Time to upgrade?

[crazytiger]

So, maybe I just have "new receiver fever", but I have become somewhat bored with my Denon AVR-3805. I got it for cheap $$$ from a friend and I have enjoyed it for the most part. It makes good power, but it's a little difficult to tinker with. Oh, and then there's that goofy remote.........

I guess the question is, how out-dated is it? It doesn't have any of the latest decoders, but do they make that much of a difference? (forgive me for being a total noob) Would it be worth it for me to go out and drop ~$400 to get a new Pioneer, Yamaha, or Onkyo with some new technology?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't think it's worth buying a new $400 AVR. That sounds kind of boring going from a very good Denon AVR-3805 to a $400 AVR.

Now if you were to buy a $2,000 Denon AVR-4310CI for $980, that might be a little exciting:

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR4310CI-7-1-Channel-Multi-Zone-Connectivity/dp/B002AKKFQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1297252774&sr=8-1

I don't think the new HD Audio codec is significant for most people. And many people will even let their blu-ray player do the decoding and output the HD Audio codec to their AVR or pre-pro via the 5.1/7.1 analog Inputs.

 

[chesbak]

Just stick with it and use your source do the decoding for you...

 

[crazytiger]

Just stick with it and use your source do the decoding for you...

OK, you just blew my mind. Help me out here.... My Blu-ray source is a PS3. I just fire up a movie and set the Denon to "direct", or "pure direct"?

Thanks for the education!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/21/hd-101-how-to-use-dolby-truehd-and-dts-hd-with-your-ps3/

Basically change output from bitstream to lpcm using hdmi cable and you won't loose anything while playing lossless hd tracks, except fancy logo displayed on your avr

 

[crazytiger]

http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/21/hd-101-how-to-use-dolby-truehd-and-dts-hd-with-your-ps3/

Basically change output from bitstream to lpcm using hdmi cable and you won't loose anything while playing lossless hd tracks, except fancy logo displayed on your avr

Uh oh. Looks like an upgrade is inevitable now. The AVR-3805 doesn't do HDMI.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Uh oh. Looks like an upgrade is inevitable now. The AVR-3805 doesn't do HDMI.

What other components and speakers do you have?

Most people cannot even tell the difference between DTS vs DTS-HD MA or Dolby Digital vs Dolby TrueHD.

So for most people, DTS & DD are good enough.

 

[crazytiger]

What other components and speakers do you have?

Most people cannot even tell the difference between DTS vs DTS-HD MA or Dolby Digital vs Dolby TrueHD.

So for most people, DTS & DD are good enough.

Unfortunately, I am an audio / video junkie with no money! I definitely have an eye and an ear for this stuff, but only average technical knowledge and somewhat limited funds. Here is my system that I have pieced together over the years: (prepare to be underwhelmed!)

Samsung 58" plasma
Scientific Atlanta Explored 8300HDC cable box
PS3
Denon AVR-3805
Polk Monitor 50 floor standing fronts
Polk CS10 center
Bose (funky curved shaped) rears - yes, I know they are junk!
HSU-STF1 sub

I'd be willing to sell it all (except the tv!) and start over. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Option A) Your center is slightly mismatched from your mains, and obvious upgrade path here is to up mains to TSi400
http://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-TSi400-Floorstanding-Speaker/dp/B0018QROHC

Option B) Energy RC30 Mains for $400/pair + Energy RC-LCR cernter - also about $400

p.s:
Why do I get the feeling your 58" plasma and audio are located in large room?
If I'm right - you need to update your sub

 

[jinjuku]

Unfortunately, I am an audio / video junkie with no money! I definitely have an eye and an ear for this stuff, but only average technical knowledge and somewhat limited funds. Here is my system that I have pieced together over the years: (prepare to be underwhelmed!)

Samsung 58" plasma
Scientific Atlanta Explored 8300HDC cable box
PS3
Denon AVR-3805
Polk Monitor 50 floor standing fronts
Polk CS10 center
Bose (funky curved shaped) rears - yes, I know they are junk!
HSU-STF1 sub

I'd be willing to sell it all (except the tv!) and start over. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Go HDMI from the PS3 to TV, go optical out from the PS3 to the receiver. You really need to invest in better speakers.

 

[crazytiger]

OK, more detail about my situation...

The room is about 22' x 18' with painted cement floor and vaulted ceiling. As you can see, I cut the shelves and sat the Polk floor standing speakers in the built-in bookcase. (Anything I do with the home theater has to be met with the wife's approval)

As far as new speakers go, floor standing speakers outside the bookcase is not an option, so I either need to go with something basically the same size (depth) as the Polks, or go back to a bookshelf speaker, or something in between. Would a nice pair of bookshelf speakers actually be better than these crappy Polks?

Also, the sub pictured is my brothers Klipsch. He wanted to try the HSU, so we swapped subs for a while.

 

[jinjuku]

OK, more detail about my situation...

The room is about 22' x 18' with painted cement floor and vaulted ceiling. As you can see, I cut the shelves and sat the Polk floor standing speakers in the built-in bookcase. (Anything I do with the home theater has to be met with the wife's approval)

As far as new speakers go, floor standing speakers outside the bookcase is not an option, so I either need to go with something basically the same size (depth) as the Polks, or go back to a bookshelf speaker, or something in between. Would a nice pair of bookshelf speakers actually be better than these crappy Polks?

Also, the sub pictured is my brothers Klipsch. He wanted to try the HSU, so we swapped subs for a while.

A solid MTM. If ported, then ported front side. Find a pair of Ascend Acoustics MTM's or SVS SCS-02's

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Another option - seems to fit in your space limitation as well and front ported
Jamo S426
http://www.jamo.com/na-en/products/s-426-specifications/
Whole system - $500
http://www.amazon.com/Jamo-S426HCS3-Theater-Speaker-System/dp/B003BPPAB0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1297284188&sr=1-6

Just add better sub

 

[jostenmeat]

What other components and speakers do you have?

Most people cannot even tell the difference between DTS vs DTS-HD MA or Dolby Digital vs Dolby TrueHD.

So for most people, DTS & DD are good enough.

You might be right, and I used to naturally assume that many tracks would be hard to differentiate, at least for HT. However, just like I can immediately spot DVD resolution on my rig without knowing that's what I put in (Netflix mistakes on my part for instance), I have caught a couple of lossy tracks as well, without knowing they were lossy. I can't remember the titles though. I thought that was interesting, and once it was simply because I failed to go into menu to choose correct codec, maybe I was assuming MA.

Go HDMI from the PS3 to TV, go optical out from the PS3 to the receiver. You really need to invest in better speakers.

I agree with the better speakers, crazytiger. Better speakers will make everything sound better, music cd's, television, dvd's, and even blurays (your bitrates are still increased thru optical, so at least you get a little bit there form the electronics side). The receiver upgrade might only make blurays better.

A different option play in the future is to buy an affordable BDP with analog outs, assuming the Denon has the mch ins. You don't get the better/flexible bass mgmt of the receiver, but it's a cheaper way to get your lossless mch audio. It may or may not allow your PS3 to live longer too.

Lastly, I would do my best to get the speakers as far as out possible, instead of being buried in a reflective hell deep inside the shelves. If this means getting the sexiest finish possible on the speakers for this to happen, then go for it. If you go for the sexy finish, be very careful which Ascends you choose.

 

[GranteedEV]

Most people cannot even tell the difference between DTS vs DTS-HD MA or Dolby Digital vs Dolby TrueHD.

So for most people, DTS & DD are good enough.

Well a good 1.5mbps DTS and a 1.5mbps DTS-MA perhaps.

But it's really easy to hear the difference between the average dolby digital and Dolby TrueHD mix. More "!!" to special effects, less of a flat feel. I'm not one to harp about 3-dimensionality of sound but that's the best way to describe a sufficiently lossy Dolby encode... as if it's been "flattened"

 

[crazytiger]

How important is the front port? Is a rear port a complete deal breaker? I am kind of digging the idea of these Ascend CMT-340 "mini tower" speakers. They are rear ported though......

As for the Jamo's, are those basically Klipsch speakers with a different name? $500 for a complete set seems awfully cheap. Does it's strength lie in the fact that it is a "matched set"? (as opposed to my stuff that's pieced together) Or is it just a hell of a deal for some pretty good stuff?

I would be OK with spending around $700 for some nice fronts and a center if it will give me a large increase in performance over what I have now.

 

[GranteedEV]

How important is the front port? Is a rear port a complete deal breaker? I am kind of digging the idea of these Ascend CMT-340 "mini tower" speakers. They are rear ported though......

As for the Jamo's, are those basically Klipsch speakers with a different name? $500 for a complete set seems awfully cheap. Does it's strength lie in the fact that it is a "matched set"? (as opposed to my stuff that's pieced together) Or is it just a hell of a deal for some pretty good stuff?

I would be OK with spending around $700 for some nice fronts and a center if it will give me a large increase in performance over what I have now.

Well first of all if you can't get it decently far away from the wall you may run into poor imaging and boomyness from around 400hz down... rear ported, front ported, sealed. It's the increased diffraction as well as baffle step compensation increase IMO. I would look into something designed in-wall with a waveguide... they're actually made with that type of situation in mind.

Have you considered DIY?