Need to replace RT5s on Onkyo SR600

cagenuts

Hi there from a sunny South Africa.

I'm buying a new Full HD Plasma TV soon and I want to juice up my current ht system.

I have an Onkyo TX-SR600E with RT5s as fronts, CS150 and a PSW350.

Maybe I haven't configured things correctly but the system just isn't that loud so I thought of moving the old RT5s to the surround l/r and replacing them with perhaps a more substantial set as fronts.

What would anyone suggest, preferably Polk of course? Is my center strong enough?

Given that the SR600 doesn't have HDMI, could I still hook up a HD PVR, XBOX and a Blu-Ray player through the system? I think there are 2 optical digital inputs and 1 coax though so do I need some sort of splitter? Not sure which one to use for the coax.

Any input is greatly appreciated as the knowledge here in deepest darkest Africa is dodgy to say the least.

Thanks
Hilton

cagenuts

Any input please?

cfrizz

Welcome to Club Polk Cage.

My guess would be that you are pushing the system pretty hard, but the receiver doesn't have the power to give you the sound you want.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have preouts to add a seperate amplifier. If you had bought the 700 you would be all set to get a seperate amp.

So unless you can get a new receiver, just watch the volume so that you don't go into protect mode.

Also make sure you have calibrated all of your speakers for the best performance.

cagenuts

Thanks for the reply. So you think the current RT5s are fine then and I will be wasting my time getting new fronts?

Perhaps I should rather purchase proper surround speakers and then recable and calibrate as you mentioned.

PrazVT

You wouldn't be wasting your time per say, but the receiver may struggle a bit to drive all the speakers at the same time.

As for your video question, here's one suggestion...

- You have 2 component inputs on your receiver:
-- get an Xbox 360 component + optical av cable, connect to the component in and one of the optical inputs.
-- connect HD DVR to component in and either the other optical or the coax,
-- connect your blu-ray player via HDMI to your plasma; connect to the receiver via optical or the coax; this way you can watch blu-rays with/without your receiver and get a digital 1080p signal to your TV.
-- connect the component output of the receiver to one of the component inputs on your plasma.

Since the 2 optical inputs and 1 digital coax are simply labeled "optical" and "digital coax", presumably you can assign them to the 2 component inputs.

cagenuts

Thanks PrazVT for the help.

cfrizz

cagenuts wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. So you think the current RT5s are fine then and I will be wasting my time getting new fronts?

Perhaps I should rather purchase proper surround speakers and then recable and calibrate as you mentioned.

Yes the speakers are fine, it's the underpowered receiver that is the problem.

The vast majority of receivers don't give anywhere near their stated output. You might get it in just 2 channel mode, but when running all speakers, you are lucky if you are getting half the amount.

That is why so many of us on here recommend getting a more expensive receiver so that a powerful seperate amplifier can be added in the future.

You spend more money up front, but you are happier because you know and can HEAR that your system is operating to its full potential.

cagenuts

Yeah what's so frustrating is that you'll go to a mates house who has bought a cheapie HT Teac/Phillips/Samsung system with little speakers and the whole movie watching experience is incredible. Me on the other hand spent a fortune (by South African standards) and I've battled.

cagenuts

Right, it turns out I have surround speakers after all. They are on my patio hooked up as B speakers on the SR600. I always wondered why the sound wasn't that great :-(

Anyway the specs for the SR600 are as follows;

80 W (Surround Back) at 8 ohms, 20 Hz - 20 kHz,

115 W

cagenuts

cfrizz wrote: »

Yes the speakers are fine, it's the underpowered receiver that is the problem.

Ok so I've mulled over this advice and I will sell my current receiver buy something new.

I'm looking at the Yamaha RX-V767 which has the following power output;
Max Output Power for Europe (4 ohms, 1 kHz, 0.7% THD) 7x 145 W/ch

Would this receiver work with my current 8ohm Polks or do I need to buy new speakers?

Please help, thanks.

tonyb

Buying new speakers allways helps. Whats the budget ? Also,on the 5's that you have now, whats the crossover set at and how is the sub hooked up ?

cagenuts

My speakers are now about 8 years old but seem to work. So I will replace them if necessary.

My sub is connected from the pre-out on the receiver into the LFE. Speakers are connected to the receiver.

Crossover is set to 80hz, fronts and center set to small. Is this correctly set-up?

I'm just worried about the 6ohm specs on the Yahama vs the 8ohm specs on the Polks. By all accounts my SR600 is too limp for these speakers so am I going around in circles?

Thanks tonyb.