NewB here w/may questions...

Burnzy

Ok, so I've been looking to update/upgrade my system here at home. It will mainly be for HT use then music. Man oh man, where do I start? Since I've been looking for reviews and opinions on equipment and what to buy, these forums have opened up a whole nother world. At first I just wanted to upgrade my speakers and possibly the reciever but after researching a bit I now know that I would like to upgrade the AVR since it doesn't have ProLogic II. My system is listed in my sig.

What to buy and what to buy first? Do I want to buy a power line conditioner? What about buying an all-in-one receiver compared to seprates? (other than possibly budget constraints, I'm trying to think long haul here) Speaker wire? Power chords? Speakers? Subs? DVD palyers such as the Denon 2900 and 5900 or comparibale (5900 does have DVI outs) DVD players? DVI outputs so I can utilize the DVI input on my tv? Amps for possibly the fron and center speakers? Ahhhh! [I think there is smoke coming from my ears due to overload].



Opinions/suggestions please.

Here is what I was thinking of doing, or trying to do first. Update my receiver to the Denon AVR-3805 with a good set of Polks (RTi series maybe) and using the pre-outs to an amp for the front and centers. All of this done over time due to budget.

Thanks in advance.

Willow

peeps will need your budget room size and what you will use it for

dorokusai

Don't get insane yet please, this hobby is best approached in baby steps.

If your objective is excellent HT, then buy the biggest, and most powerful AVR you can afford, worry about individual components later. The AVR is your rock for HT. Don't cut corners in this area, make the investment.

The RTi series is fantastic, old and new, so shop and see what you can get the best price on. That way, you may be able to offset the initial cost of the AVR.

Power line conditioner? Don't worry about that right now, just get a modestly priced surge arrestor to protect your equipment.

Speaker wire? Power Cords? Again, don't worry about that right now, easy future upgrade. You can be happy from the beginning, so why add cost to your original idea?

Subwoofer? Do a search, if it's Polk, buy a PSW505....otherwise, make your own decision.

DVD Player? The Denon series, 2200-5900 is rock solid at any level, buy any of them for future comfort.

Good luck.

Burnzy

Willow,

the room is about 14'x16'

---

| |
| |
| |

---

TV and equipment are in the upper right hand corner.

As for Budget, what budget? lol...small to say the least. I have champagne wishes and caviar dreams on a generic beer budget.

Dorokusai,

After opening this can of worms I didn’t realize how deep the waters got. Way too much to think about. This is going to be a piece by piece process that's going to take a bit of time and was wondering on what I should get first.

Thanks.

dorokusai

In your case, front stage Speakers may be your best first jump....L/R/C....then AVR....then Surrounds. Just a suggestion.

You will receive alot more bang for the buck in front stage choices then AVR at this level.

Willow

well it will be tough with no $$ amount you want to spend...we could suggest 99$ speakers like we can suggest 1000$......I would...well are you willing to buy any type of speaker or polks?

I would not suggest a sub/sat system, so if it's polk then try out the rti line you can easily get rti4 with a csi3....and right now not sure where you are but here in canada they have that polk deal again spend over 799$ and get a free psw202...not a great sub but it will def. be better than nothing...cables.....home depot 12awg speaker cables...cheap and work very well.....line conditioners...well wait on that but like doro said a good powerbar surge protector is a must.

Burnzy

Maybe my original post wasn't very clear and confused people. I was just stating that there was alot to this hobby that I never knew before, not that I wanted to run out and buy everything at once. I just wanted to know a good starting place as to updating my system.


Willow,

I was thinking the RTi8's (becuase I was wanting floor standing spks.) w/the CSi3 would be in my budget range. I think I'll take dorokusai's advice and update the front and center speakers first. Then use my R10's for the surround speakers. Right now I'm running 12awg monster cable. Compared to the small speakers I have now I'm sure getting better speakers will bring out a-lot more quality in the sound.

Thanks.

Willow

you can read the posts here about the rti4-6-8
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=18747

Pablo

I have the Denon 3803, and I love it. Instead of the 3805, you may be able to find a 3803 fairly cheap. The specs are almost the same, so if you are on a tight budget it may be a good way to go. If you have nothing against refurbished stuff, if you go to the Denon site and follow it to some of their authorized e-dealers, you may be able to find a refurbed 3803 pretty cheap. (FYI, denon does not honor a waranty if bought from an un-authorized dealer, so check the site for the only authorized dealers).

Make sure you get a mathing set of fronts and center. It was night and day when I replaced my center with something that matched my towers (the surrounds don't matter as much, but you do get a better blend of sound if they all match).

Also, forget the cables. Get some good home depot or radio shack speaker cable, with some decent interconnects (also an optical cable). If you are on a budget, this is were the expense really starts adding up fast.

Just my 2 cents.

Burnzy

Pablo,

Nope, nothing against refurbed or B-stock stuff as long as it comes w/a warranty. I've been checking out dakmart and have check the Denon site for official e-tailers.

As for the 3805, I think the only difference is it has the Denon Link(?) What would that be used for?

Thanks.

Pablo

Burnzy,
I belive the Denon Link allows you to hook up other Denon components and it will automatically reconginize a digital signal comming into the reciever and switch the appropriate mode (but don't quote me on this). If you aren't using other Denon Components, it's not used, so you wouldn't need it.

nemos2

I will agree with most of what has been said,

Buy the best AVR that you can, but make sure that you get with one with PREouts. The preouts will all you to "ease" into seperates by having the abilty to add an outboard amp, and then when it comes time to replace the AVR you should have the amp and can move into a PRe-pro.

As someone said before.....baby steps.

I feel that you get the most bang for your buck in this game with speakers. Because,......for the most part speakers are not a technology that is moving as fast as say the AVR group....so a solid investment in speakers will last a lot longer than that same investment in an AVR. Just my thoughts....

Just make sure that you get an AVR with the ability to add an outboard amp later.