I bought an RCA home theater in a box a few years ago and it's suited me just fine up till now but with my recent purchase of a high-def projector I figured I might invest some cash in upgrading my sound system but before I do I'd like to know how important is the receiver to the sound quality? My receiver is 650 watts, 5.1, can decode DD, DTS, and DPLII, and it has the optical inputs which is everything I need so if I can avoid upgrading that it would be nice but I don't see much sense in buying some nice speakers (my current ones are crap) if the receiver is a major part of what's sucking up my audio quality.
How important is the reciever to sound quality in comparison to the speakers?
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It is a large part. All your A to D and D to A conversions and surround software decoding is done there as well as the amplifier that is powering the speaker.
I'd bank, new speakers are not going to give the improvement you seem to be seeking.
I'd bank, new speakers are not going to give the improvement you seem to be seeking.
In your case your receiver might need to be upgraded if it was of not that great to begin with.
My feeling is to spend much more on the speakers since you will probably have those of a lot longer than the receiver. If the total budget is $1500 (for example) I would spend $300- $400 on the receiver and the rest on the speakers.
My feeling is to spend much more on the speakers since you will probably have those of a lot longer than the receiver. If the total budget is $1500 (for example) I would spend $300- $400 on the receiver and the rest on the speakers.
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I'm not sure how good the receiver is, but I would bet the speakers would make a huge difference. You may need to upgrade the receiver, but you will have to upgrade the speakers. We love to debate the miniscule differences between most components, but when it gets down to it the differences in speakers and room acoustics is where you'll really hear a big difference.
I'm not sure how good the receiver is, but I would bet the speakers would make a huge difference. You may need to upgrade the receiver, but you will have to upgrade the speakers. We love to debate the miniscule differences between most components, but when it gets down to it the differences in speakers and room acoustics is where you'll really hear a big difference.
If we learn from history: It shows that there has never been a single unsighted audition of any modern amplifier which shows that individuals were able to discern between amplifier as long as said amplifier was not driven to clipping.
Thus:
As long as your current receiver does what you need it to do with regards to features and looks, keep it and blow your wad on loudspeakers. Aside from the room's acoustics and your actual source material, loudspeakers make (((by far))) the largest difference in what you experience from your system.
Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com
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Thus:
As long as your current receiver does what you need it to do with regards to features and looks, keep it and blow your wad on loudspeakers. Aside from the room's acoustics and your actual source material, loudspeakers make (((by far))) the largest difference in what you experience from your system.
Andrew D.
www.cdnav.com
.
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If it is an htib from a few years ago, I DEFINITELY think you will need to upgrade the receiver. My guess is that it has 10 percent distortion at even relatively low volumes, which is unacceptable. Of course, I could be wrong.
If it is an htib from a few years ago, I DEFINITELY think you will need to upgrade the receiver. My guess is that it has 10 percent distortion at even relatively low volumes, which is unacceptable. Of course, I could be wrong.
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If we learn anything from history is that they were not comparing an RCA HTIB component to a decent full featured hi fidelity AVR. It's like saying you could not hear the difference from a clock radio to a mid fi decent audio system if the same speakers are used. You have to be real about such statements.
I am going to make a bet that if he buys decent enough speakers it will only reveal just how bad the RCA really is.
If we learn anything from history is that they were not comparing an RCA HTIB component to a decent full featured hi fidelity AVR. It's like saying you could not hear the difference from a clock radio to a mid fi decent audio system if the same speakers are used. You have to be real about such statements.
I am going to make a bet that if he buys decent enough speakers it will only reveal just how bad the RCA really is.
10% distortion????? I don't know of any receiver that would even come close to that level of distortion at relatively low volumes.
My advice to the OP is to place his money on better speakers first, in my opinion they will DEFINITELY make an improvement to his audio quality.
10% distortion????? I don't know of any receiver that would even come close to that level of distortion at relatively low volumes.
My advice to the OP is to place his money on better speakers first, in my opinion they will DEFINITELY make an improvement to his audio quality.
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2,679 Posts
Even upgrading from an RCA hitb, the difference in sound quality between receivers will likely be much more subtle than what you would hear in upgrading your speakers. You'll notice that even in this thus-far short thread the debate over whether receivers even sound better or different from one another has already sprung up; but you'll never hear the same argument come up with speakers.
Ok, so from what I can gather I'd say I'll just buy a new set of speakers and I'll be alright, and if not I can always upgrade the receiver later. I'm not looking for the very best anyway since I'm not much of an audiophile. I'd just like to be able to turn the volume up on my movies and games and get good sound without hearing static in the background.
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I certainly can. Maybe you should speak for your own limitation and not assume other people are as limited in perception as you are
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I certainly can. Maybe you should speak for your own limitation and not assume other people are as limited in perception as you are
Mr. Richard Clark will give you $10,000 if you can tell the difference between amplifiers. Take a Lexicon and compare it to an entry level Sony. With your perception this should be a piece of cake. So do some research, go make an appointment and take his challenge. This challenge has been out for years and to date no one, and I repeat, no one has been able to tell the difference between amplifiers. Do some research on the web, find out the rules and then put your money where your mouth is. Walk away with his money, if you can. Please don't tell me how limited my perception is, mostly what is limited is your knowledge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by briankmonkey /forum/post/0
I certainly can. Maybe you should speak for your own limitation and not assume other people are as limited in perception as you are![]()
Mr. Richard Clark will give you $10,000 if you can tell the difference between amplifiers. Take a Lexicon and compare it to an entry level Sony. With your perception this should be a piece of cake. So do some research, go make an appointment and take his challenge. This challenge has been out for years and to date no one, and I repeat, no one has been able to tell the difference between amplifiers. Do some research on the web, find out the rules and then put your money where your mouth is. Walk away with his money, if you can. Please don't tell me how limited my perception is, mostly what is limited is your knowledge.
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Yes entry level recievers. Not clock radios or RCA HTIB components.
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Sub entry level there.
Yes entry level recievers. Not clock radios or RCA HTIB components.
Sub entry level there.
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To funny..... Enjoy your RCA system for sure. My point is that there is a line in the sand here. once crossed it is easy to tell, while a Sony entry level may not cross it, the RCA does, just as the clock radio does.
To funny..... Enjoy your RCA system for sure. My point is that there is a line in the sand here. once crossed it is easy to tell, while a Sony entry level may not cross it, the RCA does, just as the clock radio does.
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I've already done my research
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Other than that you should take your own advice and not be a hypocrite.
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I've already done my research
Subjects did hear a difference in the original double blind amp test:
http://www.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_data.htm
http://www.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_data.htm
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Good choice.
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Sometimes, getting the information you need on this forum is an exercise in reading-between-the-flames...
Good choice.
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