what would you upgrade first?

[Chucktober]

Hello, I have a simple 5.1 system that I will slowly upgrade over the next few years. im less than a year into this "hobby". I built it through open box and sales since i was on a tight budget. I realize that everything being the same brand may be cheesy, but Best Buy rewards points rock. i am in a 16x18 room with a standard 8ft ceiling. thanks in advance.

Center: Klipsch R-52ii (my thoughts are Klipsch 450ca)
L/R front: Klipsch R-28f ( go R-280F?)
Sub: Klipsch R-112 (it was under $200, what can i say)
Rear: Klipsch R-14m
Denon x2200w


feel free to trash the weak points, i'd really like to improve this setup. I'll probably have around $1500 to spend around black friday. my house is not really set up for 7.2 or atmos at the moment.

Thanks,

Chuck

 

[shadyJ]

Upgrade the sub! The upgrades that you are contemplating with your speakers would mostly be a lateral move, not worth it at all. If you are going to upgrade your speakers, make sure the improvement would be noticeable. And upgrade the entire front stage at the same time when you do. And a significant upgrade over the entire front stage will cost more than 1.5k.

The Klipsch sub is blech. My recommendation is to save up and get a Hsu VTF3 mk5 dual drive. That would be incomparably better than the Klipsch sub and be a major upgrade for the entire system. Sell the Klipsch sub, do not try to incorporate it into a system with higher performing subs.

 

[lovinthehd]

Slowly upgrading can often be more expensive than being patient and making significant upgrades....I agree, a good sub will be a significant upgrade at this point.....more significant than your local store's marketing program will get ya.

 

[Pogre]

listen to these guys. I was amazed at how much a subwoofer upgrade cleaned up my whole system. I was using dual klipsch rpw 10's originally and agree with the blech assessment of their subs in general.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Compared to the Klipsch, a bottom-of-the-line sub from HSU or SVS will be a huge improvement (and I’m sure the guys here can recommend others). Any higher-grade model you step up to from there will blow your mind.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Unless OPs room is open to other spaces, sub like hsu vtf2 will be very good, but if you could get away with vtf3 mk2, it would serve you for very long time and will work just fine in larger areas.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[Pogre]

Compared to the Klipsch, a bottom-of-the-line sub from HSU or SVS will be a huge improvement (and I’m sure the guys here can recommend others). Any higher-grade model you step up to from there will blow your mind.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

this is what I went with. https://www.svsound.com/products/sb-1000

I'm assuming op might have a bigger budget than I did, so he can do even better. I gotta say though, I'm blown away just by the entry level svs subwoofers. I bought 2 of them. like I said, it really cleaned up my whole system. I didn't realize how much distortion/noise I was getting from the old subs. it's so much better now.

 

[herbu]

Hello, I have a simple 5.1 system that I will slowly upgrade over the next few years... I'll probably have around $1500 to spend around black friday.

I agree with these guys. $1500 is enough to get a really good big-boy sub that will last thru your many other future upgrades. $1500 is not enough to get front speakers that will keep you happy as long.

Get the sub now and be blown away by the improvement. Then start saving for front speakers. Your surrounds are not nearly as critical, and can wait for last.

ps. Don't limit yourself by Best Buy and their Rewards. You'll end up w/ something less than you could have done without them.

 

[Chucktober]

Thank you all for your input. After reading reviews from many sites and users, i am leaning toward the Hsu subs. Quick question: with my room being 16x18 with a small dining room connected to it in an "L" shape, should i get the sub with dual drivers that shady mentioned, or buy 2 of the single driver version?

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html

Again, thank you. Im feeling much more confident about my approach.

 

[Pogre]

ps. Don't limit yourself by Best Buy and their Rewards. You'll end up w/ something less than you could have done without them.

I have yet to see anything at best buy that even touches hsu or svs unless you go to one with a magnolia room.

another thing I was warned about here is trusting reviews. after a lot of researching and reading reviews I have to admit I'm kind of shocked. you can find good reviews for some of the crappiest systems and speakers out there.

you might not always hear what you want on this site (not referring to you, chuck. you seem very open to suggestions), but I haven't seen bad advice given yet.

 

[herbu]

After reading reviews from many sites and users, i am leaning toward the Hsu subs.

There are several subwoofer brands that consistently top the list of recommended subs here. Take a look at SVS and Rythmik in addition to HSU. While you can find people here who say, "I prefer this one over this one", it could prove very difficult to find someone here who says, "I don't like that brand", when referring to HSU, SVS or Rythmik.

 

[Pogre]

Thank you all for your input. After reading reviews from many sites and users, i am leaning toward the Hsu subs. Quick question: with my room being 16x18 with a small dining room connected to it in an "L" shape, should i get the sub with dual drivers that shady mentioned, or buy 2 of the single driver version?

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html

Again, thank you. Im feeling much more confident about my approach.

if you can swing it, I'm a fan of having 2 separate subs. you get a much smoother bass response throughout the room. I don't have any experience with dual driver subs, but if shady recommended it, it's a beast too.

 

[shadyJ]

Thank you all for your input. After reading reviews from many sites and users, i am leaning toward the Hsu subs. Quick question: with my room being 16x18 with a small dining room connected to it in an "L" shape, should i get the sub with dual drivers that shady mentioned, or buy 2 of the single driver version?

http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/vtf-3mk5HP.html

Again, thank you. Im feeling much more confident about my approach.

The duel drive system I linked to is just two subs, not one sub with two drivers. I recommended two subs because a single sub rarely grants people a nice even bass response in typical rooms. Two subs go a lot further into getting a nice even bass sound. You also get a nice little discount for buying two subs as a package over individuals. The Hsu subs in particular are the most powerful you can get for the money. One of the greatest fallacies of home theater convention today is that one subwoofer is sufficient for getting good bass.

 

[Chucktober]

you all hit the nail on the head. I removed the sub from my system and set the tower speakers to full range. it sounds way better without the r12. i think any of the above mentioned subs will be a major upgrade. shopping for new gear is almost as fun as hooking it up and listening, i just hope those prices drop for black friday haha!