Hi,
I am currently trying to upgrade my surround sound system from a 7yr old RCA HTIB. So far I have 4 Polk M20s for my front and rear speakers. My question is for the rear/surround speakers, are they just going to pick up the background noise in a movie for instance, or will they provide more fuller sound. My RCA system, the back speakers you could barely hear anything coming out of them because it just picked up a little of the background sound. I hooked it up with my receiver I got from my RCA system, and my new speakers sounds like crap, I am guessing because the receiver isnt powerful enough to run the new speakers. So will buying a new receiver help solve this issue and give me better sound? I don't really know much about how recievers have advanced over the last few years, so Im looking to get some help.

Thanks in advance

bump... anyone?

Yes you need a better reciever more power or separates but does not sound like you want to go that route. and depending on what sort of reciever you get, what sound processing systems it contains, will depend on whether you just get background sounds or some sort of split track. For instance the reciever I am currently using uses Lexicon Logic 7 and splits sound between various speakers even for 5.1 or less material. So investigate what else a good AVR can do besides just power your speakers.
Of course you should also make sure your room itself is properly fitted out, it is even more important than the equipment you put into it.

Have you calibrated your receiver? Set the speaker levels, distance delays, etc?

Sanjay

Yeah I have calibrated my receiver, it doesnt give much options though, all I can do is change speaker distance, or adjust the decibals coming out of each speaker. Doenst really give me much option at all. All my receiver has is dolby digital, and pro logic, which I never use, and dsp or music. I'll have to get a new one, don't really know what I am looking for though, considering Im on a budget.