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Best use of $400

post #1 of 10
2/6/13 at 1:37pm
Thread Starter 
Please see a list of my equipment and specs below. Just trying to figure out what the best use of $400 is to upgrade my system is. The non brand matching Def Tech Center Channel is due to space requirements in media center so do not say that please wink.gif


Amp to power under powered Polk TSI400's - Emotiva UPA-200 Stereo Power Amplifier $349
  • 125 watts
  • 8ohms
  • 2 channels


Replace sub with Definitive ProSub 800 $399
  • 8in sub
  • 300 Watt amplifier
  • 20 Hz - 150 Hz


Receiver- Marantz - NR1403 - 50w x 5
Front's - Polk - Tsi400 - 20-200w - 44hz-22khz - 91db
Center - Definitive Technology - Procenter 1000 - 10-200w - 47hz-30khz - 90db
Rear's - Polk - M10 - 20-100w - 60hz-24khz - 90db
Sub - Polk -RM6880 (part of the HTIB package) - 130w dynamic / 65w average - 32-180hz
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post #2 of 10
2/6/13 at 1:40pm
I would say either upgrading your sub or spending some money on room treatments would be your best bet. Unless the AVR is clipping at your normal volume levels, you probably won't notice any difference by upgrading to a higher powered amp for the fronts.
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post #3 of 10
2/6/13 at 2:05pm
Man that really depends on what you want to accomplish. What are your gripes about the system right now? Do you find yourself maxing the volume and still not getting enough? Or do you find that low bass is lacking in music and movies? Or something else?

The best use of $400 is using where it matters the most TO YOU. If you're happy with both volume levels and bass levels, I'd say put that $400 in an IRA or something. tongue.gif

Your current receiver, while low in output, still has decent processing (Dolby, DTS, etc) including Audyssey. You're unlikely to see major changes in anything except increased dB.

Replacing your current sub with the one you mentioned is a waste of money, imho. Get a Polk PSW505 for $190 on Amazon or Newegg, and spend the extra $210 on a nice steak dinner with your significant other. PSW505 is 300W continuous, 460W peak. 23-160Hz. Believe me, you're not going to hear a 3Hz difference, but you WILL hear the output level difference.
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post #4 of 10
2/6/13 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adoniram View Post

Man that really depends on what you want to accomplish. What are your gripes about the system right now? Do you find yourself maxing the volume and still not getting enough? Or do you find that low bass is lacking in music and movies? Or something else?

The best use of $400 is using where it matters the most TO YOU. If you're happy with both volume levels and bass levels, I'd say put that $400 in an IRA or something. tongue.gif

Your current receiver, while low in output, still has decent processing (Dolby, DTS, etc) including Audyssey. You're unlikely to see major changes in anything except increased dB.

Replacing your current sub with the one you mentioned is a waste of money, imho. Get a Polk PSW505 for $190 on Amazon or Newegg, and spend the extra $210 on a nice steak dinner with your significant other. PSW505 is 300W continuous, 460W peak. 23-160Hz. Believe me, you're not going to hear a 3Hz difference, but you WILL hear the output level difference.

I am sure the Polk speakers are great. I guess they just lack the overall dynamic I thought that they would carry. I hope that makes sense. Missing mids and lows. I do not have to max out the volume.

My speakers are set to large on my receiver and it is setup with audyssey. I should check my crossover setting I guess. I think it is set to 60hz..

My room is 20x20 but open concept on the rear facing wall that extends another 15ft. with a half wall divider.

I will look into the PSW505.

Room treatments are limited by WAF
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post #5 of 10
2/6/13 at 3:19pm
Hmmm that is interesting about the speakers. Those are quality units, and I bet a little tweaking with the receiver would help a lot. However, my own experience with the Polk towers (Monitor 70 Series II and 75T, which are identical to the Tsi500) was that they too lacked low frequency power. I think I wouldn't be happy with them if I didn't have a sub paired together. They are designed to be one part of the system, and not the whole system, so that makes sense. If you have an underpowered sub, it makes sense that you would feel lacking in the lower frequencies.

I highly recommend the PSW505. I loved the first one enough to buy a 2nd for the media room, and believe me, it'll rock the house. I have it in a large 25x20 room which opens to the kitchen, and you can hear the sub clearly everywhere. Kitchen, hallway, garage, outdoors, by the mail box...... Response is excellent, range is excellent, and it pairs perfectly with the Polk towers.
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post #6 of 10
2/7/13 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adoniram View Post

Hmmm that is interesting about the speakers. Those are quality units, and I bet a little tweaking with the receiver would help a lot. However, my own experience with the Polk towers (Monitor 70 Series II and 75T, which are identical to the Tsi500) was that they too lacked low frequency power. I think I wouldn't be happy with them if I didn't have a sub paired together. They are designed to be one part of the system, and not the whole system, so that makes sense. If you have an underpowered sub, it makes sense that you would feel lacking in the lower frequencies.

I highly recommend the PSW505. I loved the first one enough to buy a 2nd for the media room, and believe me, it'll rock the house. I have it in a large 25x20 room which opens to the kitchen, and you can hear the sub clearly everywhere. Kitchen, hallway, garage, outdoors, by the mail box...... Response is excellent, range is excellent, and it pairs perfectly with the Polk towers.

Great thank you for the input I am really considering it especially for the price on amazon $189 is great!
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post #7 of 10
2/7/13 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiteout007 View Post

I am sure the Polk speakers are great. I guess they just lack the overall dynamic I thought that they would carry. I hope that makes sense. Missing mids and lows. I do not have to max out the volume.

My speakers are set to large on my receiver and it is setup with audyssey. I should check my crossover setting I guess. I think it is set to 60hz..

My room is 20x20 but open concept on the rear facing wall that extends another 15ft. with a half wall divider.

I will look into the PSW505.

Room treatments are limited by WAF

I would consider changing the speaker setting to small regardless of their physical size.. otherwise, the subwoofer is likely only being used for dedicated LFE channel (I don't have this receiver, so not positive); if set to small, the subwoofer could be responsible for all lower frequency production (maybe set X-over to 40-50 given frequency response you detailed above), even in 2-channel applications..
I'd certainly play with the settings before dropping any $$
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post #8 of 10
2/10/13 at 7:23pm
Scoop up a nice condition Adcom GFA-555 for around $300 on eBay. With Emotiva try to buy minimum XPA because there cheap stuff sounds, well not close to the Adcom. Heck sound wise the Adcom sounds better than the XPA.. Klipse RW-12D sub for $299 on newegg will be a big upgrade as well. Spend $500-$600ish and get the GFA-555 amp and the RW-12D sub and your system will be at an entirely new level for short money.
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post #9 of 10
2/10/13 at 7:48pm
I'd say it's gotta be your subwoofer... but I'd say you can do MUCH better than the DefTech you mention for $400. Something like a BIC Formula F-12 would reach quite a bit deeper and have notably more output as well. You could stretch your budget by just a bit and pick up a pair, or go for a single and maybe upgrade your surrounds to TSi100s or Monitor 30s. As others have mentioned, set your mains to small. If your AVR can set independent crossovers, put the center at 100, the surrounds at 80, and experiment with the mains... something between 60 and 80 is probably going to blend best with the sub.
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post #10 of 10
2/26/13 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 
thanks for the input guys. I ended up using my $150 amazon gift car to to pick up a bic f12 for $189 shipped on amazon.

Then was able to sell my marantz 1403 for $320 that i paid $250 for and get a good deal on a new marantz sr 6007 $899 (currently still selling form $1,199 at most places) the receiver gives me a decent bump in power from 50w to 110w per channel 2 channels driven however that $550 would have been better spent on an amp.
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