What is the weakest link in my system
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New member Username: Tim_taylorOntario Canada Post Number: 1 Registered: Oct-09 | I have put together a home theater system over the past several years, and although it sounds decent, I'm not loving it. What is the best way to determine which of my components should be replaced first? In terms of what I have, I have B&W speakers (the front, sub, and center channel are about 3 yrs old and are 3 series?, and the rear are from the early/mid 90s, and they are larger (200 series?). I have a 6 year old Yamaha home theater reciever (I think it has 6.1 surround), a 6 year old Sony 5 disc cd/dvd player, as well as thick gauged speaker wire, and cheaper monster optical/S video cables. My TV is a 7 yr old 27 inch Sony flat screen tube TV. I know I have a lot of work to do here, but where should I start? What should be kept, and what are the basics of a decent home theater system (for the average Joe who would like to be impressed when they watch movies and listen to music, but have other hobbies and kids that eat up money). |
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Silver Member Username: JrbayLivonia [Detroit area], Michigan USA Post Number: 892 Registered: Feb-08 | I don't see any mention of a subwoofer, if you don't have one that would be the perfect place to start. |
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New member Username: Tim_taylorOntario Canada Post Number: 2 Registered: Oct-09 | I do have a sub, it is about 3 yrs old made by B&W. ASW300, it is a 8" amplified sub. The fronts are DM303s (boookshelf sized with a tweeter and 6" cone), and the center is a LCR3 (tweeter and 2 4" cones). The rears are V202s (tweeter plus 6" cone in a big box). I think the speakers are fine (but I do plan on buying smaller rear speakers (do they have to match the front?)). The wire I have for the rear speakers is 16 gauge oxygen free, and the wire for the center and front speakers appears to be a little thicker and is made by monster ("HP XP time correct cable with magnetic flux tube"). Is there a need for different wire? I found the manual for the reciever, and it is a model HTR-5740. Here is a link to the specs. http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Yamaha-HTR-5740 Is there a big difference between my amplifier, and say something like the Denon AVR 1610/1910? should that by my next purchase? What are peoples thoughts on Blu Ray players. The idea of purchasing a PS3 and using it is appealing, but is it a decent player? Can you also use it to listen to music? |
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Gold Member Username: John_sColumbus, Ohio US Post Number: 2526 Registered: Feb-04 | Tim, this is what I would do. (Isn't it easy to spend other people's money?) 1. Move that old Sony into a spare bedroom and get yourself a decent sized screen. I say there's no such thing as a too big TV, but certain realities must rule, like room size, placement restrictions and the Wife Acceptance Factor, if you have one of those. My opinion is to not waste time with a display smaller than 40 inches. I will add from personal experience that jumping up to something bigger than 27" will seem absolutely huge, but you'll get used to it quickly and most likely you'll regret not getting something bigger. 2. Get a Blu-ray player. Most of them will play your old DVDs better than you old machine, plus play BD, most of which will absolutely pop your eyes and put a smile on you face when you see them on your new HDTV. 3. Take some time and select the best integrated speaker system from the same company that you can afford. You can go 6.1 or 7.1 if you like, but I think 5.1 is just fine in most rooms. Use your old sub, and if it's not giving you the punch you want, replace it. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same brand as the rest of the speakers. If you are happy with your present speakers, then fine, stick with them. There's nothing wrong with B&W. And forget about the wire, you're just fine with what you have. 4. Replace the old receiver with the biggest and baddest AVR you can afford. My  |
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New member Username: Tim_taylorOntario Canada Post Number: 3 Registered: Oct-09 | This is sage advice. I have a few follow-up questions, namely: 1.What features do I want in a T.V. (keeping in mind I am not going to spend more than $1,500)? 2. Would you purchase a PS3 as your blue ray player? 3. Would you suggest purchasing a separate CD player, or would the one in the Blue Ray player be good enough that I would not notice the sound difference? 4. What type of connections are important/prefered between the blue ray player and the T.V./Receiver, as well as a CD player to the receiver? 5. If I wanted to purchase surround speakers (to go with my existing small B&W's), which ones would you suggest, and would you purchase all 3? I think that is it. Thank you for the replies. |
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Silver Member Username: MccambleyBREEZY POINT, NY USA Post Number: 705 Registered: Jun-05 | There are many ways to go, all good. A new TV for starters, Panasonic Plasma 46G10 or if you are sitting 12 or more feet from the TV a 50G10. http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_TCP46G10/ http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_TCP50G10/ A new Denon AV2310 or 1910 would be nice. And lastly after these purchases I would upgrade the speakers possible by making the B&W 3's the rears and adding something from the 600 series. http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2375&sc=ht The PS3 was the way to go 2 years ago because of the price of a stand alone player were so high. So if your not a gamer a stand alone player like the Panasonic BD60 at half the price of the PS3 might be a better way to go. If you are a gamer the PS3 is a good choice, just be aware that it is not backward compatible with PS2 games. |
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Gold Member Username: John_sColumbus, Ohio US Post Number: 2528 Registered: Feb-04 | 3. Would you suggest purchasing a separate CD player, or would the one in the Blue Ray player be good enough that I would not notice the sound difference? Any BD player should do a very good job playing CDs. But if you are happy with the old Sony player, then why not keep it in your system? 4. What type of connections are important/prefered between the blue ray player and the T.V./Receiver, as well as a CD player to the receiver? Until you replace the receiver, then you'd want to use HDMI to the TV, and optical/coax to the receiver. With an up-to-date receiver the connection would be BD HDMI®receiver HDMI®TV HDMI. You could try playing CDs on the old Sony via digital and analogue into the receiver. There might be a difference. One BD player that just might be superior with audio is the new Oppo. The fact that it is the only BD player that supports DVD-A and SACD could have something to do with it. It's a bit pricy though. http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-83/ Canadian prices seem to be a bit higher, but can still get a 46G10 within your budget: http://www.pricecanada.com/p.php/Panasonic-46-G10-Series-1080p-Plasma-TCP46G10-6 03837/ |
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Gold Member Username: John_sColumbus, Ohio US Post Number: 2529 Registered: Feb-04 | Here ya go Tim: http://hometheatermag.com/flat-panels/panasonic_tc-p46g10_plasma_hdtv/index.html |
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New member Username: Tim_taylorOntario Canada Post Number: 4 Registered: Oct-09 | Thank you very much for your input. On Friday, this group of TV's were suggested to me. The 46" was on sale for $1,300, and the 50" for $1,500. I will have to compare them to what is listed above. http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/tcp42_46_50u1.asp I'm torn about the PS3. My gaming days are pretty much over (early 30s), but it might be nice to play a little NCAA football from time to time. I spent a little time reading my reciever manual this weekend, and there was a lot about the set up and programs that I did not know. I will fiddle with it this evening. Thanks again for all of your replies. |
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New member Username: Tim_taylorOntario Canada Post Number: 5 Registered: Oct-09 | There appears to be a few features that make the G series a better T.V. Namely the lines of moving picture resolution(?), shades of gradation, it is THX certified, and you can surf the web on it. http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/plasma/comparison.asp Here are the best prices I have found locally thus far. For the 46" http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0770HDS0 010124627&catid= For the 50" http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0770HDS0 010124624&catid= |
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Bronze Member Username: Lucky101HydeabadUnited States Post Number: 18 Registered: Sep-09 | For 46 inch samsung new line of LCD tv are also worth viewing. Also check them out as well. |
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