold for $1,500 or more just a few years back. I'm sure the RTi8s would love the juice that they could supply.

 

[Seth=L]

Why not consider something used? For that budget, you could get something like the older Denon 4802, the H/K AVR-7200 or even one of the Pioneer Elite receivers (56TXi). Your money would go a long way - and, you'd be able to get something that would have sold for $1,500 or more just a few years back. I'm sure the RTi8s would love the juice that they could supply.

....indeed.

 

[wire]

Why not consider something used? For that budget, you could get something like the older Denon 4802, the H/K AVR-7200 or even one of the Pioneer Elite receivers (56TXi). Your money would go a long way - and, you'd be able to get something that would have sold for $1,500 or more just a few years back. I'm sure the RTi8s would love the juice that they could supply.

Another
Agreed , look for used stuff on audiogone .

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hey folks, could use your opinion on this one. Currently I am using Polk RTi8 mains, CSi3 center, and FXi3 rear surrounds with a Sony subwoofer. Right now I am using a Sony STR-DE635 amplifier. Although I am very pleased with the system for home theatre, the CD sound is very poor.

What is your opinion in an upgrade of the amplifier to give me better CD audio without sacrificing the HT sound? I would like to spend under $800.

Thanks for any help.

You are pleased with HT but you have reservations about CD sound. What kind of reservations? Maybe your Cd recording is inferior? Maybe you don't have your speakers and room acoustics optimized? Have you ever plotted your room response with those speakers and location? That is where you need to start, not amps.

Why is it that most jump on the amp when there are greater benefits to be gained from speakers, room acoustics and software quality?

 

[sholling]

Polk makes some good to seriously excellent speaker lines so just off the top of my head – unheard, I'm thinking that your system’s biggest weakness is probably is going to be the sub, followed very, very closely by your system's calibration settings. I'd say your first step is to invest in a seriously good quality sub as well as good a calibration DVD with a bundled SPL meter and actually use it.

 

[mnnc]

Upgrade recv'r as suggested. Cd's/music should sound better. A friend had an older sony that was great for movies but bad with music. There should not be a tremendous difference as you are experiencing. Go shopping!

 

[Durango2003]

I appreciate all of your insights! I am sure that you are correct regarding the subwoofer, it is definately the weakest part of the system. I do have a DVD calibration disc (The Ultimate DVD from Best Buy) and have used it with an SPL meter. This has given me very good audio on the HT side, but when I put my receiver on 2 channel audio (L, R, and Sub) the sound is atrocious.

When I play a CD in surround (pro logic) it certainly sounds better than 2 channel, but it is not what the artist envisioned when it was recorded in 2 channel stereo.

I was wondering if anyone else has used the Sony receiver and had this issue. I will reset the receiver to factory spec and try again.

thanks to all, I appreciate it.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I do have a DVD calibration disc (The Ultimate DVD from Best Buy) and have used it with an SPL meter. This has given me very good audio on the HT side, but when I put my receiver on 2 channel audio (L, R, and Sub) the sound is atrocious.
.

What does that test dis sound like when your setup is in 2 ch mode compared to 5 ch mode?

No reason that it would sound different other than the reality that you only have two speakers, no center, and maybe the sub.
Does the level matching hold?
How is the music sounds at lower levels?