Should I upgraded? If so, what should I upgrade and what to?

RileyD · December 2011

My current set up is a 2 Polk Montitor 60's in for the front, 2 Monitor 30's for the back, RM8 Center Channel and a eD a2-300 for my subwoofer. All of this is coming from a Sony STR DH-510 receiver and thats coming from a high end gaming computer using HDMI.

What I kind of want to have is to have my surround sound set up to go from my computer to my receiver when I want to game or watch a movie. But when I just want to listen to music it just plays using 2.1 from a seperate source that allows my FLAC collection to be high quality. I know that my receiver is not the best for my FLAC collection, but I still like that it does 5.1 so I would like to keep it.

Basically what I'm asking 3 seperate things in this thread.
1. What should I get so I can have my FLAC collection seperate from my computer and make it go to my speakers all in high quality, like DAC's and such?

2. Am I even able to switch between them two set up's as ease without having to basically walk up to my speakers and unplug one set of wires and plug in another?

3. Should I replace my Polk monitor 60's? I'm going for a low-mid budget kind of thing for all of this above and I don't want my speakers to hold me back. Or are they fine for what I'm doing? :cheesygrin:

Sherardp · December 2011

Here's what you need, RTiA7s, CSiA6 center, keep your current surrounds and sub for now. Power wise pick up a SC XX model Pioneer Elite receiver. For music you will want the Squeezebox from Logitech for the music collection.

RileyD · December 2011

Oh, I forgot to say, I can't upgrade my center speaker unless its as small as the RM8, it needs to fit under my computer monitors.

PrazVT · December 2011

+1 to what Sherardp said.

RTi A7s would be a step up as they're pretty much full range and the Pioneer SC receivers power them very close to external amp levels. A5s if you are going to use a sub for music. The CSi A4 is the smaller center in that line - 6" high, 8" deep, 20" wide. If you can somehow find space for that, your surround setup will be better. The front stage should use (left, right, center) should ideally use speakers from the same series / line.

Though the Pio receiver can play FLAC from your computer via network (ie. if you're using WMP sharing or TVersity server), as Sherard mentioned, a Squeezebox player connected to your receiver via digital coax will be a more convenient option. It requires you to have your computer on as Logitech Media Server software needs to run - or you can connect a USB hdd w/ the music to the SB. The former is probably better / more reliable though. Then you can use either the Logitech web browser interface, the iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad remote app, or Android app to control the squeezebox (and browse music, playlists, use pandora, spotify, etc.).

RileyD · December 2011

I kind of want to have the 2.1 FLAC set up seperate from my computer. I also want that to be as high quality as can be within a $500-$800 budget. I don't want any logitech crap.

thsmith · December 2011

RileyD wrote: »

I kind of want to have the 2.1 FLAC set up seperate from my computer. I also want that to be as high quality as can be within a $500-$800 budget. I don't want any logitech crap.

I believe you may have offended quite a few people here that like and use Logitech SB.

Welcome to CP but becareful to not start off on the wrong foot ;-)

Drenis · December 2011

*waits for h9 to tear him a new one*

SDA1C · December 2011

Let's see...over 3000 hits on a Squeezebox thread in less than 30 days? Yea...I don't use Logitech crap either:rolleyes:

I'm no computer whiz but shouldn't you be able to select 2.1 from the software interface if connected HDMI or 5.1 to realize a 2.1 signal?

PrazVT · December 2011

I kind of want to have the 2.1 FLAC set up seperate from my computer. I also want that to be as high quality as can be within a $500-$800 budget. I don't want any logitech crap.

Well before we tear you a new one (jk), do you even know what a Squeezebox is?

*waits for h9 to tear him a new one*

lol..

SDA1C · December 2011

I'd start here

http://www.altoedge.com/soundcards/sound-card-multichannel-eight.html

nguyendot · December 2011

RileyD wrote: »

I kind of want to have the 2.1 FLAC set up seperate from my computer. I also want that to be as high quality as can be within a $500-$800 budget. I don't want any logitech crap.

If you didn't want a Squeezebox, what did you intend on using to play FLAC?

RileyD · December 2011

nguyendot wrote: »

If you didn't want a Squeezebox, what did you intend on using to play FLAC?

I was hoping that there was another solution.

And I don't want my receiver to just play out 2.1 because it doesn't really do all that great job with Hi-Fi.

I was hoping there was something like Cambridge audio or something.

PrazVT · December 2011

I'm guessing you are referring to a Cambridge DacMagic DAC. Yes, a DAC that connects to one of the analog inputs of your receiver will improve SQ if that is a weak point of the receiver.

But you still need a source with an spdif (digital) output to connect to the DAC. Where is your music? On an internal hdd?

RileyD · December 2011

Yes, its one one of my hard drives.

inspiredsports · December 2011

"What should I upgrade?"

I asked this question probably a year and a half ago and several Polkies coached me properly, but it took me this long to act because I mentally didn't want to spend what the suggested components cost new.

So last week the planets aligned to serve these components up for me, and I picked them up last Saturday (special thanks to Ricardo!).

The answer . . . ROOM TREATMENTS.

It does not matter how your room is laid out, it adversly effect the frequency response the designer designed into each one of your components. It manifests as echo, too much bass, too little bass, too much treble, too little treble, etc., etc., etc., you name it.

You can get incredible sound from modest components, and stellar sound from great components by eliminating room response problems. I was using rolls of Owens Corning insulation, rugs, blanket and dozens of layers of cardboard as a temporary measure, but the real thing is incredible.

Stay away from the foam stuff like Auralex. Visit www.gikacoustics.com or www.realtraps.com to get started.

I know this answer is not what you expected, but I promise you room treatments will provide the best return on investment of any audio dollars you've ever spent.

inspiredsports · December 2011

I forgot to mention, once your room response is right, you will actually (and accurately) be able to hear the improvements when you upgrade individual components.

Sherardp · December 2011

Squeezebox Touch is awesome. I just got into mods with mine like the rest of the fellas here. Read up on them, it's the shizzle man.

PrazVT · December 2011

it's the shizzle man

If that doesn't change his mind, I don't know what will.

PrazVT · December 2011

1. What should I get so I can have my FLAC collection seperate from my computer and make it go to my speakers all in high quality, like DAC's and such?

Just get a DAC with USB input, then plug it in to the receiver. You don't even need an SB Touch frankly speaking. But if you want to keep things 'separate', that's the ticket. But your computer will need to be involved short of you hooking up a USB drive to the SB.

2. Am I even able to switch between them two set up's as ease without having to basically walk up to my speakers and unplug one set of wires and plug in another?

Yes. Just switch inputs on the receiver.

Sherardp · December 2011

PrazVT wrote: »

If that doesn't change his mind, I don't know what will.

See you got jokes today heh Praz? HAHA!!

PrazVT · December 2011

See you got jokes today heh Praz? HAHA!!

Well you got straight to the point

That's all I need lol..

RileyD · December 2011

The thing is, my receiver is crap for hi-fi

Sherardp · December 2011

yingxuy wrote: »

You do not even need to touch a SB honest. But if you want to keep things "Independent", which is ticket. But your computer will need to be involved you connect a USB drive SB.

Your a spammer, but Fenix lights are good stuff.

Should I upgraded? If so, what should I upgrade and what to?

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