Advice/help on future upgrades
lilwolf555
Posts: 14
in Speakers
Hello all! I'm looking for some advice as where I live, I can't demo really anything (NE Ohio) that isn't in a store like Best Buy.
The Legend line has me interested, and want to find out which I should pull the trigger on when a good deal comes around.
Fronts will be upgraded before anything else and will be an over time ordeal.
Main use is Home theater and gaming. Some music. BUT I want to be able to enjoy the music best I can along with the others.
Current setup is..
Yamaha RX v581 AVR (WILL UPGRADE TO RX-V6A (possibly a higher end model as well, depends on price when shown/announced) Thank you Yamaha for having multiple HDMI 2.1 ports
Front L/R: Polk S55's
Center: CSi A4
Rears/sides: Polk Monitor 45b's
Sub: Klipsch K-100SW
My issue is I can't figure out if getting the L100/L200 would be worth it over my S55's. In my head, they would be due to sounding better and the fact I use a sub to begin with.
Next dilemma is if the price hike on the L200 from the L100 is worth it for like an inch bigger woofer, since I use a sub. I imagine the crossover would make the bigger L200 not really worth it.
Now, you may ask 'why not the L600s?'. I would love to. But they are WAY out of my budget unless theres a massive sale. 999 to 1.2k for a pair is much easier to swallow.
So.. what is everyones thoughts?
Also.. the 3 way design on the L600. (tweet, midrange, woofer) That really do much as opposed to a 2 way bookshelf in a surround environment? In my head, I wouldn't see how they would due to a bass doing the low end heavy lifting.
Thanks in advance!
Oh. I have no amp and don't want 1. No room for it and I don't really play stuff that loud as it is (usually -35 to -30db). I imagine no amp would make the L600 a bad choice.
The Legend line has me interested, and want to find out which I should pull the trigger on when a good deal comes around.
Fronts will be upgraded before anything else and will be an over time ordeal.
Main use is Home theater and gaming. Some music. BUT I want to be able to enjoy the music best I can along with the others.
Current setup is..
Yamaha RX v581 AVR (WILL UPGRADE TO RX-V6A (possibly a higher end model as well, depends on price when shown/announced) Thank you Yamaha for having multiple HDMI 2.1 ports
Front L/R: Polk S55's
Center: CSi A4
Rears/sides: Polk Monitor 45b's
Sub: Klipsch K-100SW
My issue is I can't figure out if getting the L100/L200 would be worth it over my S55's. In my head, they would be due to sounding better and the fact I use a sub to begin with.
Next dilemma is if the price hike on the L200 from the L100 is worth it for like an inch bigger woofer, since I use a sub. I imagine the crossover would make the bigger L200 not really worth it.
Now, you may ask 'why not the L600s?'. I would love to. But they are WAY out of my budget unless theres a massive sale. 999 to 1.2k for a pair is much easier to swallow.
So.. what is everyones thoughts?
Also.. the 3 way design on the L600. (tweet, midrange, woofer) That really do much as opposed to a 2 way bookshelf in a surround environment? In my head, I wouldn't see how they would due to a bass doing the low end heavy lifting.
Thanks in advance!
Oh. I have no amp and don't want 1. No room for it and I don't really play stuff that loud as it is (usually -35 to -30db). I imagine no amp would make the L600 a bad choice.
Comments
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That's a dangerous question to ask here. First just for clarity, do you like to eat on a regular basis?
I asked a simple question about upgrading from an HT in a box now I got over 20 grand in gear! -
No receiver will do the legend line justice. I have a pair of S55 in a second system. If your primary focus isn't music, and your not willing to step up to a separate amp, I'd stick with what you have. The S55 really are quite nice.
Adding an amp isn't just about max output. A separate amp will bring out much more with worthy speakers. -
No receiver will do the legend line justice. I have a pair of S55 in a second system. If your primary focus isn't music, and your not willing to step up to a separate amp, I'd stick with what you have. The S55 really are quite nice.
Adding an amp isn't just about max output. A separate amp will bring out much more with worthy speakers.
I'm a novice with high end, so forgive me if some questions sound dumb. From what you said it sounds like an amp will bring out the added detail/oomph/clarity of the better components - at low volumes as well? Since I never really blast it that loud.
If so, maybe I should invest in a cheap one if only for the front L/R. I don't want to buy it to have them sound similar to the S55s (which I agree, they are nice, I'm just getting annoyed at the higher end slightly - but could be due to bad recordings)
Any advice on what to look for in amps in your experience? And thoughts on L100/200 to replace the S55s? (with a sub) -
The V6A is 4 ohm stable for the main front speakers as long as all the other speakers are 6 ohm or higher rated.
The receiver would work with the L100 or L200. It would not get the best out of them compared to having a receiver with a higher current amp in the $1.5K to $2K range or a separate amplifier run from the preamp outputs on a receiver.
There could still be some risk that with the V6A the Legend speakers could demand too much output and start to clip the signal from the receiver resulting in blown tweeters. That would be possible at higher volumes.
The Signature line is perfect for mid level home theater receivers both on movies and music. -
The V6A is 4 ohm stable for the main front speakers as long as all the other speakers are 6 ohm or higher rated.
The receiver would work with the L100 or L200. It would not get the best out of them compared to having a receiver with a higher current amp in the $1.5K to $2K range or a separate amplifier run from the preamp outputs on a receiver.
I am debating getting the higher end model AVR, but no details on that yet.
Would it be cheaper/better to get say the V6A and a separate cheaper amp to drive the front L/R or just buy the higher end AVR (whenever that comes out) -
I used to have S55's with my Yamaha RX-A2070 AVR and they sounded good, but adding a separate amp improved the sound. Gave the S55's more fullness all through the sound range, just a better overall sound. The Yamaha is 150 W 2 channels driven.Yamaha RX-A2070, Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, Benchmark Dac1, Bluesound NODE 2i, Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport, Parasound Zphono USB Phono Preamp, Fluance RT85, Ortofon 2M Bronze, Polk L600's, L400, L900's, RC80i's, SVS 3000 Micro, Audioquest Interconnects and Digital Cables, Nordost Silver Shadow Digital Cable, Cullen Gold and Crossover Series Power Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha Analog Interconnect Cables, Douglas Connection Alpha 11 OCC Custom Power Cable, Signal Power Cable, Furman PL-8C 15 Power Conditioner, Sony 65" 900F, Sony UBP-X700, Fios, Apple TV 4K, Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables.
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The V6A has preamplifier outputs for the main stereo speakers so you could also get a separate amp for the main speakers. Don't think cheap amp though, think used amp to save money.
Another thing to consider is that if you are using the Legend speakers for home theater they will not be a match for the other speakers you have, especially not the CSi4. They are not "voice matched" with each other, but the ones you have now aren't either.
Personally, I would work on getting a Signature center channel speaker first to replace the CSi4 and the surround speakers.
Think about the Legend line when you have more money to spend! -
I understand the timbre matching. Luckily, I don't notice it currently.
V6A with amp sounds good. Don't have the space for more than a 7.1 atmos setup as it is.
I was thinking getting Sig. bookshelves for surrounds and center like you said (or, a Sig bookshelf as center lol) and use Legends for front mains. Maybe using the S55s as side surrounds.. or just use in bedroom for 2.0 setup.
Money is definitely an issue, which is why I'm getting a game plan to watch sales on specific products, which you have all been very helpful on. I'm a cheapskate and wait for sales, could afford them at 999/pair but.. I have what I have, so may as well wait for a deal!
Last question, since it looks like I will be getting an amp down the road..
Bookshelves usually a better value over towers in a system with a subwoofer?
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The Legend line is a big jump over the Signature range but i'd really recommend a good strong amp to really get their full potential.
Now if your going to get an amp anyway, you may as well start with the power amp and see how your current speakers perform with it. You may just get the performance your looking for and stop your quest right there (saving money as well).
Now if you decide to still upgrade your speakers, choosing between the L100 and L200 will depend on the size of the room. If the room is big and/or you sit quite far from the front speakers, i'd say spring for the L200 and don't look back.
(L100 / L200 with a good sub is exquisite when set up well)
