Hello,
I finally got a pink ticket to update my system after about 10 years and I'm really impressed by the difference. The original system had a 30" Samsung HD tube, a Denon 3803 receiver, a Pioneer DVD player, a really old harmony remote, and an old set of Klipsch synergy speakers. Overall, I was happy with the system with one exception; I always thought the speakers seemed a bit muddled when listening to voice. My perception was that I would need to get a really nice set of speakers to resolve this issue.
This week I hit the store and only the cable box and speakers were compatible and at the time I expected to want upgrade the speakers next year. I picked up a new TV (Samsung UN46F6300), receiver (Denon AVR-X1000), Blu Ray player (Samsung BD-F5900), and a Logitech Harmony Ultimate remote. The picture quality is incredible, the remote is actually reliable, and the audio is far superior in fact voices are no longer muddled. The new system is obviously easier to calibrate, but what impressed me most is that I could turn up the just voice track without modifying the center channel's calibration. Most importantly, my wife (the pink ticket issuer) also seems to like it - she thinks the picture quality and remote reliability are incredible.
Obviously technology has improved over the last decade, that shouldn't surprise anyone. What I never realized was how much the AV's audio processor was actually doing, in fact I really just thought of it as a simple decoder. I am also impressed at how much trickle down technology is packed into these components. I would be shocked if the SW running in AV FPGAs in '03-'04 could accomplish anywhere near what the FPGAs in todays equipment can. Modern FPGAs seem incredible at compensating for less than perfect equipment and room characteristics. I suppose I should also add that the netflix app built into the BR player and TV is also really nice.
Anthony
