Upgrading from Onkyo package (1 Viewer)

Hey!


This past cyber monday I decided I'd upgrade from a klipsch standalone computer speaker to an actually nice speaker system, and ended up going with the Onkyo HT-S3500 system (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077V88V8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00).


They've been fantastic speakers actually, but I'm moving into a larger house and am looking to upgrade in a few ways.


1. I want to get a few more speakers so we can have multi-room music, but I'm not sure how to do that with the current receiver/if getting a 7.1 or just more self-powered speakers is the right choice.


2. I'm thinking of upgrading the speakers that originally came with it, but not sure what I should go for to best fit that receiver... it'd be primarily used for house parties at fairly high volumes.


Thanks!

The 3500 is a good step up from the typical home-theater-in-a-box. However, it has two problems: it comes with satellite speakers and it uses a passive sub.


The first problem is the one you're working on, and is easily solved by getting some decent bookshelf or tower speakers. Since you want to listen at high volume, look for a speaker with a sensitivity over 90 db. Klipschs and Polks are commonly available and usually fit the bill; but you'll have a lot of choices.


If you want multi-room music it's probably best to get another receiver with either dual zones or an A/B switch. Using powered speakers might work, but will probably not provide great sound. Powered speakers are designed to work at line level. Since the signal coming out of the receiver is ready powered, you'll be amping it twice (not sure if that will hurt the speaker, but it won't sound good).

To upgrade the 5.0 portion is easy. Adding in an impedance matching speaker switch is also easy.

Upgrading your .1 is the hard part.

Easiest thing...find a car audio shop and have them throw a high efficiency driver in "the most square" box they got.

More expensive(and better option)...

Replace everything.

(which is why we tell EVERYONE to skip the 34/3500 and get the 54/5500)