Time for an upgrade (1 Viewer)

[pfar]

Hello everyone,

I have been getting the bug lately to upgrade my home theater setup. Over the last ten years I have basically pieced and patched the system together. This time around I am wanting my system to work well together and purchase it systematically to be get exactly what I am looking for.


Current System:

50" Samsung Plasma TV - Not sure of the model #. It is about 10 years old.

Pioneer VSX-1023

Polk TSi400 speaker series (two front speakers and the center) Here is a reference

Klipsch monitor speakers for the back two speakers

Klipsch 12" Sub.


What I am wanting:
TV:
70"+ OLED. Not sure if I want to go Sony or LG. Any opinions?



The main reason I came to this forum is to get help with ideas for a new receiver and speakers.

Receiver:
I am wanting great features. At least 7.2, but preferably 9.2. Dolby Atmos capabilities. The most important features would be sound quality and sound performance. I am wanting to throw a lot of power at the speakers.
Budget - $1,500 - $3,000

Speakers:
I am wanting great all around speakers. Great low and high freq. Most importantly is the range of the speaker in terms of db. I want the speakers to be able to get loud. I listen to music frequently on my home theater, but I also watch many movies.
Budget - $2,000 - $3,000

Sub:
Great lows and range. I just want a great overall sub. My current sub points down at the floor, so I am not sure how that changes the sound perception compared to a sub that points laterally/towards you.
Budget - $500 - $1,000


Should I look at additional amplifiers along with the receiver? To get the sound I am wanting, should I only be looking at 4 ohm equipment? If I remember correctly the most important element (in terms of sound) is the speakers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pfar]

Any ideas?

 

[Mike Frezon]

Moving this thread to try and encourage some responses.

 

[JohnRice]

In the price range you are looking at for a receiver, you should consider whether you want to go with a pre/pro (preamp/processor) and an external amp(s) instead of a receiver. Pre/pros give you the benefit of upgrading the tech part of a receiver, the processing, without having to buy new amps every time. A good amp today will be a good amp 30 years from now. The downside is less choice and less ability to have the up-to-the-second features and processing modes, but usually with better sound quality. In my mind, spending over $1,500 on a receiver is a little foolish, but people just want their outrageously expensive receivers, even if separates are much better. There is also the option of spending a little less on the receiver, adding a 2-3 channel amp to drive the front channels and letting the receiver drive the surrounds.

Speakers are such a matter of personal taste. If I was in the market for the price range you are looking at, I'd lean heavily toward the Elac Uni-Fi series. UF5s and UC5 in the front and UB5s for surrounds. They don't have Atmos speakers in the Uni-Fi line, but they do in the Debut line. The main problem is those speakers are difficult to drive, so running them from a receiver probably isn't the best idea. You want a solid class A/B amp for them.

In general, I suggest spending less on the TV and more on the sub. $1K is about the minimum for a really good sub. You won't realize the TV is 10" smaller if the sound system is knocking you out.

 

[Aaron Silverman]

Right now, 65" OLEDs are around $3000 and 75" OLEDs are in the $10K-$15K range. I would wait another year on the TV. (Heck, if you really want to upgrade it now, you can get a low-end 75" 4K LED for under $2000 and just use it until the OLEDs come down, which shouldn't be that long. You'll still save five grand. )

That's my plan, anyway!

 

[pfar]

Thanks everyone. I think I will just settle for a 65". Paying an extra $7-8,000 for one a little bigger doesn't make too much sense.

I have never looked into preamps or an external amp. Could anyone go into this further and send a couple of good models?

 

[pfar]

I looked into preamps and external amps. I don't really understand the point of preamps. Is it meant to replace a receiver entirely or work with one? Does a preamp have any sort of amplifiers inside of it?

 

[John Dirk]

I keep having to ask the same questions for posts like yours but please discuss your room. Is it a shared space or a dedicated one? What are the approximate dimensions?

 

[DaveF]

I looked into preamps and external amps. I don't really understand the point of preamps. Is it meant to replace a receiver entirely or work with one? Does a preamp have any sort of amplifiers inside of it?

Hopefully better late than never ....

A pre-amp does all the audio/video processing and has no amplifiers. It is connected to amplifiers, which are then connected to the speakers.

A “receiver” is an all-in-one device with both processing and amps. Higher-end receivers have pre-outs, so you can use external amplifiers in addition to or instead of your receiver’s internal amps.