Home Theater Tips: When to Upgrade?
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
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For more information about upgrading home theater, read:
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When to Add a Power Amplifier to an A/V Receiver
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Dolby Atmos Compatibility Issues on Older Blu-ray Players (Seamless Branching Issues)
www.audioholics...
Cables: Top Ten Signs an Audio Cable Vendor is Selling You Snake Oil
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Is it Time to Upgrade Yor Subwoofer?
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I just wanted to say that I respect your truthfulness. Even though you're getting some 'hate' from some in the industry for your honesty, I for one appreciate it!
Hate, facts. Tomatoes, bananas. Same thing.
I'm pretty broke, but I find that buying the older stuff can make for an AMAZING home system for the price of a cheap soundbar. I have an Onkyo SR806, Yamaha RX-V1600, Emotiva XPA-200, and 4 pieces of Sony ES products (ie.. SACD, Cassette). The highest price I paid was $200 for the Emotiva, and all but the Onkyo came with original box with manual and remotes. I would never trade my setup for some sound bar or HTiaB.
4:05 exactly. I recently bought an A/V receiver. I went with the older and higher model, I bought Denon AVR-X7200WA instead of Denon AVR-X6300H which had similar price. Then I found out that new Denon models stopped supporting front wide channels. So you cannot go with 9.1.2 setups or even with just 9.1 setup. I am very happy with my purchase.
I'm still rolling with my 20-year old Yamaha RX-V995 receiver -- which I'm admittedly too attached to. This video has helped me decide to make the leap to modern-day surround codecs (learned a new word, too). Thanks very much. Will watch more of your videos to hopefully guide me to a reasonable upgrade choice. I'm excited.
man I love this guy he tell it the way it is
Yeah he has been telling it like it is well before youtube. His site moves and stops the "needle" to AV company's chagrin.
Really excellent advice and enjoyed listening. I have what was a fairly high end 5.1 home cinema system purchased in 2009 and recently have been considering a new LG OLED TV to replace my pioneer Kuro. But i would also need a new 4k amp and 4k blu-ray player to get the most from it. But my existing set up still is very good. And you're right its just not good value for money to swap old but perfectly good kit for new and better kit but with such a big cost impact. The return on investment just isn't there.
I am however now going to consider two sub woofers!
This video was FANTASTIC! I couldn't agree with you more. There is such BS in the Home Theater industry. I definitely appreciate your honesty and subtle humor in the way you presented this important topic. I don't comment much on UA-cam videos, but I HAD to comment on this one. GREAT JOB!
The key to good audio is Bose speakers connected to 2 gauge gold speaker wire.
I've heard things I've never heard before listening to this setup. Mostly shouts of, "You're a freakin moron!!!" in perfect unison from friends, family, and neighbors. The sound is so pure and life like.
Dual subs, best upgrade you can do and this channel got me into that
What does two subs do better that one alreay does?
Did you watch the video?
I don't have room for another sub so I'm out.
@MAD GRUMPYMAN Not many speakers goes down to 20 hz.
@MAD GRUMPYMAN my speakers go down to 30 hertz, basically that bass is great on this speakers they are Klipsch rp280 f, I'm basically putting 2 subs for the theatre not for music, don't really need a sub for music the speakers are great
There are very few in the Audio industry whose opinion I respect more than yours Gene. Thank you for having the courage to speak honesty even at the cost of industry backlash. As always keep up the good work and strive on with integrity and honesty.
Thx, I've honestly given up caring what the "industry" thinks of me long ago and yet....I'm still here ;)
Ryan yes sadly the days of flagship super receivers are long gone. If you want a brand that still maintains the integrity of a meaty amp section but doesn't give you ALL the latest features, NAD is probably your closest bet. Nothing by today's measure in a one-box solution comes close to the Denon AVR-5805 or Yamaha RX-Z11. Those were works of art. Even the only Onkyo / Integra stuff was really superb back in the day.
Gene, I've NEVER been a fan of receivers, going back to the 1970s. That was when I got a separate amp and tuner/preamp (Altec 721, if memory serves). Not only are the setups more versatile, but when you're not trying to cram power gear in with processing gear, the electronics always seems to work better. Right now I'm using a Marantz 7700 driving Emotiva Pro Stealth 8s in the front, and it's clean no matter what the level.
They're only getting worse. I used to recommend the HK 3490 stereo receiver for people wanting to get into good stereo quality. It was a nice and competent start to a respectable system.
The replacement is now half the weight and runs hotter. What an improvement...not!
The industry is adding every Bluetooth, wifi, pandora/spotify whistle, while the meat of the amp is being reduced.
Screw this. DSP units are now cheaper and more affordable. I'm gonna go active and flip a bird to these crappy consumer units and ham-fisted passive crossovers.
Biggest upgrade impact by far was quality dual subs for me and eliminating that cheapo single sub. Properly setup and balanced they crushed my other upgrades for the smile factor. Thanks Gene, keep telling like it is.
I only use 3.1 setup using a Cambridge Audio amp and blu ray player. I bought my Dali bookshelf speakers in 1998 and they still sound great. I bought a Krix subwoofer just last year and it really added life to my system. My setup suits me fine and I'm happy.
Talking about speakers, I'm still running a pair of 1979 NS1000s balanced atop a pair of YST-SW800s as my mains. Now while I will admit they are not as efficient as some of the modern day stuff, the sound quality is undeniable and I don't plan on trading either of them any time soon. I've never been too concerned about cables though, except that they be beefy 10guage or so, with soldered connectors. I generally just get these from a local hardware store when I need to. I really don't understand the whole oxygen free, molecularly aligned, ion enhanced, space shuttle tested, cable religion thing. Cheers Gene, thanks again for the informative video.
Speakers if you go from a lower end to a higher end model along with room austoics can make what you already have sound better. Those are likely 2 of the biggest things you can do to get better audio.
This video is spot on!! Too many people rushing out to get the next big thing only to find it's a very minor update that has barley nothing to do with the AQ. This video needs to be seen by all, especially with everyone that gets itchy feet.
I have a used Lexicon MC-8 non-HDMI, when new it was $6,000, I got it for $250. It sounds way better than a $2500 HDMI type of today's processor. Even though it doesn't have Tru Dolby, etc, the dacs and the rest of this high end piece more than makes up for it. I'm good...
Can't tell you just how much I've enjoyed your videos since discovering your channel, Gene. What I can tell you, however, is that up until I did, I didn't even know what I didn't know when it came to home audio! I have learned SO MUCH from you guys and have become a much wiser (and happier) consumer of home theater equipment as a result. Nothing beats getting to go into an audio shop now & flexing the knowledge that you guys have given me. No one in my family will ever be swindled by an unscrupulous electronics salesman again. lol Thanks so much & keep up the great work!
My favorite upgrade was getting a proper rack to put my equipment in. Beats cheap theater furniture from Target any time of the day! Yes, they're pricey, but if you don't need a lot of space, look at the ~30-36" tall ones. I have one in a regular sized living room/theater room and it doesn't stand out. AND, look around, search the webs over and over. I found a RCS-1824 for almost a full 50% of the list price (with free shipping and lucked into no tax) and I love it!
I still have my Adventage RX-A3000 and I am have no plans of upgrading anytime soon it meets my requirements and I still have my speakers from 1989 and they are still amazing to this day they still beat many speakers on the market today
Speakers are Jamo Concert VII if anyone wants to look them up
Awesome, those look like sweet speakers
that av is almost 2k XD
About six months ago I bought an Oppo UDP 203 blu Ray player for many of the reasons you described. The old one was very slow. I was blown away by the improvement. I even noticed a picture and sound quality improvement.
I also added two bookshelf speakers to take my setup from 5.2 to 7.2, and I really love it.
Something I noticed of course was just like in a real movie theater, you’re sort of expecting 100% sound all the time and that’s not the case. It’s just that when the sound should be there, it is. Especially in 7.1 blu Ray movies.
New house, started with my 8060st and A60 modules and just using the built in subs on the towers along with some OLD Klipsch bookshelf speakers hung from the ceiling for Atmos channels on my SR5010. I've since added an SR7011 using the 5010 for new RSL C34E in ceiling speakers, rear 8020ST Det Tech's and side Def Tech in wall speakers for 7.1.4. I also added an SVS PB 16 Ultra and for the first time in my life I have true surround sound and sub subsonic sound in my house. Last week added the Oppo UDP203 and enjoying that, looking forward to Atmos/TrueHD support on .mkv files soon. Last step will be to score a lightly used Sony 665 projector and a ~180" motorized screen to use at night with all the lights off, lights on time will be seen on my open box 79UB9800 TV I scored for $3K last year. Thanks for the great video, definitely agree on the cable scenario, I used to love mess with the sales guys when they told me toslink cables that were expensive were better than my cheapies, light is light, right? :) BTW, my favorite thing to do is score last year's models during close outs at big discounts instead of the latest and greatest if I can. :)
Gene great video!
Best AV investment I ever made was subscribing to your channel! :-) As for recent purchases, bought a second hand xpa-5 a few months ago. What an absolute beast, weighs more than double the amount of my receiver. I had high expectations but everything you guys said was true my AV receiver must have an eenie weenie amp section because with the xpa my Kef Q900's are singing!
Now on the hunt for an xmc-1!
Thank you for the compliments.
I have had an Onkyo 5.1 AVR and the Bose Acoustimas speakers since 2009 but then I used to live in a 450 sq ft. apartment as a student working night shifts. It was plenty for the room size and my neighbors LOL. However, in the new house, I have a 20x20 bedroom and needed to upgrade. So, I started with the AVR first and picked up a Denon S930H - 7.2. Added the Bose speakers to that with a couple of old Samsung speakers to make it a 7.1. Then, recently, switched out all my main and the sub with 2 Polk S-50s, 1 Klipsch RP-250C and a Klipsch R-10SWi. Picked up a LG 65" 4K to replace the old Samsung 60", and replaced the old Xbox One with One S for better gaming and 4K BD player. I got lucky to find deals during this Thanksgiving and also, I looked for open box items and bought them $150 - $200 less than brand new price. Like Gene said, go in increments from highest to lowest of priorities. Oh and also switched out the old 20 AWG cables with 16 AWG. Next, I'll prolly upgrade the surrounds with a couple of bi-poles.
I just pulled the trigger myself. Had "trash tier" speakers ; low-end sub that's not working quite right ; no Atmos or 4K support ; 1080i [not P!!] ; good light treatment & acoustically sound room & good cables [not upgrading these]. Upgraded to decent 5.0.4 speakers ; shopping now for decent dual subs ; 4K blu ray player with DV & HDR10+ support ; 4K TV with FALD & ARC ; Receiver that can support the above [at least for the most part]. Still "low tier" compared to a lot of folks but I'm going to really enjoy this set of upgrades.
He is correct!
If you've got a solid Yamaha AV delivering 100 wpc
into 7.1 & decodes DTS-HDMA or Dolby True Master Audio?
Stick with it!
In most homes, 7.1 surround, when setup to Dolby Labs specs
will deliver unreal surround sound.
Remember this, Yamaha uses Burr-Brown DAC's which ROCK!
So, their discrete amp sections are straight up killer.
ATMOS, DTS-X and AURO codecs are still new & rapidly
dropping in cost.
So, waiting a year or 2 more before stepping up to ATMOS etc
is solid advice.
Calibrate Calibrate Calibrate!
Upgraded panel 12 months ago from a 10 year old Samsung 1080p HL-S6187W DLP that was ISF calibrated to a 4K Sony XBR X65850C
Had been using my old Oppo BDP 83 and Denon 3808ci until a month ago.
Tried playing a native 4k source (Planet Earth II broadcast) from my Dish Hopper 3. No pass thru old Denon.
Got bit by the upgradeitis bug, sold the old Denon for 150 and the Oppo for 170 and settled on Oppo UDP 203 new from Crutchfield for 485 shipped and a Denon AVR X4300H for 1149 from an authorized dealer.
Was happy to get 2k+ of new new for 1,316 by doing a minimal amount of wheeling and dealing.
Now new stuff sitting in shipping boxes until the last component(s) arrives, matching surround Yamaha's from my current 7.1 to install as front heights and expand the soundstage to 7.1.2
After 9 years and a very demonstrable non 4k passthru experience with the mrs, was a sensible and subsidized upgrade cycle....
Sadly theres barely any 4k chanells on dish :(
I recently put a Denon 9.2 Atmos receiver in my system with an additional 2 channel amp to make it 11.2. The difference is AWESOME! Atmos encoded movies are light years beyond DTS-HD, etc etc.
I'm with you on the cables. Smoke and mirrors. Digital cables will either pass the appropriate signal or they won't. Period. Same with speaker wire. Just get the right gauge and that's it. My next upgrade is going to be acoustic panels. My room is way to lively to get the most out of my equipment. Going to try and make my own sound absorbing panels. See how that goes!
Great video. I totally agree with everything you said.
nice info, just upgraded my 2008 Denon to a 2017 Yamaha, added Atmos ceiling speakers and replaced my very old bose 501's with Klips added 12 ga. speaker cable and new HDMI 4k cables to go with my new 82inch screen.... it's an awesome upgrade to my 2008 system. Your vids were lots of help.
Everything you said was DEAD ON Gene! I was wondering what some of the topics were going to be & what was going to be said. You nailed it on the info. There were a few things I was hoping you'd mention, for those who aren't in the know, you mentioned nearly all of them. Kept it simple, understandable & to the point! Well done🤙🏼...btw, where has Hugo been? He cracks me up, always up beat & laughing, I hope he is still on board.
I kinda upgraded everything, except the cables. All my gear was 8-10 years old. That being said I went with the previous year's models and got everything on clearance and saved a ton. I wanted a bigger TV and a projector, which meant a new receiver with more hdmi in and out, otherwise I would have stuck with the old one. I did go with a separate power amp for the mains, the new speakers were simply because I didn't have good speakers and decided this is the time.Mediabridge are incredible, and not at all expensive, for speaker wire, Amazon Basics. They're my new go to cable brands.
Kimber Kable silver interconnect cables have made a huge difference in my system. Their speaker wire is great too. Bought then 25 years ago and I am glad that I did. Very expensive, but worth it. HDMI, just get Blue Jeans
I just recently bought a 4k Ultra HD OLED TV so also needed to upgrade my blu ray player and receiver as my current one does not support any of the new standards for 4k UHD etc. Had my old receiver for almost 8 years. Still works great!
You know what could be awesome? A 10 week, 1 step per week mini-series on improving your home theater system for less than $100 (or maybe $0?). I think I doubled my system's performance just with correct placement and running Audyssey the right way (with multiple mic positions within two feet of the primary position). At the end of each vid, you should offer your consultation package, which I purchased and am getting great value out of. I think a ton of more advanced enthusiasts are missing out on getting an expert's direct advice on how to level up their specific systems without wasting money. Keep telling the truth, Gene!
Thanks Gene, you rock 😊
Would be great to have a video on HDMI such as how to setup CEC on all components.
It's kinda funny. I did a major upgrade of my system about 2-1/2 years ago, just before Atmos and 4K. I made my own balanced interconnect cables with S-video wire and connectors with gold-plated pins going to powered studio monitors for the front three, and 14 ga zip cord to the back speakers. The next upgrade I'm considering is a turntable for the 1400 vinyl LPs I own. I have a decent one now, but it's about 30 years old and I'm pretty sure I can get something pretty darn nice for under $1,000.If I were planning to stay in this house for a few more years, I would be thinking about some acoustic treatment, as well as a riser for the couch in back (yes, it's against the wall and bass is boomy, but the room is too small to move it forward and still be able to walk to it) and paint the walls a much darker color. But since it's going to be someone else's house by this time next year, that'll wait until I have a whole new set of problems to work out.
I upgraded to a second subwoofer. Hsu research vtf MK5. Certainly a noticeable improvement. louder. And more even bass distribution. So I would say it's worth the money cuz the results are very noticeable and when you have a high-end speaker system the law of diminishing returns is definitely true as money increases. I know Jean said that bass sounds the worst when you're up against the wall, but my room it seems to sound the most natural and has zero localizable effects no matter where in the frequency range. I use an 80 Hertz receiver bass management cut off. But yes it is more boomy there.
I have a Denon AVR-3805 and it weighs 37 lbs and it's made in Japan, great build and sound quality.
I'm running a Anthem D2v processor because I want lossless HD audio, but the Denon served me well for years.
JUST BROUGHT THE PIONEER VSX 933 AND THE MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE SUBB AND BRONZE CENTRE AND BOY WHEN I WATCH A 4K UHD BLUE RAY FILM THE BASS IS PHENOMENOL,EVEN BETTER I GOT MY MONITOR AUDIO BRONZE SUBB HALF PRICE,HAPPY LISTENING PEOPLE.✌👌👌
Just got the Oppo UDP 205. Running the 5.1 analog outputs into my Yamaha DSP A-1 (circa 1998) and it sounds great. Will eventually upgrade to a new Yamaha A/V receiver, which is next on my list; will do it for the HDMI compatibility/simplicity.
Great advice. Thanks for putting it together.
Hi, I'm new to this channel and you may well have covered this topic. My experience is that most people are ignorant about the importance of having components that are HDCP 2.2 compatible when upgrading to UHD/4K. If they're not, they won't talk to each other. For example, I can't use my AV receiver as the output source of signal to my UHD television because the television is HDCP 2.2 compliant but the receiver is not. To overcome this so I have both picture and sound I simple connect the source components (UHD player etc) to the televisions HDMI input and use the optical audio output from the TV to return an audio signal to my receiver. The only drawback is that I can't use the receiver as a switching device for HDMI inputs.
Excellent realistic advice Gene.That is hard to come by theses days when most tend to be biased to their sponsors.
I haven't seriously considered an upgrade to Atmos but after seeing this video (as well as another video that discussed the diminished built quality of today's AV Receivers), I'm more comfortable now staying pat until i really want to spend serious bucks on a good quality pre-pro and outboard power amp set-up. In addition, since my current set-up still has to maintain backward flexibility w/ SACD/DVD Audio, DVD, and LaserDisc (just can't let go of those huge discs just yet), today's AV Receivers just won't cut it for me feature wise compared to what I have now.
Most recent upgrade was going from a Marantz SR-5010 to their AV-7703 Processor and MM7055 separates. I'd say (especially for the money) that 7703 is one of, if not the best multi-use processor on the market, plus the meat and potatoes of the processing sounds brilliant as well!
Only had my setup for a year and I’m already getting the upgrade bug, especially the more I watch audioholics. But I agree with all of Gene’s points. I’m going to focus on learning how to do my own measurements and Bass management first. At the end of the day this stuff is not an investment, it all depreciates. I saved 50-75% off retail just by buying N-1 or N-2 model year equipment that was still new in box or in some cases open box returns.
Will probably change the speakers next, recently added a bigger sub, which was the best decision ever! Great info!
What on earth, I literally see you everywhere on everything audio related.
Thanks for the much needed tips I just bought a denon 2800h because my old pioneer vsx1128k was incompatible with the newer Apple TV 4K and my TV. The pioneer is still solid although 10 years old but it was time and I will still keep pioneer and use it elsewhere in the house.
Thanks Gene - appreciate the video. Personally I have found upgrading speakers to have the largest impact in terms of improving sound quality. I recently bought a Denon X7200WA and have a PA for my front 3 speakers running a 7.2.4 setup. Honestly couldn't be happier with it. Going to keep it for a good few years. I'll just use a separate HDMI cable to go to the TV once HDMI 2.1 becomes useful. So pleased I bought it now rather than at RRP.
I really needed an upgrade. I haven't upgraded my sound system since 2001. Sad to say, but I am just putting it out there. I always had great speakers, so I decided to start off with a Yamaha A3080. From there I will begin began change other components, like my Blue which was purchased 2014 and the TV. I really appreciate you schooling us on what to buy and what not to buy. Thank you. Of course I subscribed to your channel. :-) Looking forward in learning more.
I had a Polk Audio Cs150 center channel and replaced it with a Polk Audio CS10. The voice are so much cleaner sounding. ❤️
Good video, thanks! My rig consists of a Yamaha CX-A5100 Pre-amp, Outlaw Audio 7 channel 200 W per channel Amp (It weighs 95 lbs!), BIC Venturi Sub, Arcam P38 100W per channel amp for running my effect speakers. I just purchased a Klipsch Reference Premier RP440C Center channel speaker and I just ordered two Klipsch R625 FA Atmos speakers. I have four Bose 301 speakers for side and rear channels. I'm replacing my old Bose AM7s which I used for center and effect speakers. I'm also ditching my Bose 901s which I'm using for left and right channels. I realized how bad the AM7s sound, and how limited the 901s are. I also use my XBox One to play Blu Rays and pay per view, as it's Atmos capable. The new center speaker sounds way better than the Bose AM7 cube, and can't wait for my new Klipsch L and R speakers!!! Then, I'll be done for quite a while :-)
I used to believe 12gauge monster or Cardas was all that was necessary. You might just as well use lamp cord from Home Depot. One day i bought a used Synergistic-Research Digital Cable between my DacMagic Plus and older Denon AVR and the result was stunningly obvious. With extreme quiet between notes, a deep, articulate, detailed sound stage was exciting. Hard to describe but the difference was and is obvious. I'm now buying Furutech cables of every type when i have the cash and to economize i am assembling my own. What i buy are pricey but not extremely top of the line.
Rather than buy a new amp or before replacing a great pair of older well built speakers try spending $150-$200 on Furutech digital interconnects. You may, like me decide to replace a few additional cables as well...
Let me know if and when...
great advice thanks, where is Hugo
Yea, I haven't seen Hugo in a long while. I hope he's still around.
I think Hugo's been doing his own thing in his own channel. Fitness related stuff.
Is he still working with Gene?
Indeed he is. Focusing on our marketing needs and his own things as well. Multitasking.
I agree. Terrific video. Something all HT guys should hear.
Upgrade when the 1080p HDTV's degrade enough or break. Or when film studios stop putting out standard bluray discs. The difference Between current Bluray movies and 4k I doubt will be noticeable unless viewed in an a/b test setup (e.g. 4k HDTV vs HDTV side by side..same movie running..etc.). Otherwise I doubt most of us will honestly notice the difference in detail on a jacket 1 hr and 12 minutes into movie A. :)
But, like it is when new tech comes on the scene there will always be "HT geeks" eager to invest in all the newest tech...just to have the latest and greatest.. :)
For me I'll stick with my 65" Pioneer Elite plasma till the picture quality degrades noticeably and isn't worth fixing (assuming it's possible and technicians know how still). When the time comes I doubt it would be worth getting "tuned up". And I still have my 7.1 Paradigm Ref / SVS Ultra sub setup. Only my bluray player has semi-crapped out...won't read bluray discs now...dirty bluray "disc reader"? Bought a cheap sub $80 bluray player.
Thanks for videos. I was deciding how to upgrade my home theater . After watching some of your videos, I decided to add a second subwoofer and decided to run wires for back surrounds. I'm going to use old speakers that I've had since the early nineties for now .7.2 is enough for me Thanks again.
Just got a Panasonic DPUB820 4K player and a Denon X3700X is in the mail. My 10 year old Onkyo SR608 that I still love doesn't have Atmos or 4K HDR so I will run it as a 2 channel amp from the clean Denon pre-outs. Should be sweet having a 7.2.4 system.
My most recent upgrade was a new AV Receiver I bought, because my old Yamaha one started acting up, and it always had some weird balance and buzzing issues in some settings. Either way, it was little too advanced for me with all the different nubs and settings.
My new Sony one was on sale, and I was sold by the "calibration mic" auto calibration. Im still using my old-but-gold Tanberg speakers that are from around 1983 (my father's old ones that I repaired at some point). The speakers now sound fantastic, so much better than they previously were, I have more HDMI slots available, there are a couple of useful/neat features like the "simulated surround", and now I have the option to include a 5.1/5.2 system in the future.
Best 239€ I have spent in a long while.
I have a Yamaha HTR-6030 receiver from 2007, and it meets my needs perfectly. I would have something better, but it meets my needs and see no reason to upgrade. The other thing is I’m 14 and don’t have a way to get a decent amount of money that I can spend on an AVR. I have it running a 5.1 system in my bedroom. Excellent video though, if I had the money I would likely upgrade.
I am still commenting. But this time I will be respectful. I put Focal audio all through my car with a JL audio subs. It is insane. I put 15 Focal audio top line speakers in all stock location plus in the roof on the back for surround sound. I got 3 13W7 subs and Alpine V12 amps on racks so I can store things in the trunk. It's an SRT8 300 Chrysler with the same exhaust that is just like on the Maserati Ghibli both owned by Fiat
I enjoyed another video. Thanks. I just upgraded from a Pioneer to a Marantz. Pioneer HDMI Outputs died. Also just added SVS rear elevation. That’s my latest changes.
Great video, I had a lightning strike really close to my house, which fried out my plasma panasonic tv, (from 2011), Yamaha reciever 673 I think (from 2013), Dell xps pc (from a little over a year ago and fixing it). Have to replace tv, and reciever. I had 7.1 surround with jbl Northridge speakers all the way around including jbl pb12 from around 98 as well. I have always wanted an svs sub (Since I demoed a cylinder one back in 98/99 and actually felt the bass push my chest) I do plan on adding the pb1000 or pb2000 for an upgrade I have always wanted since that day.
I am upgrading my speakers to some new DIY Synergy horns...sticking with my Yamaha cx5100, Oppo 203, and DIY 14 channel B&O amp. I will make some new speaker cables as we have moved, and our distances have changed. Wires will be Monoprice 12 gauge.
Oppo, fantastic brand. I have a BDP-103 that was released back in 2012-2013 (I think) and they are STILL releasing firmware updates. Great product support. Great Video also, always learning something new. Cheers from Melbourne Australia.
I agree 100%...room acoustics can make a huge difference vs replacing equipment.
My Yamaha RX v675 still serving me well since 2013........still waiting for it to go kaput so that I can upgrade to aventage series
I BROUGHT THE RX V 373 BACK IN 2013.STILL GOING STRONG SOUNDS EVEN BETTER KNOW IVE HOOKED UP A 4K BLUE RAY AND BROUGHT A 4K HDR TV AS MY OLD 4K TV WAS SDR.JUST GOTTA BUILD MY 4K BLUE RAY FILM COLLECTION UP.HAPPY DAYS,OH AND EVEN THOUGH IVE GOT A 4K HDR TV IM STILL WATCHING MY FILMS IN SDR,AS MY 4K HDMI LEAD ARNT HDR,L.O.L.NEXT THING TO BY.BUT THE RECEIVER IS THE HEART OFF MY SET UP,LOVE IT.😉✌
Currently using Onkyo 9700THX HTIB, decent system but I knew I would upgrade eventually, I run Mediabridge HDMI and speaker wire in my small room, I will be upgrading to SVS Speakers and Subs eventually, I’m happy but I want to upgrade the sub to Duel SVS SB16, from the reviews I read it is the Onkyo weak link and I agree with that.
Still have my old Onkyo 7.1 receiver and I think it is breaking down. Takes ages to start up and lacks support for 4K so I have to connect all my devices to TV and run passthrough for the sound to the reciever. So I'm looking to upgrade and I will be getting a 9.1 receiver with support for atmos but I'm gonna wait until my Onkyo breaks.
Good advice and good video!
Mid range AVR's nowadays are feature rich, but other than that, no audio preouts. Surround channels are using lower quality spring terminals. Power Supply ratings are really taking a backseat. Bare bones if you ask me. Have an old Yamaha RX-V663 with external amp and it's a beast.
Had a Denon AVR 2808 but couldn't handle just 2 HDMI inputs anymore. I already upgraded amplification using the pre outs so I decided when upgrading to move to the Marantz 7702mkii pre/pro. Plenty of HDMI inputs and now room to grow into Atmos when I get there, HDMI 2 spec and HDCP 2.2 compliant
A very frank and honest video. What was said might not be what people want to hear, but it is the best advice I heard in a long time.....
An excellent and honest broker, the opposite of a used car salesman. Thank you I really learnt something and should save a whole lot of money.
Speaking of older Amps, I still run the mx600, Yamaha amp I got in Germany in 1990, and it still rocks😊I may upgrade my Yamaha receiver though, mine doesn't have the hdmi connections
Always great informative videos ! Still very happy with my Denon 4308 receiver , Oppo BDP-103 , Klipsch RF-83 , RC-64 , RS-62 , R-115SW , Pro-Ject Carbon Debut DC table , Panamax and Richard Grey's Power Company line conditioning , Vizio 70" 4K display....when it comes time to upgrade it would be to an Oppo 4K player and most likely another Denon capable of 4K. I still enjoy my vast DVD , Blu-Ray collection and of course all the Porcupine Tree 5.1 mixes , Steven Wilson Blu-Ray's :)
To keep it simple and this purely based on what i play with and how i see it.
When to upgrade, if you have a good 5.1 setup or like i have a 7.1 i would not even consider upgrading at all yet.
DTS is still after all these years the norm/standard for 9 out of 10 movies out there. The amount of movies i have and just take a look at the surround formats. I might have a few that are higher than 5.1 dts very few.
ALSO if you invested in a really good amp in the past, it's hard to beat on the amplification these days. Because most companies, skew their specs (1 channel @6ohm 1khz tested) so when you upgrade you have to spend so much more. To get a better amplification out of it.
So sorry! I do not give a *beep* about Atmos or any other surround format which also often require a drastic speaker adding upgrades. you can keep that novelty stuff... i stick to what i got and if i need watts? Hook up a great pre surround amp up to a stack of crown amps (far superior to any receiver on watts at any impedance and has CROSSOVERS). You will have all the watts (and then some) you will ever need, and you can spend way more into a good pre without worrying about receiver power.
Each to their own tho, i do totally agree with Audioholics, stick to what you got if it works fine no need to spend money it.
I also invested in a good power conditioner, relatively cheap to be found on ebay.
I wish i could invite you here (audioholics) i can mimic surround sound in stereo mode even, it's that tuned in :)
Biggest upgrade was getting and integrated amp with HT bypass, using the integrated amp for 2 channel music is miles better than any AVR I have had and then can switch to AVR stuff and use integrated amp as a power amp and that is much better as well.
I am happy with my old RX-V661. The HDMI doesn't work so I'm using only the digital optical inputs. Got it for 85 bucks 6 years ago on Craigslist. I'm using 4 cheap Dayton audio b-652 speakers, Dayton center channel and two Dayton audio classic 18" sub woofers powered with a Behringer EPX2000. I'm poor and live in a small apartment. It sounds crazy in here watching anything DTS. Can't turn it up to a good listening level because the whole building will feel it too. I turned it up once... lasted about 5 min till people started pounding on the walls. The sub woofers do not get used much sadly.
Great video Gene, ya know what, I may get picked on, but I still have a DD 5.1 setup and with the higher end gear, it still sounds great! I am tired of the constant upgrade cycle. The car analogy was great, because the newer cars are using such cheap materials these days.
Absolutely spot on I recently brought a new TX nr656 Onkyo AV receiver brought it home work cited hooked it all up and I've got to say how disappointed was I firstly they have changed their room calibration microphone and they have also took dynamic EQ off and dynamic volume now I know some people didn't like that but for me it equalised old tunes and new tunes without adjusting volumes and it gave music and films extra weight
Now I do agree having 8 HDMI is very convenient and it also has a load of all the hosts Dolby Atmos all the new formats but unfortunately five Corners the balance between features and Performance I think with all of the new generation of Onkyo AV amps has been overstepped after all what's the point of having all those features if the sound quality is not up to task now I have the TX nr609 and the TX nr579 from nearly 10 years ago now put those two side by side in the new and I will admit there is no Dolby Atmos but overall performance the TX 609 and the TX 579 absolutely and utterly demolish the TX nr656 the new generation on the older amps music is powerful even at low volumes you get the nice warm base and detail
I love the new Onkyo TX nr656 not only is the sound not quite right set with everything flat they have given you a poxy manual graphic to add a little more weight this is just not acceptable so what I've done I have sent the TX nr656 back with the letter inside the box saying come on Onkyo let's not go back 10 years sort your life out so I do agree mate new is definitely not better even if it has got at Moss that's down to debate because at the end of the day you only get off a disc what is put on it if it isn't on the disc in the first place you will not get it very disappointed I have been with Onkyo for 20 years I can remember when I first got my first Onkyo compared to £500 worth of Denon the £250 Onkyo absolutely and utterly destroyed the Denon
I don't know what the problem is I have been told that Denon and Pioneer have been brought out by Onkyo don't know how true that is but maybe that's part of the problem because I've never hated dead and anyway they are overpriced and a very uninspired sound Pioneer used to be good but I can't comment again they have spent more money on the set-up menus and not paying most attention to sound quality maybe we have past the point where you cannot do anymore with amplification and it just starts to become a non-existent task
But excellent video my friend I couldn't have put it better myself the thing is with hifi purchases I can pair them with fishermen but unfortunately instead of catching fish manufactures catchemall fishing in Memphis if you know what I mean
I was very surprised to hear that people replace their amplifiers so quick within a year that having said I have seen how some people treat their kit they spend £1000 on a hifi and put their jam sandwiches all over it I have got hi-fi from 35 years ago that still work and lock brand new for example the Pioneer sa 940 stereo power amplifier still works as though I took it out of the box and all I've done operate it properly use it often and keep it well ventilated and clean but yes we do live in a throw away Society and perfectly good amplifiers are being tossed away like I said my TX nr609 and 5 7 9 or 10 years old I must admit they have the dreaded HDMI board failure but I got in touch with Onkyo bearing in mind they are 10 years old they sent courier round repaired them and return them all free of charge after 10 years of use that shows you how much confidence they have in their product
I do not know of anybody or any manufacture that has done this so this is why I will always stick with old now I hope this new generation of amplifiers falls by the wayside quite quickly and I hope they reintroduce the Old microphone setup system and the dynamic EQ because after all said and done if you don't like it you can turn it off at least you have the choice
Excellent video my friend
I’ve had my receiver for 13 years I’m good lol.
The internet and wanting to "Keep up with the Joneses" is really the cause of upgraditis.
I believe a lot of people, including myself upgrade not because of marketing hype. They upgrade because the see someone else setup that looks a lot cooler than theirs so envy kicks in. AVSforums, Audioholics, Google images, youtube, etc .... you get to see so much incredible looking stuff and you say to yourself, I WANT THAT.
Hi Gene, thanks for another great video. As always you talk a lot of sense, however regarding receivers, there is another approach that is worth considering. As you were saying amps tech is not changing radically at the moment, while the digital tech is, so splitting the two makes sense and then when the time comes just upgrade the AV pre-amp. But rather than go for an expensive AV pre-amp/power amp combo (Are there any cheap ones?) instead just buy the power amp and drive it directly from an Oppo Blu-ray player. These are quality audio outputs and Oppo have included sufficient functionality to make this work.
I did this for my last upgrade, when a few years back I bought an Oppo 95 and an ex-demo Marantz MM8003 multi-channel power amp, now for my next upgrade (to 4K HDR) I’m only going to have to buy a new Oppo 203 or 205, which is way cheaper than the equivalent quality Blu-ray player and receiver.
Keep up the good work Gene, we love to hearing you tell it as it is!
i just upgraded to a marantz SR5011 for the pre-outs and bought 2 emotiva A-300 to run my fronts and center and soon A 800 to run my surround speakers
I'd like to eventually upgrade to a system that supports 4K, but the prices are still high for players and especially sets. I love my current system as it is. (Yamaha separates: CX-A5000 and MX-A5000, Oppo 103D) As far as cables, amazon is your friend.
I'm rocking with a pair of Klipsch KG-4's that are 25+ years old. They're beautiful and crank!
This Gentleman is the Truth in this regard
Absolutely fantastic video and I am so pleased to see you back on your feet safe and well but I must admit it is so nice to see a supplier speak the truth because new is not always better I've commented on your videos sometimes and with new stuff it's like a very strange version of fishing it catches more fisherman than fish and you couldn't have put it better if something is not broken do not fix it great video love from the UK
Last year i bought a Denon DHT-1311XP which comes with very thin cables from factory, like 22AWG. In this particular case it's convenient to buy any larger thicker cables? Like you said, i have no trouble at all with my equipment, but maybe i can improve something. Can´t tell you how much i´ve learned with you guys, thank you so much and i will, for sure, keep listening!
Just getting back into stereo. My current receiver is at least 20 years old. I'm like rip van Winkle. Room correction, so on and so forth. HDMI versions, Floor standing speakers. DAC, streaming services, on and on. My head is swimming
Great Video. It's nice to hear that some audiophiles know what they are talking about and aren't afraid to tell the truth and say it how it is. I just upgraded my receiver to the Sony STR-DN1070 from the Sony STR-DA2400ES. I love Sony's ES series, but I just can't afford the price line right now and everyone seems to want to sell old or discontinued ES equipment for what it cost when it first came out. I am depressed that the 1070 receiver doesn't have any pre-outs, but from the reviews I have seen, I think I can live with it for a while. Looking forward to upgrading my TV next to a 4K.
Thank you for your honest advice. I plan to upgrade my Sony Bluray player because once in a while it locks up and it will not work or turn off unless I unplug the unit and re-plug it again and then it works. I also plan probably later this year to buy a 4K tv. I plan to buy the Oppo 203.
You are so right about speaker cables and interconnects.
60ts and 70th we had tube amps and tube preamps. They are still good today! Printed circuit boards are cheap to make, done by robots in minutes. Upgrades cost nothing. When is the last time you got your ears upgraded.
Great video Gene! The last video I asked a question about was on your Q&A video when I asked if I should upgrade from my Denon 4520ci to take advantage of the new Dolby Atmos & DTS:X codecs. I really loved my 4520ci too, but I had the upgrade bug. So I got a pretty good deal on a Denon X-7200WA and I had in ceiling speakers added so I can truly take advantage of these new codecs. I must say, it was definitely worth the upgrade! I'm blown away with these new codecs! I thought my theater sounded great before but I just couldn't ignore these new codecs.....
I really enjoyed this video and I strongly agree with the advice given in the video. I tend to the opposite extreme. My speakers are nearly 20 years old and I just recently updated my receiver and Blu-Ray player. I can't follow all the advice due to room limitations in my house, but I appreciate the honest advice. It is also refreshing to hear audio enthusiast that doesn't buy the crazy audiophile snake oil. Thank you!
Honest advice. Working with AV industry myself I'd offer same advice. Have a TX-NR616 and if e hold on to it for 2-3 more years. Onkyo dropped Audyssey that put me off so next world be a Denon or Marantz!
Just upgraded to a Yamaha RX-V781 from a Onkyo TX-SR875 only for the 4k and Atmos. Other than that, can't say much have happened the last 10 years. I dont like the YPAO att all, it sets all my speakers to large and turns my SVS PC12 Plus so low I have to turn it up 20db to hear it. Audyssey on my Onkyo got it right every time.
all my AV is close to 20 years old! I am so behind! lol
Totally agree about getting TWO subs vs one. Game changer.
Also...talking about upgrade;: would love to hear your opinion/review of the new Tekton Double Impact speakers...
Hi, sorry if any of these model numbers are not the same in the USA as I'm from the UK.
I watched this for a guide on upgrading my AV Receiver. My equipment started with a Yamaha DSP-AX1 which I used for the optical inputs and was used until I upgraded to a full HDMI receiver, my current Pioneer SC-LX58 which said it was also 4k compatible so I thought I was future proofed, but now I have a 4k Netflix source (Xbox One S) I am finding that I get zero 4k support with this receiver as the HDMI is not 2.2 standard and has no HDR 4k support.
Now I am considering an upgrade again, even though I have only had the SC-LX58 for a relatively short time and I am looking for a receiver with a minimum set of specifications to match the SC-LX58 but with full support for 4k HDR.
I was looking at a Pioneer SC-LX801 but find it is quite hard to get hold of here in the UK and the SC-LX901 is just too expensive for my budget.
I have looked at the Yamaha range and would be happy enough with the outgoing "60" series you mention in the video, eg. an RX-A3060.
As I consider the SC-LX58 to have been a bad decision I don't want to make another one with my next investment so wondered which way you would look to change.
Thanks
i have a yamaha dsp a2 with bw dm 302 X 5 since 1999 only subs comes and goes but in 2010 i bought 2 mj acoustic reference 100 mk2 subs and i still use them and no one on this universe or from other dimensions will convince me to replace any of my ht gear at all eve if one of them fail will be repaired or ill look for a same stuff on the second hand market .
i heard lots of new ish and brand new systems inc 7.2 and who knows like 19874.29854 systems but just hype . a good 5.1 or .2 properly set system with fine hardware will entertain u well for sure. i am an example . my audiophile system on constant change since 1995 and it's still need some tuning :) in the other hand i bought the ht sys a way back and i am just as happy and pleased with it when i heard it for the 1st time
You got it Gene exactly. I have a 10 year old Yamaha that does Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD, and I have no plans at all for Atmos or DTS-X. I'm sticking with this one, because the amp section is way better than the ones today. I have a Parasound 5 channel amp that I think I'm gonna mate with the Yamaha so I'm good. I think I'm done with receivers though. I have the Parasound amp so I'll go with an inexpensive Outlaw audio processor or Emotiova processor. Its back to separates for me.
Personally I'd go with a Marantz pre/pro as they offer better bass management than the entry level Outlaw and Emotiva processors and you still get streaming features the others lack.
Yeah I'd love to, but I have spent a lot of money over the last year converting my whole HT speakers. Something I got in my head a year ago, followed through and paid off because I LOVE my speakers big time. I am a Def Tech guy, I know there isn't a lot of love for them, but I really like them. I have had them for years. I went from powered towers as mains, CLR 2000 center and and Mythos ones surrounds. Its a LONG, LONG story why I ended up with that combo. I then replaced the Mythos one surrounds with Studio monitor 55s, and fell in love with this line. I then put the Mythos ones in the main position. Then when I could I replaced the Mythos ones mains and CLR 2000 with Studio monitor 65's and this system is FANTASTIC. The other part of this move was to get a great sub which I have the SVS PB-1000 of which I will add a second when I can. So over the last year I have spent a lot of money, A LOT. That is why I'm looking at entry level Outlaw or Emotiva processors. Have you checked out the new Outlaw Model 976 coming out? Any thoughts?
Thanks a lots for your ideas. We enjoy our old system if we didn't see any bad sound, problem pictures, we don't want to upgrade its. That the true, do not throw money away...