What would you upgrade?

[Khazad]

Hi all - If you were me how would you spend my money? I am looking to upgrade my current system and want to spend <$1k. I've been reading a lot of posts the last few days and been impressed by the fact that opinions are voiced freely without fear of reprisal or flaming...very cool!
So I would very much like to hear thoughts and ideas about what to upgrade on my current system:

Marantz SR4400 (6.1 - 80w per)
PSB T45's
PSB Alpha C (center)
Klipsch SS1 (surrounds)
PSB Subsonic 6 (not the newer 6i)
No 6th channel speaker

Environment:
Room is 14' by 14' 4" with a high cealing (11ft best guess). My front soundstage is only 7'. I use this system mostly for movies, but also for hard rock and everything in between (no country!).

I've always felt that this sub is a little week for my tastes. Some things do after time vibrate of shelves etc. But I would like for my pictures to take a flying leap off my walls! Is there a sub out there that for my budget can do this, or close to it for that $$$? Also, this sub will accept speaker level inputs - what about buying an older amp that is bridgeable and hooking it up? I saw on ebay a Carver TM45 that was bridgeable to 1000w's, probably overkill for the little 12". Any rec's on older amps that may fit this bill? Any guess as to how much power I can throw at the sub? I won't hold anyone to this.....if I pop it....my own fault! What about getting a Butt-Kicker? Yes this is just a gimmick thing for movies...but will it make my movies more enjoyable?

Another thing I don't like about my system is that the T45's are maple Everything else I have is black! I have made a mix cd and am going to listen to it on the T45's (sub off in speaker menu of receiver) for a long while. Then I'm going to take it to my local store and audition a pair of Klipsch RF-62's. So if there are no other recomendations, and if I like the 62's, I may just get those.

I am eager to hear any and opions and ideas! And there is no wife factor to consider so let fly! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and much thanks for any replies
-Kaz

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi all - If you were me how would you spend my money? I am looking to upgrade my current system and want to spend <$1k. I've been reading a lot of posts the last few days and been impressed by the fact that opinions are voiced freely without fear of reprisal or flaming...very cool!
So I would very much like to hear thoughts and ideas about what to upgrade on my current system:

Marantz SR4400 (6.1 - 80w per)
PSB T45's
PSB Alpha C (center)
Klipsch SS1 (surrounds)
PSB Subsonic 6 (not the newer 6i)
No 6th channel speaker

Environment:
Room is 14' by 14' 4" with a high cealing (11ft best guess). My front soundstage is only 7'. I use this system mostly for movies, but also for hard rock and everything in between (no country!).

I've always felt that this sub is a little week for my tastes. Some things do after time vibrate of shelves etc. But I would like for my pictures to take a flying leap off my walls! Is there a sub out there that for my budget can do this, or close to it for that $$$? Also, this sub will accept speaker level inputs - what about buying an older amp that is bridgeable and hooking it up? I saw on ebay a Carver TM45 that was bridgeable to 1000w's, probably overkill for the little 12". Any rec's on older amps that may fit this bill? Any guess as to how much power I can throw at the sub? I won't hold anyone to this.....if I pop it....my own fault! What about getting a Butt-Kicker? Yes this is just a gimmick thing for movies...but will it make my movies more enjoyable?

Another thing I don't like about my system is that the T45's are maple Everything else I have is black! I have made a mix cd and am going to listen to it on the T45's (sub off in speaker menu of receiver) for a long while. Then I'm going to take it to my local store and audition a pair of Klipsch RF-62's. So if there are no other recomendations, and if I like the 62's, I may just get those.

I am eager to hear any and opions and ideas! And there is no wife factor to consider so let fly! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and much thanks for any replies
-Kaz

If you don't like your sub, get an SVS And, if yours is a powered sub, getting a bigger external amp to feed the speaker level terminals will not help one bit.
Your room acoustics certainly will affect the sound the most. That square room doesn't help one bit though.
How fare back is the listening position from the speakers? Maybe that 6th, center rear, speaker not matter much.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I wouldn't change mains just for the color, since you are happy with the sound (Plus I would consider Klipsch a big step down from PSB.) Surrounds don't make a big difference, as they are pretty much just for directional cues. I have never heard any difference at all between 5.1 and 6.1. The receiver is probably good, being Marantz.
That leaves the sub. Since you feel another sub could offer better performance, that is what I would say to focus on. $1000 will buy one heck of a nice sub.

 

[Higgsy]

Get rid of the silver grills on the t45's and replace them with black. They look 10x bettter with black ones.

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I would start looking at subs. 1k is a nice budget for a sub, like a Hsu Research VTF-3 HO (get the Turbo). I had one of those and it will remove items from walls, shelves, and foundation. Hope you live in a house!

 

[Exit]

For $1000 you could get two AV123 MFW15s 15" subs which should shake things up a bit, but you may have to wait a month or two because they have a waiting list. A lot of people think a good deal is worth waiting for.

 

[Khazad]

Get rid of the silver grills on the t45's and replace them with black. They look 10x bettter with black ones.

<Smacks Forehead> Doh! I think that is an excellent compromise to my color quandry!

mtrycrafts - My listening position is about 10' back. The SS1's sit directly at my sides. I have a window w/curtains and blinds right behind the couch so that's why there is no 6th channel. I'm sure you are right, it doesn't matter much. I still hear the bullets fly over my head. I have used an SPL meter to do a rough tune.

These have been great comments and insights! Thank you all so much. Keep em' coming if anyone has some other ideas???

 

[3db]

Hi all - If you were me how would you spend my money? I am looking to upgrade my current system and want to spend <$1k. I've been reading a lot of posts the last few days and been impressed by the fact that opinions are voiced freely without fear of reprisal or flaming...very cool!
So I would very much like to hear thoughts and ideas about what to upgrade on my current system:

Marantz SR4400 (6.1 - 80w per)
PSB T45's
PSB Alpha C (center)
Klipsch SS1 (surrounds)
PSB Subsonic 6 (not the newer 6i)
No 6th channel speaker

Environment:
Room is 14' by 14' 4" with a high cealing (11ft best guess). My front soundstage is only 7'. I use this system mostly for movies, but also for hard rock and everything in between (no country!).

I've always felt that this sub is a little week for my tastes. Some things do after time vibrate of shelves etc. But I would like for my pictures to take a flying leap off my walls! Is there a sub out there that for my budget can do this, or close to it for that $$$? Also, this sub will accept speaker level inputs - what about buying an older amp that is bridgeable and hooking it up? I saw on ebay a Carver TM45 that was bridgeable to 1000w's, probably overkill for the little 12". Any rec's on older amps that may fit this bill? Any guess as to how much power I can throw at the sub? I won't hold anyone to this.....if I pop it....my own fault! What about getting a Butt-Kicker? Yes this is just a gimmick thing for movies...but will it make my movies more enjoyable?

Another thing I don't like about my system is that the T45's are maple Everything else I have is black! I have made a mix cd and am going to listen to it on the T45's (sub off in speaker menu of receiver) for a long while. Then I'm going to take it to my local store and audition a pair of Klipsch RF-62's. So if there are no other recomendations, and if I like the 62's, I may just get those.

I am eager to hear any and opions and ideas! And there is no wife factor to consider so let fly! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and much thanks for any replies
-Kaz

Keep the T45s, upgrade the Alpha Center to an Image C40 Center to timbre match your T45s, Play with room placement with your sub before trading it. I have a PSB Subsonic5 and its knocked off a painting. I was grinning from ear to ear but my wife gave me "the look" . She wasn't impressed . Do the cheaper routes 1st. PSB isn't the 1st name in subs but they are respectable.
Once that is done, get rid of your surrounds and get some Alphas or Image B15s for surrounds.

 

[Davemcc]

One suggestion: Emotiva DRS-1. Sidebar, near bottom of page You have an almost square room, so you are likely to have room mode issues with a single sub. A dual sub arrangement can help with that. The Emotiva also has many other desirable qualities. It has a 1000 watt amp with two passive sealed drivers. The amp is separate so you can place it in your rack with your other components. This lets the speaker enclosures be smaller and all you need is a speaker wire to the subwoofer cabinet instead of a power line and an RCA, so you have more placement options. It has built in room correction, which may be very helpful with your near square room. Finally, these subs will rock. They are tight and well controlled for use in music, but still extend below 20Hz for movies and effects.

Downside, they are not available just yet.

 

[Khazad]

Keep the T45s, upgrade the Alpha Center to an Image C40 Center to timbre match your T45s.

Let's assume for a moment that I'm a newb and don't have a clue what this means, lol.
How is that center speaker hurting what I hear now? What would be the noticeable benefits to replacing it?
Thank you again for your feedback.

 

[3db]

Let's assume for a moment that I'm a newb and don't have a clue what this means, lol.
How is that center speaker hurting what I hear now? What would be the noticeable benefits to replacing it?
Thank you again for your feedback.

What it means is you won't perceive a difference in sound as the soundtrack pans from left to center to right channel or from right to center to left channel. It will come across as one continous sound instead of two distinct steps.