What to upgrade first? If at all?

[cgk]

My current system, which is used for music and movies:

NAD 302 Integrated Amplifier (25 Watts)
A pair of Advent Legacy III speakers (2 way, floor speaker w/ 10" woofer rated at 40 Hz-23 kHz)
Sharp DV-S1 DVD player
Sony LCD projector shown on wall

My situation is that for the next two years I will be where I am and then moving. I watch/listen in my basement. In two years my income will be substantially higher than it is now and I anticipate I will have a dedicated home theater at that time where ever I may be. I would eventually like to have a surround system (either 5.1 or 7.1, I haven't decided yet).

My current budget will not allow me to scrap everything and upgrade all at once. I'm thinking of getting or building a subwoofer to add to the current system to hold me over for the next two years. I anticipate that I can get an allowance of around $500 for an upgrade at this time. I do also have a pair of Klipsch outdoor speakers that aren't being used that I could use as rear speakers which then leaves open the possibility of getting a multichannel receiver and running it with two fronts and two rears with no center or subwoofer.

I would appreciate any thoughts or input anyone has for me.

Thanks,

Colin

 

[JoeE SP9]

Get some stands for those Advents if you don't already have some. Virtually all large bookshelf speakers like your Advents will sound much better on stands. Raising the tweeters to ear height while seated will go a long way toward improving the sound. It's also a very cheap upgrade.

 

[Audioholics]

For now I would recommend:

1) Taking your best main speakers and using them as fronts
2) Put your lesser speakers as surrounds
3) If you don't have a matching center or receiver with center channel EQ, then matrix it
4) Add a subwoofer when you can - even if it's a $100 DIY unit.
5) Make sure you have a receiver that does at least Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and have a DVD player that sends component video to your TV (i.e. a receiver and player that are less than 4 years old should do it).

Then , as an upgrade path (this is just my opinion based on what you stated you own now):

1) New main speakers - move your current mains to the rear
2) Upgrade the receiver if you don't have a good one - and to add Pro Logic II, etc
3) Add a center channel
4) Upgrade the subwoofer
5) Upgrade rear speakers
6) Upgrade to a better quality progressive scan DVD player
7) Add the 7.1 speakers if possible
8) Consider room acoustics, furniture, etc...

Other suggestions should be weighed in as well.

 

[Leprkon]

I disagree with Clint (hushed silence all around )

If I understand right, your tube amp doesn't do surround sound. If so, I would get the receiver first and sub second.

A decent receiver (and you will be able to get a solid unit from Yamaha or Denon for about $ 350) will sound good anywhere, or usually can be adjusted to sound good anywhere. Pretty much ditto for the sub if you are willing to tweak it into the right spot. The Dayton unit is a very cost-effective product

http://www.*****************/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=300-632


Use the outdoor speakers for surrounds. They generally work great for this purpose. They are easily mounted and usually reproduce mid-range and highs the best, which is what you want in a surround speaker.

I would recommend you hold off on the main speaker replacements until you move into the new house and have the additional money. Your new place will have entirely different acoustics and speakers is one place where you are better off to get the best you can get for the specific room you plan to put it in. You're going to want to audition a couple of sets rather than be stuck with what you buy now. The Advents I listened to years ago (but couldn't afford back then) are certainly good enough to hold you over for now

If, after the first round of purchases, your funds leave you short of a more expensive choice, you might spring for a center channel. Even a lower price center like this is probably the best $ 75 you could spend for an immediate improvement (again... assuming your amp can support one) and you could always move it to another room in the new place.

http://www.thetwistergroup.com/product/DV-52CLRB%20D00812.html

Someday, you'll want all three front speakers to be from the same speaker line for the best possible sound.

 

[cgk]

thanks for the input

I appreciate y'all's input.

Regarding stands: the speakers are large, not bookshelf: 32" high, 14" wide, 9" deep. Would you still recommend stands? (easily done, a couple of cinder blocks would do the trick, I imagine)

Regarding receiver vs sub: my intention is to buy stuff that would be in my eventual system. i.e. if I purchase or build a sub, it would be the one I would use in the home theater two years from now. Likewise with the receiver.

To refine the question then: which would improve my listening more:

1) Adding a sub to the current stereo system.​

2) Getting a surround receiver and running it with the Advent speakers in front and the Klipsch speakers in the rear. (no sub, no center).​

 

[Audioholics]

While I added it as 5) in my initial list - it's definitely imperative that you can decode DTS and DD to do basic surround prior to just about everything else. You mentioned having a $500 "now" budget so I'm thinking this is where that falls. Get the receiver - move your outdoor speakers - then start planning your next upgrade.

 

[Takeereasy]

I can't believe Buckeye didn't mention this here yet. This is the best deal on a REceiver that I've seen. These auctions have been closing at under $500 and the dealer is authorized so the warranty is good.Marantz Receiver @ Ubid. I got mine for $451.