$4,000 for Amplifier or Speakers?

[garnier]

Hi, I have a question regarding how I should spend $4,000 to upgrade my current 7.1 home theater system.

Right now, I have:

Front: Monitor 70's
Center: Monitor CS2
Side Surround: FXi3
Back Surround: Monitor 50's
Subwoofer: PSW1000
Receiver: Denon AVR 3808CI

Would you recommend that I spend all $4,000 on buying amplifiers (Parasound Model 5250 and Model 2250) or on buying speakers (Polk Audio LSi's), or mostly on speaker and a less on amplifier (like LSi's for $3,000 and a 2 or 3 channel amplifer for $1,000)? Please give me your honest opinions! They would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :)

[wingnut4772]

Well ...more on speakers but you will eventually want to bring up the amp section later. It's a slippery slope.

[Gaara]

Option 3. LSis with a decent 5ch amp. Later you could get a nice 2ch amp and use the 5ch for surrounds.

[tcrossma]

I would get a decent 5-channel amp (B&K, Rotel, Parasound, etc.) and some LSi15's for the fronts and LSiC for the center. If you go used on the amp and new on the speakers that should leave you a bit over $1000 to play with.

[danger boy]

spend it all on audio cables.. that's where you'll notice the biggest difference. ;)



seriously though, spend half on the LSi fronts, and the rest on a nice beefy amp.

[phuz]

40/40/10/10

40% on speakers, 40% on gear, 10% on cables, 10% on power management/conditioning.

Go used/demo and you can get a freakin killer system for $4,000. You can also get some cash back if you decide to sell your existing gear.

Patience is priceless. You can save a ton by waiting for the good deals (like the $600 LSi15s in the for sale area)

[cfrizz]

Your receiver is fine. Upgrade the speakers & get a used 7 channel amp on Audiogon.

[Early B.]

For $4 G's, sell everything and start all over. With the proceeds from the sale added to the 4 grand, you can build an absolute killer system with nice speakers (better than the 15s) and separate amplification, especially if you buy used. Budget $2,500 for speakers ($1,500 for the fronts), $1,000 for a multichannel amp, $750 for a pre/pro, and $750 for a sub. That's only $5 grand. Spend the remainder on cables.

[garnier]

Wow, thank you a bunch for much helpful advice, guys! I will keep checking on this thread for more replies from others too! :)

[Shizelbs]

Your receiver is fine. Upgrade the speakers & get a used 7 channel amp on Audiogon.

This is what I would probably do.

[NotaSuv]

Your receiver is fine. Upgrade the speakers & get a used 7 channel amp on Audiogon.

Yuppers....i have a Denon 3806 and ended up buying a sep amp... the Denon is nice for both HT and music.... I have no complaints...actually it sounds better with each upgrade I do..speaker wires and interconnects were the last 2....and it made a very nice difference.....

[mrmusicman]

I also vote on keeping the reciever,adding a amp, and up-grading the speakers.Going used is definatley a good way to stretch your dollars,I'm up-grading my speakers to the lsi series via used...just have to have some patience and a little luck finding something in your area.

[tonyb]

Upgrade the speakers.Buy a used amp.Done.

[AndyGwis]

Get used LSi's. Get used amp.

Save money. No need to spend $4000 when you can spend $2000.

[obieone]

JMO, but...
Keep: Rcvr., sub. & FXi3's
Sell: 70's, 50's, CS2
Buy: LSi15-$1500., LSiC-$500., LSi9-$900., Outlaw 7125 amp.-$999.
Proceeds from speakers sold for cables, pwr. managemnt?

[jayman_1975]

I would buy the amp first and run it on those Monitor 70's and get a feel for their full potential. Mine really sounded great when i put a good amp on them. Definitely get new speakers as well....just get to know what those 70's can do before you send them packin. You'll gain a new appreciation for them...i promise.

[Mazeroth]

Buyed used. Then throw most of the money at the speakers. I would say a smart investment is 80/20 on speakers/amplification.

In fact, I have DiY speakers I built running off $200 of amplification that sounds better than any other speaker I've ever heard in my life. Total cost for the speakers is about $1000. While amplifiers have some ability to help the sound of your system speakers have 100x more ability. Take it from a fool who actually builds them!

[garnier]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I am getting so much help from all of your advice! I guess the difficult part for me is to decide soon what to do based on all of your advice. :)

[garnier]

Hi, everyone! I have decided to sell all of my Monitor series speakers except PSW1000 subwoofer and a Denon receiver, and get two pairs of LSi9's for the fronts and the surround backs, one LSiC, and a pair of LSiFX for the surround ($3,200 all together for the LSi speakers from Crutchfield), and finally a Outlaw Model 7700 amplifier ($1,900) for a total of $5,100. I guess I can get some money back (around $800) if I sell the Monitor series that I currently have. So I will be speding some $300 over the original estimate; but I won't complain. I will continue to use the speaker wires and a Monster power/surge protector that I currently use. I would have never known what to do about these matter without your suggestions and recommendations; they have been really very greatly helpful in making these decisions. I greatly appreciate everyone's opinions! Thank you everyone! :D

[cfrizz]

OUTSTANDING!!!

You are going to have one terrific rocking system when it's all put together. Congrats & enjoy!

[Dennis Gardner]

I think your decision to purchase the best Polk has to offer and amplify them properly shows that you are serious about maintaining a balance in the quality of your gear.

Nice choices......next on your list may be the Outlaw 990!

[john22614]

ditto.....

[obieone]

And the cycle has begun:p

[knownalien]

At the price point it's gonna be hard to beat Polk's current LSi prices, and you can have that and power it with an internet phenom like Outlaw audio which currently has a great sale and will "future proof" your system in that power is power. Speakers come and go, but at the current stage of development, nothing more I can see in the advancement of SS amps until more and more make the jump to digital. I would suggest LSi7's for surrounds and 15's for mains. that way, you have your 2 channel music covered too. no reason to splurge on the LSi9's like I did. Though now, ironically, mine are the mains and the 15's the surrounds since I now live in a condo . . . .

[garnier]

At the price point it's gonna be hard to beat Polk's current LSi prices, and you can have that and power it with an internet phenom like Outlaw audio which currently has a great sale and will "future proof" your system in that power is power. Speakers come and go, but at the current stage of development, nothing more I can see in the advancement of SS amps until more and more make the jump to digital. I would suggest LSi7's for surrounds and 15's for mains. that way, you have your 2 channel music covered too. no reason to splurge on the LSi9's like I did. Though now, ironically, mine are the mains and the 15's the surrounds since I now live in a condo . . . .

Thank you for the advice. By the way, how does your Outlaw amp sound like? This will be my first time ever using an external amp; so I can't really compare one to another due to lack of experience. Does it really sound as good as they claim on their website?

[cfrizz]

Yes it does! And it will ensure that your speakers operate to their full potential, as well as any other speakers you might buy in the future!

[Grimster74]

Thank you for the advice. By the way, how does your Outlaw amp sound like? This will be my first time ever using an external amp; so I can't really compare one to another due to lack of experience. Does it really sound as good as they claim on their website?

Absolutely, as you can tell I'm using the 3808CI paired up with the Outlaw 7700 but using RTi Series Polks and couldn't be happier. Someone mentioned purchasing the Outlaw 990. Without a doubt it's a great pre/pro but I sold mine and went with the 3808. Outlaw is in the process of releasing their new pre/pro's so I would keep the 3808 until Outlaws new pre/pro is released, that's what I plan to do.

[garnier]

Grimster74, your Home Theatre is simply amazing! It is also inspirational to look at the pictures of your system! I guess every men's dream has come true to you! :)

[Grimster74]

Not quite yet, thinking of a full makeover here soon which has been in the works for awhile now. What will that consist of you all ask, money, time and only time will reveal my little secrets.:D

[Grimster74]

Garnier, thank-you by the way for your comments. If you ever need anything, hit me with a PM and welcome to the forum.