New processor or speakers?

[goodavis]

Hello everyone I’m hoping someone in the forum can help.
I have anthem mrx1120 with emotiva XPA 7.
Def tech bp9040 & cs9060
Svs sb16 & sb4000
I’m considering upgrading to the Arendals that were reviewed on this channel & add the center channel to it or upgrade the Mrx receiver to the avm70 processor. If I did the processor I’d have to add another amp for atmos to do this I’m looking at $3500 to $4500 depending on the choice so I’m wondering which would be the way to go speakers or processor or the sound improvements will not be that great for the money spent. If anyone has any insight please share
Thanks in advance

 

[ryanosaur]

Based on my experience with the DTs... I would argue for upgrading the Speakers first. I know there are plenty of DT fans out there, and I mean no disrespect, but Sound Quality is not what I thought of when listening to those Speakers.
Electronics (Amps, AVRs, AVPs) are not likely going to give you any sense of SQ improvement unless you are coming from a 10+yr old lower grade product. An upgrade there should be due to needing updated technology, but based on the state of todays AVRs and AVPs, waiting (if possible) is advised until manufacturers get their tech sorted out.

Which Arendals were you looking at?

 

[}Fear_Inoculum{]

Does the 1120 lack some feature that you want/need? If not, then why upgrade it?

I agree with @ryanosaur about upgrading your speakers. That will make a much bigger, and better, improvement to your overall system than upgrading your AVR.

 

[ski2xblack]

The speakers will make the greatest difference, by far, particularly with the quite different polar responses and room interactions of bipoles vs. the Arendals.

Given the gulf between the two approaches, I'm curious if that's what's motivating your desire to upgrade. Bipoles have greater placement restrictions than front firing direct radiator types. Does that play into your decision? Or is there something else about the DT that leaves you wanting?

 

[ryanosaur]

The speakers will make the greatest difference, by far, particularly with the quite different polar responses and room interactions of bipoles vs. the Arendals.

Given the gulf between the two approaches, I'm curious if that's what's motivating your desire to upgrade. Bipoles have greater placement restrictions than front firing direct radiator types. Does that play into your decision? Or is there something else about the DT that leaves you wanting?

My mains have dipole mids, and I agree that setting them up can be more challenging... and rewarding when done properly.

(My main complaint, however, is in the Powered Woofers. Worst Bass quality I heard in all my auditions. ...And that's saying something because I am rating complete lack of Bass in the B&W 600 Series Tower higher than what I heard in the DTs.)

 

[goodavis]

Based on my experience with the DTs... I would argue for upgrading the Speakers first. I know there are plenty of DT fans out there, and I mean no disrespect, but Sound Quality is not what I thought of when listening to those Speakers.
Electronics (Amps, AVRs, AVPs) are not likely going to give you any sense of SQ improvement unless you are coming from a 10+yr old lower grade product. An upgrade there should be due to needing updated technology, but based on the state of todays AVRs and AVPs, waiting (if possible) is advised until manufacturers get their tech sorted out.

Which Arendals were you looking at?

Thank you for your insight. This helps me out
I am looking at the 1723 thx monitors & 1723 thx center channel

 

[Pogre]

Speakers!

I'm gonna go read your post now...

 

[Pogre]

Thank you for your insight. This helps me out
I am looking at the 1723 thx monitors & 1723 thx center channel

Those look like great speakers. Reviewed really well here. You've probably seen it, but if not...

Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX Loudspeaker Review

The Arendal 1723 Monitor looks great and Arendal claims a very high sound and build quality for its price, but is that real or just marketing fluff? Read our in-depth review to find out.

www.audioholics.com

 

[snakeeyes]

I’m familiar with DT. I think that those Arendal are likely going to be much better than your current setup judging from that review. I see they have a 60 day return policy too. (You pay shipping).

 

[j_garcia]

If the goal is better sound, then that money is always better spent on the speakers than the processor. Unless there is some capability you lack now that you "need" to get to where you want, I vote for the speakers.

 

[mitty]

I do take your point regarding speakers as the best port of call for better sound, but it`s not always this way.
When I purchased 2 x Audiolab Mono 350 amps ::well the sound was very much improved, as the stereo effect was massive even though I was using a Naim DAC before and a Kandy Power amp.
It is a bit the same when members discuss speaker cables. I realise this can cause reactions that create situations that could come to blows, but, few bother to mention their actual systems and this can be chalk and cheese. I remember talking to a young chap who had got a new pair of speakers and was complaining about the awful sound. When I looked into this, it appeared he had really good speakers, but was trying to drive them on a 2x 3watt output on his old system on full volume. !! It did sound awful. But speaking about this ironed out the real problem : not enough oomph from the tiny amp. His father invested in a better amplifier for his son.
It`s just that , it`s not always the speaker wire or whatever that`s at fault. Sometimes it`s the system itself . Hence reading this forum is ideal especially if your new to hi- end audio..

 

[Golfx]

Hello everyone I’m hoping someone in the forum can help.
I have anthem mrx1120 with emotiva XPA 7.
Def tech bp9040 & cs9060
Svs sb16 & sb4000
I’m considering upgrading to the Arendals that were reviewed on this channel & add the center channel to it or upgrade the Mrx receiver to the avm70 processor. If I did the processor I’d have to add another amp for atmos to do this I’m looking at $3500 to $4500 depending on the choice so I’m wondering which would be the way to go speakers or processor or the sound improvements will not be that great for the money spent. If anyone has any insight please share
Thanks in advance

You will most likely do both of your options in the future—such is the nature of those of us with this addiction. The improvement you will get from buying separates is measurable using math but likely inaudible to human ears. The speakers, however, will give you large audible differences and from reading @shadyj’s review the arendals will result in an improvement. The audioholics professional reviewers hear hundreds of speakers for comparison and they use measurements to underpin their observations. In summary, you will be able to hear the improvement by buying the arendals. I envy your journey. Good luck.

 

[Pogre]

I do take your point regarding speakers as the best port of call for better sound, but it`s not always this way.
When I purchased 2 x Audiolab Mono 350 amps ::well the sound was very much improved, as the stereo effect was massive even though I was using a Naim DAC before and a Kandy Power amp.
It is a bit the same when members discuss speaker cables. I realise this can cause reactions that create situations that could come to blows, but, few bother to mention their actual systems and this can be chalk and cheese. I remember talking to a young chap who had got a new pair of speakers and was complaining about the awful sound. When I looked into this, it appeared he had really good speakers, but was trying to drive them on a 2x 3watt output on his old system on full volume. !! It did sound awful. But speaking about this ironed out the real problem : not enough oomph from the tiny amp. His father invested in a better amplifier for his son.
It`s just that , it`s not always the speaker wire or whatever that`s at fault. Sometimes it`s the system itself . Hence reading this forum is ideal especially if your new to hi- end audio..

A 3 watt amp is a pretty extreme example and it is completely believable a more powerful amp would offer significant improvement in sq at higher volumes. Apples to apples tho, all else being equal, no one to my knowledge has ever been able to discern a difference between properly operating solid state amps if operated within spec and level matched in a blind test. Those differences and improvements completely disappear when the listener doesn't know which is which.

If you already have sufficient power to hit desired levels with your speakers then swapping in a new amp won't really offer anything in the way of improvement outside of placebo or expectation bias. It's always in the room and speakers, and that includes subs.