5 to 7.1 upgrade

themangus

Upgrading receiver from 5.1 to a new 7.1 , Currently have RM5400 speaker set. Anything I should be concerned about when adding another pair of polks as far as it impacting the matched sound I now have? No plan to replace my current RM's...don't need to.

Dennis Gardner

Are your 5400s white or black?

themangus

They're black

themangus

The thing is my Yamaha is done. Still works but when I get about a 1/3rd of the way up in volume it shuts off. Regular tv volume is fine even dvd's at normal volume ok, but when I want to crank it goes out. And now and then I like the music dvd's loud (very). So it looks like I'll probably get the HK avr 235. And I know I won't have it long before I want to fill the extra 2 channels. So I'm just wondering will I learn that I need to get a new surround set (7.1) or can I just get a sweet pair of floor towers and hook'm up. The 5400's are still awsome, even after 7 or eight years of work. I kind of can't believe it sometimes. My budget's not too big but I know what I like when I hear it.

Dennis Gardner

I asked color since I have a couple of the sats from that series in white that I would let go cheap.

It sounds like you may have a short in a speaker wire somewhere that is shutting down your receiver. A small wiring short doesn't always showup at low volumes since the receiver can "power through" the load problem, but when more power is required it can send the unit into shutdown. I would check all wiring carefully. By the way, unless you just want to upgrade to 7.1, there are only a couple hundred movies released in the new format so far. Not all new movies are 7.1 channel, most are still 5.1. Just FYI.

Welcome to ClubPolk,

Dennis

Dennis Gardner

As you can see in my sig above, I run an HK 7200 and love the sound and power the big HK gives. If you decide to go with speakers much larger than the small sats you have, you will get quite a bit out of balance quickly and will simply be dumbing down the new towers to keep from overpowering the remainder of your old sats. They may be great for 2 channel music, but your center channel will definately need an upgrade soon.

You know how tough Polks are since your 8 year old models still sound good so don't hesitate to look into used models. I did the upgrade from the sub/sats you have and each move seemed to deserve another, so prepare yourself for that.

themangus

Thanx, I'll check the wires - the upgrade in receiver would also be to increase fiber optic inputs. I now have only 2 and they are in the back used up with the dvd and the hd sat receiver. I'd like to be able to plug the xbox fiber out right into the front for obvious ease in usage, so your 7.1 mention helps me as well in that I could go w/the avr135 to get the front opti input and only be going up to 6.1. Then I'd be less tempted for now to get a new pair of speakers that I won't even really be utilizing. Thanx again.

Tritonman

Dennis Gardner wrote:

I asked color since I have a couple of the sats from that series in white that I would let go cheap.

It sounds like you may have a short in a speaker wire somewhere that is shutting down your receiver. A small wiring short doesn't always showup at low volumes since the receiver can "power through" the load problem, but when more power is required it can send the unit into shutdown. I would check all wiring carefully. By the way, unless you just want to upgrade to 7.1, there are only a couple hundred movies released in the new format so far. Not all new movies are 7.1 channel, most are still 5.1. Just FYI.

Welcome to ClubPolk,

Dennis

Dennis..correct me if I am wrong but there are no discrete 7.1 movies released as of yet? Unless i misunderstood your post? There are however 6.1 where the center is actually enconded into the audio track..but no true 7.1.

Dennis Gardner

You are correct. I am using the 7.1 moniker loosely since most extended surround receivers use 7 channels of amplification.

DD-EX and DTS-ES are 6 channel formats that matrix the rear channel so 2 rears can be used. The info on both rear channels of either is the same.

Thanks for clarity,

DG

Tritonman

Dennis Gardner wrote:

You are correct. I am using the 7.1 moniker loosely since most extended surround receivers use 7 channels of amplification.

DD-EX and DTS-ES are 6 channel formats that matrix the rear channel so 2 rears can be used. The info on both rear channels of either is the same.

Thanks for clarity,

DG

Understood. Just thought maybe you knew something i didnt and I wanted in on the secret

reeltrouble1

Mangus,

Just clarifying if you go 7.1 all the speakers will play when watching a DVD recorded in 5.1.

RT1

BIZILL

when i watch movies or hdtv encoded in dolby digital, my receiver's ex and plII processing separates very nicely to the 7.1 channels. like it knows exactly what sounds to extract and place to the rears. and it's in stereo back there. every movie i watch seems to have been recorded in true 7.1, though it could not have been. i love my setup.