Component selection for upgrade to HT (1 Viewer)

[birderdoc]

I'm finally getting around to updating my modest home theater. I have a flat screen, Blu-ray player, and A/V receiver pretty well selected, but seek some advice regarding speakers. My budget for this part of the setup is $750-800. I understand that the LCR fronts need to be similar in design (and thus, logically, the same make), and that surrounds most likely should follow suit. But does the powered subwoofer need to be from the same manufacturer as the other speakers in order to "match" the system? By some quirk of fate I have a Miller & Kreisel MX-125 Mark II sub, which blows your socks off with low-frequency effects (the fronts are M&K S85's, but the surrounds are a pair of house brand cost savers), so I figure I need to get new speakers for the non-low frequency sound field to improve, but can I keep my big old sub and invest the cost of a new one in the other speakers and still keep the quality of the sound high? Thanks for any input.

 

[gene c]

Ideally, all speakers should be exactly the same. But very few actually do this. I don't either. But the front three should be from the same manufacturer and the same series. You can deviate a little with the surrounds but I find that using as close a match in the rear as well does make a difference. Especially with multi-channel music.

What else have you decided on? (We're nosey around here

).

 

[birderdoc]

Thanks for your reply, Gene. This will be my initial foray into high definition home theater - the old 40" Mitsubishi tube TV will be replaced by a Samsung 52" LCD flat panel (A750 model); the Pioneer Dolby ProLogic A/V receiver is probably moving up to a Denon AVR-789 (it doesn't seem like the -1909 is worth the extra $$$); and the Pioneer DVD player gets the heave-ho now that there's a winner in the hi-def format battle, replaced by a Sony BDP-S350. Speakers are less certain - I like the notion of 7.1 surround capability, and am thinking of getting Polk Audio RM-8's all around, to go with my M&K sub. My estimate for the cost thus stays within shouting distance of $4K (not counting the three grand for the furniture my wife picked out at Ethan Allen

).

I'm really looking forward to getting rid of the huge tangle of cables behind the console by moving up to HDMI connections. Am I correct in concluding that there is no need to connect the Blu-ray player to the screen since the HDMI from player to receiver will "pass-through" the receiver to the TV (just like the cable signal does)?

 

[gene c]

The 789 and 1909 are very simular with the 789 being sold thru mass market retailers and the 1909 thru specialty a/v stores. There are some differences but they seem to be minor.

Looks like you're putting together a nice little system. Proper setup and calibration is critical in order to get the most out of it. Make sure to double check the Audyssey's results. Especially the cross-over setting. Those Polk's only go down to 130hz (@ +/-3 db) so a high cross-over setting will be required.