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Looking for advice on home theater receiver

#1
Rating: 0
10/14/09 at 2:59am
  • Joined: October 2009
  • Post Count: 2
I currently have a Pioneer VSX816K

Hooked to it are:
5 Polk RC65i in walls
Klipsch RSW10 dual powered sub
PS3 - Blu Ray
DirecTv HD receiver
Samsung 58" Plasma

Its in a 20'x25' room w/ 25ish' foot ceiling.

What I'm curious about is should I upgrade the receiver? I bought it in 2007 along with the sub and Klipsch Quintet III's. I recently upgraded to the RC65's when Circuit city went out of business and I got them for what to me was a steal. The sub is still adequate imo but I want better performance out of the RC65's. I just feel they are underpowered by my current Rec. I could be wrong though.
I toyed with the idea of getting a power amp to use with the preouts on the pioneer but wanted more input on that aspect as well. Toying slightly with the idea of a Pyle Home PT1100 power amp.

Any thoughts?


Oh and this is my first post...glad to be here :)
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#2
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10/14/09 at 6:11am
  • Joined: January 2004
  • Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Post Count: 1,116
Welcome to HTF.

No, a new receiver or amp will not significantly make your speakers better.  At 110 watts, you should have plenty of headroom.

The two biggest factors in the sound are your speakers and your room. Typically, you can make the sound better by moving the speakers around.  However, in walls are a compromise.  You can not move them once they are installed...

Have you calibrated the speaker properly (ran the auto EQ in your Pioneer or used an SPL meter)?

My Home Theater
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Dolby and DTS Plaques (downloads)
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#3
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10/15/09 at 4:07pm
  • Joined: October 2009
  • Post Count: 2
I did run the MCACC and it was okay...I think the high ceilings are throwing it off as the volume to the front is so low that it detracts from watching movies. So much so I had to do it manually just to hear the Center. MAybe not since its designed to work around those things though.

One of my concerns was the "generous" ratings that receiver manufac. tend to apply. I know Onkyo and HK are supposedly under raters but who knows really. Unless you have them tested.

I will say on a previous swap of receivers when I went from a Sony 800-something to an Onkyo (mid level) I felt the Onkyo sounded better in the same room w. same speakers.

Would improving the in wall insulation around the speakers help perhaps? The Sub is great and the speakers are noticably better than the Klipschs I had. I just want to maximize what I have.

Thanks so much for the reply(s)

edit: Wanted to add that the tweets on the RC65's are aimable and I have them firing down into the listening area. WOuld up towards the ceiling be better for the reverb.or whatever ;) Also the speakers are mounted in wall about 15 feet up


Edited by KevKor2002 - 10/15/09 at 4:18pm
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