What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?
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Look for deals on refurb receivers online. Having last year's model won't be a detriment and you'll save a lot. Be sure to go for at least 40-50w/ch so you can actually have a cinematic experience.
I have a Harmon/Kardon receiver that is about 7-8 years old now. Sounds good, but the display took a dump. Still works, but I'm actively looking for something new.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
Started in another thread, several people like their componentized setup for audio.
I think most who have even dabbled in audio know that to get great sound you frequently have to separate the components out to different devices, I was going to make a list, but I realize that I'm so uneducated in this field I can't even make a list that won't be laughed at.
So onto my question - for a typical consumer of home TV/Movies what do you guys like? Let's go with a budget of $1500 for all audio gear (pre/amp/processor/speakers, cabling, etc).
Unlike what most salesmen tell you(the same in IT), the quality comes from the source devices, not the speakers. At your budget you can hardly go wrong if you buy quality sources. What will be your most used source?
Stream tv?
watch blu-ray movies?
listen to music?yeah, top things are the room, then the amps, way more than the speakers, wires, or attentuator. Everything matters, as it is all in line, but a good amp can make cheap speakers do miracles.
Decent, mid level amp plus badass sub = sonic happiness. Shit speakers are fine, even a shit amp, but don't skimp on the sub. That's what rattles your booty and makes it feel real.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
Started in another thread, several people like their componentized setup for audio.
I think most who have even dabbled in audio know that to get great sound you frequently have to separate the components out to different devices, I was going to make a list, but I realize that I'm so uneducated in this field I can't even make a list that won't be laughed at.
So onto my question - for a typical consumer of home TV/Movies what do you guys like? Let's go with a budget of $1500 for all audio gear (pre/amp/processor/speakers, cabling, etc).
Unlike what most salesmen tell you(the same in IT), the quality comes from the source devices, not the speakers. At your budget you can hardly go wrong if you buy quality sources. What will be your most used source?
Stream tv?
watch blu-ray movies?
listen to music?yeah, top things are the room, then the amps, way more than the speakers, wires, or attentuator. Everything matters, as it is all in line, but a good amp can make cheap speakers do miracles.
Decent, mid level amp plus badass sub = sonic happiness. Shit speakers are fine, even a shit amp, but don't skimp on the sub. That's what rattles your booty and makes it feel real.
It's also what sends the wife to the divorce lawyer.
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Here's what I currently have.
https://i.imgur.com/0YCG7XC.png
I picked up last year when I got my new 4K TV. I wanted a received that I knew would pass 4K video through without issue.
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I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
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@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
There is quite a difference between $200/channel tower speakers and those $15 KLHs. Yes, a good amp can maximize those shit speakers, but better speakers are better. But, as I said before, in a surround system, it's all about placement and a big sub. "Better" quality speakers really only matter for serious music listening with serious amplification.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
There is quite a difference between $200/channel tower speakers and those $15 KLHs. Yes, a good amp can maximize those shit speakers, but better speakers are better. But, as I said before, in a surround system, it's all about placement and a big sub. "Better" quality speakers really only matter for serious music listening with serious amplification.
I have Totems, oh I know
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
Dash here is the entry point in audio components that I would consider buying(there are cheaper but this is my bare minimum). Take a look at this company. https://emotiva.com/ Their prices match amazon's prices.
Specifically these components would get you started: https://emotiva.com/product/mc-700/
and the : https://emotiva.com/product/a-300/.The mc-700 should take your roku and several more hdmi devices. I am assuming you have the usual 8 ohm speakers. If you have something different let me know.
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@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
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@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
Dash here is the entry point in audio components that I would consider buying(there are cheaper but this is my bare minimum). Take a look at this company. https://emotiva.com/ Their prices match amazon's prices.
Specifically these components would get you started: https://emotiva.com/product/mc-700/
and the : https://emotiva.com/product/a-300/.The mc-700 should take your roku and several more hdmi devices. I am assuming you have the usual 8 ohm speakers. If you have something different let me know.
So what - I would need one MC-700 and 4 a-300 to drive the speakers? so $600 + $400 * 4 = $2200?
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
yep, budget blown and no speakers in site.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
Not to mention what the power drain might be from all of that. Granted it could be very close to what I have today for power use.. I'm not entirely sure.
But 4 powersupplies vs one, I expect some inefficiencies to make 4 require more more even if all other things are equal - but I do leave the possibility that these are so much more efficient vs my Pioneer to make it negligible.
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@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
Edit: nevermind, I didn't see the post about the Pioneer that you already have. Use that.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
Edit: nevermind, I didn't see the post about the Pioneer that you already have. Use that.
LOL - I have been for over a year. It replaced a similar one I bought 10 years ago.
Frankly I was expecting a bit more conversation on what people are using - perhaps my question was to specific to spark that conversation.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
Well, at least there is that.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
What if any kind of power filtering does anyone use?
