Upgrade

[funked up]

Well its been over a year since I have bought anything for the system and I'm thinking its time to upgrade something(see bottom for current system). Heres the problem, I live in an apartment, so a bigger better subwoofer(preffered upgrade) is out of the question. Speaker upgrades might be a good idea, but I'd like to wait till I have couple grand to get some speakers, instead of getting something that is maybe only slightly better than what I have. I don't even have my surrounds hooked up cause there is no good way to run speaker wire to them in my new apartment. I'm thinking maybe upgrade the reciever to say a yamaha rx-v663 (HD sound!). Or possibly upgrading the TV to a 50" 1080 Panasonic plasma. Good deal at sears $1200, no intrest for 36months. I'm leaning towards the rx-v663, but I'm worried that with the speaker I have the difference in sound will be minimal. The more I think about this the more I think I might be better off waiting until I have a better place to put all this stuff, what do you think?

 

[agarwalro]

Get sound treatments.

Auralex Gramma (the difference this makes is amazing) $50 on http://www.zzounds.com/item--AURGRAMMA

I recently added this, http://www.zzounds.com/item--AURPROJ2CG shop around. I got mine on CL for $300

The improvement is phenomenal. Best $350 I ever spent and then some.

 

[lsiberian]

Well its been over a year since I have bought anything for the system and I'm thinking its time to upgrade something(see bottom for current system). Heres the problem, I live in an apartment, so a bigger better subwoofer(preffered upgrade) is out of the question. Speaker upgrades might be a good idea, but I'd like to wait till I have couple grand to get some speakers, instead of getting something that is maybe only slightly better than what I have. I don't even have my surrounds hooked up cause there is no good way to run speaker wire to them in my new apartment. I'm thinking maybe upgrade the reciever to say a yamaha rx-v663 (HD sound!). Or possibly upgrading the TV to a 50" 1080 Panasonic plasma. Good deal at sears $1200, no intrest for 36months. I'm leaning towards the rx-v663, but I'm worried that with the speaker I have the difference in sound will be minimal. The more I think about this the more I think I might be better off waiting until I have a better place to put all this stuff, what do you think?

Do the TV. It's the best upgrade.

 

[CraigV]

Since HD-DVD is long dead, have you considered a Blu-Ray player?

 

[j_garcia]

I'd consider upgrading the receiver as you already mentioned. That seems like the weak point to me, because those speakers like plenty of power. Though you said you don't really want to turn it up, I have never been impressed with any of the non-ES line of Sony receivers. Plus you would be stepping up to decoding of the new formats and that is a pretty big step up.

I agree with the Blu-ray player as well.

A change in 8" diagonal in screen size is noticeable at first, but isn't a giant upgrade unless your current set isn't 1080p.

I bought an Auralex Gramma for my sub and it is well worth the money. To me that is a no-brainer on the upgrade list.

 

[3db]

The two components that need replacing is your receiver and HD-DVD player. Because HD-DVD is no p longer releasing anymore DVDs on that format, I would change the player first followed by the receiver.

 

[funked up]

Since HD-DVD is long dead, have you considered a Blu-Ray player?

I keep the HD-A3 hooked up cause I have some HD-DVD's that I still watch. And I usually watch my regular DVD's with it also. But I do have a PS3 for blu-rays so I'm all set in that department. I'm thinking the reciever is gonna be the way to go. Would anybody recommend something other than the rx-v663? Or am i heading in the right direction. I don't think that I would want to spend more than $400 on a reciever. Also were could I find the best price on the rx-v663? Ebay?

 

[AVRat]

The 6260, essentially the same as the newer 665 for $400. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001S2RDAE/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[lsiberian]

I keep the HD-A3 hooked up cause I have some HD-DVD's that I still watch. And I usually watch my regular DVD's with it also. But I do have a PS3 for blu-rays so I'm all set in that department. I'm thinking the reciever is gonna be the way to go. Would anybody recommend something other than the rx-v663? Or am i heading in the right direction. I don't think that I would want to spend more than $400 on a reciever. Also were could I find the best price on the rx-v663? Ebay?

The PS3 decodes the new formats for you. So you could buy any HDMI repeating receiver. Including the Marantz 4002 or HK AVR 247

 

[fast1]

Do the TV. It's the best upgrade.

i agree as well

 

[funked up]

http://www.sourceoneaudio.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9289

I found this, looks like a pretty good deal. Anybody know if this company is reliable. I found the rx-v663 on ebay for about the same price, but I'd rather go through a somewhat reliable company.

I like the idea of a new bigger 1080 TV, but I think I'm gonna wait another year or so and then see where I'm at there.

Also - Is it true that the newer rx-v665 doesn't have as much power as the rx-v663. Is there any benefit of getting the rx-v665 over the rx-v663 considering my components?

 

[j_garcia]

http://www.sourceoneaudio.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9289

I found this, looks like a pretty good deal. Anybody know if this company is reliable. I found the rx-v663 on ebay for about the same price, but I'd rather go through a somewhat reliable company.

I like the idea of a new bigger 1080 TV, but I think I'm gonna wait another year or so and then see where I'm at there.

Also - Is it true that the newer rx-v665 doesn't have as much power as the rx-v663. Is there any benefit of getting the rx-v665 over the rx-v663 considering my components?

A buddy of mine just got the 665 and he is happy with it so far. He said it has one very nice feature and that is that it will still pass through HDMI even while the receiver is in STAND BY (off). He went from an older Outlaw 1050 to that and said while it isn't as powerful, it isn't bad at all. My buddy said he found it for like $350 shipped and I think he sent me a link; let me check.

*edit He got it at www.6ave.com for $378 no tax free shipping but it appears to be back up to $499. The AH store had it on sale recently as well.

 

[funked up]

A buddy of mine just got the 665 and he is happy with it so far. He said it has one very nice feature and that is that it will still pass through HDMI even while the receiver is in STAND BY (off). He went from an older Outlaw 1050 to that and said while it isn't as powerful, it isn't bad at all. My buddy said he found it for like $350 shipped and I think he sent me a link; let me check.

*edit He got it at www.6ave.com for $378 no tax free shipping but it appears to be back up to $499. The AH store had it on sale recently as well.

That does sound like a neat feature, but I can't think of many(or even any) instances where I would need HD picture without any sound. I think if the rx-v663 def has more power, that I will lean that way.

 

[j_garcia]

That does sound like a neat feature, but I can't think of many(or even any) instances where I would need HD picture without any sound. I think if the rx-v663 def has more power, that I will lean that way.

According to him, it passes video and audio to the TV without having have the whole system on. I haven't seen this feature on any other receivers yet. I don't ever watch a movie without the sytem on myself either though.

 

[jostenmeat]

Also - Is it true that the newer rx-v665 doesn't have as much power as the rx-v663.

I believe that's true. ALSO, the previous 661 has more power than the 663!

As mentioned already, your PS3 decodes, so the 661's ability to accept mch PCM over HDMI is good enough. Don't need the built in decoders. The only thing is if you can still find one, and that's assuming it will be significantly cheaper to begin with.

I'm most familiar with the 663 of the three, and a couple of the pitfalls for ME, are that it cannot matrix advanced bitstreams (which is irrelevant to you, twice over, with 3.1 and PS3), and its bass mgmt is rather inflexible, but no worries if you're fine with 80hz across the board.

 

[funked up]

I'm thinking this might be a good alternative to the rx-v663:
SR6001 -
http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARSR6001/Marantz/SR6001-receiver-100w-x-7ch-HDMI-home-theater-surround/1.html

Would this be a good choice?