What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?
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Here's what I currently have.
I picked up last year when I got my new 4K TV. I wanted a received that I knew would pass 4K video through without issue.
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I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
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@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
There is quite a difference between $200/channel tower speakers and those $15 KLHs. Yes, a good amp can maximize those shit speakers, but better speakers are better. But, as I said before, in a surround system, it's all about placement and a big sub. "Better" quality speakers really only matter for serious music listening with serious amplification.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I once put $15 KLH plastic speakers in a well set up room powered by 150W Marantz solid state monoblocks, it was all set up perfect, very high end system, with the cheapest little plastic Walmart special speakers. And the sound was amazing. It really did a great job.
yep, but all salesmen will try to sell speakers first
It's the thing that customers "see". It's the sexy piece of the system that they can get people to just spend and spend on.
There is quite a difference between $200/channel tower speakers and those $15 KLHs. Yes, a good amp can maximize those shit speakers, but better speakers are better. But, as I said before, in a surround system, it's all about placement and a big sub. "Better" quality speakers really only matter for serious music listening with serious amplification.
I have Totems, oh I know
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
Dash here is the entry point in audio components that I would consider buying(there are cheaper but this is my bare minimum). Take a look at this company. https://emotiva.com/ Their prices match amazon's prices.
Specifically these components would get you started: https://emotiva.com/product/mc-700/
and the : https://emotiva.com/product/a-300/.The mc-700 should take your roku and several more hdmi devices. I am assuming you have the usual 8 ohm speakers. If you have something different let me know.
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@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
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@jmoore said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
I've had issues since day one switching between inputs - mostly between the cable box and the Roku. Since I'm ditching cable, there shouldn't be much switching anymore. I have an Amazon TV, but don't use it, and don't see any need to use it.
That said, I'll probably load them both up again and see which one appears to provide a better picture. Also watch my bandwidth usage to see if one is using dramatically more than the other (heard that Amazon video devices might be doing a ton of pre-caching and eating a down of download bandwidth).
Dash here is the entry point in audio components that I would consider buying(there are cheaper but this is my bare minimum). Take a look at this company. https://emotiva.com/ Their prices match amazon's prices.
Specifically these components would get you started: https://emotiva.com/product/mc-700/
and the : https://emotiva.com/product/a-300/.The mc-700 should take your roku and several more hdmi devices. I am assuming you have the usual 8 ohm speakers. If you have something different let me know.
So what - I would need one MC-700 and 4 a-300 to drive the speakers? so $600 + $400 * 4 = $2200?
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
yep, budget blown and no speakers in site.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
Not to mention what the power drain might be from all of that. Granted it could be very close to what I have today for power use.. I'm not entirely sure.
But 4 powersupplies vs one, I expect some inefficiencies to make 4 require more more even if all other things are equal - but I do leave the possibility that these are so much more efficient vs my Pioneer to make it negligible.
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@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
Edit: nevermind, I didn't see the post about the Pioneer that you already have. Use that.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
Edit: nevermind, I didn't see the post about the Pioneer that you already have. Use that.
LOL - I have been for over a year. It replaced a similar one I bought 10 years ago.
Frankly I was expecting a bit more conversation on what people are using - perhaps my question was to specific to spark that conversation.
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@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
Well, at least there is that.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Also, what is the life expectancy from either the processor or the amp?
Amps nearly last forever.
What if any kind of power filtering does anyone use?
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Way better quality, and the ability to upgrade the processor (or the amp) without replacing the other. Receivers are the darling of the vendors because new technology means replacing everything, even the radio tuner. But in reality, amps, tuners, pre-amps, attenuators, displays, connectors and most other pieces are good for decades. Only the technology in the digital processor ages, so they take one minor part and make you keep re-buying all the expensive, important parts to replace that one.
My 20 year old Marantz are still better than most anything anyone I know owns, and weren't all that expensive even then.
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@scottalanmiller said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@dashrender They have a 5 channel amp that's 499. That would knock out the amp side, but I think your needs would be easily met by a simple, all-in-one AV receiver.
So is there any real benefit to using a $600 processor and a $500 amp at this level compared to my $600 receiver?
Way better quality, and the ability to upgrade the processor (or the amp) without replacing the other. Receivers are the darling of the vendors because new technology means replacing everything, even the radio tuner. But in reality, amps, tuners, pre-amps, attenuators, displays, connectors and most other pieces are good for decades. Only the technology in the digital processor ages, so they take one minor part and make you keep re-buying all the expensive, important parts to replace that one.
My 20 year old Marantz are still better than most anything anyone I know owns, and weren't all that expensive even then.
OK, definitely some value there, but when my receiver was the same cost as just the processor in this case, I'm not sure it's worth it to someone in my position.
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@dashrender said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@rojoloco said in What do you like for a non expensive audio setup for surround sound TV/movies?:
@jmoore but he would need 3 of those amps to have surround sound, assuming a powered sub.
Not to mention what the power drain might be from all of that. Granted it could be very close to what I have today for power use.. I'm not entirely sure.
But 4 powersupplies vs one, I expect some inefficiencies to make 4 require more more even if all other things are equal - but I do leave the possibility that these are so much more efficient vs my Pioneer to make it negligible.
no no, i missed surround sound requirements, my fault. no reason to have that many amps. just go up until you find the amp that covers your needs. i thought you already had speakers too
