wuzzzer

I'd vote for conventional 7.1 for now. 7.1 isn't even the surround standard yet, and anything beyond that with front wide or height speakers is simply being matrixed from the 5, 6, or 7.1 mix anyway. Two S3s on the side and two behind you. Full 3 series all around, that's a pretty killer setup you have there!

42s if you mainly watch movies, 61s if you do a lot of multi-channel audio or concert listening.

I haven't heard as many people having issues with the Sub-12 as with the 10. The 12 is an incredible value for the money. If you don't mind pre-owned they regularly sell for $250-300 on eBay, and that's a lot of subwoofer for the money.

Setting your speakers from small to large and then listening to anything that doesn't have a .1 LFE track will generally disable the sub altogether, unless you have the subwoofer set to play along with your mains when you change your mains to Large in your receiver's setup menu. Set your sub's crossover as high as it will go on the sub itself, generally 120-150Hz. Let your receiver do the crossover setting so you aren't doubling up on it.

What crossover setting do you have for the sub? What do you have the phase set to?

Michael, We hope you come back but it is understandable why you need the sabbatical. Keep on rockin'.

Yes, that would be a very nice receiver but if I'm going to spend almost $2000 I'd definitely get separates instead of a receiver.

I have floorstanding speakers as surrounds and I personally like the sound better than the RS-42s and SS-1s that I used to have.

I think what I might do is look for a Marantz SR8001 for now. It upgrades to a torroidal power transformer, a 125 x 7 amp, 4 HDMI in/2 out, copper plated chassis (not sure the advantage of that though). From what I've seen them selling for I could spend about $100-150 from what I could get for my 7001 to upgrade to the 8001.

Thanks CEC. If I did get a dedicated pre-amp I would definitely get one that would be compatible with HD audio formats. The Marantz is rated at 110 x 7.

Good points, James. The Marantz does have 4 HDMI in and 1 out, accepts Multi-Channel PCM over HDMI and fits nicely underneath my TV stand, everything that I need in a receiver and more. I do a lot of 2 channel listening at high SPL levels and want the external amp for extra punch and headroom.

Brick of text = no read. The Enter key is your friend! []

In most cases music in movies is mixed and EQ'd differently than it is on CD and the differences you hear won't be changed by different equipment. You could try different music surround formats that your receiver has such as Neo:6 Music and see if you like how it sounds over 5 channel stereo.

Projecting ahead a few months and planning on doing some upgrades. I'd like to go the separates route and would like some advice and assistance. Option 1) Keep everything I currently have and purchase a 2 or 5 channel amp. I'd be using the Marantz as a pre-amp and more than likely purchasing an Emotiva amp or equivalent. I can't really use a center speaker with my configuration so I'm leaning more towards a 2 channel amp for the fronts and having the surrounds powered by my receiver. Option 2) Sell the Marantz and replace it with a pre-amp that accepts Multi-Channel PCM over HDMI. What brands and models are out there that do this? Price range? I would also purchase a multi-channel amp, again from Emovita or the like. Option 3) Sell the Marantz and purchase an inexpensive receiver accepting Multi-Channel PCM over HDMI to use as a pre-amp, adding a multi-channel amp. Option 1 would be the least expensive route and the easiest upgrade to make. Option 2 would probably yield the best performance and sound quality of the 3 but would definitely be the most expensive. Option 3 worries me because I'm thinking a very inexpensive receiver as a pre-amp is going to be a downgrade from what I currently have.

If you do what you're describing, its not considered 7.1. 7.1 has three front speakers, two side surrounds and two rear surrounds. If your room is as small as you're describing I see no benefit from any kind of 7.1 setup.

$500-600 is realistic. My best friend paid $500 for his near mint KLF-30s a couple years ago.

Pioneer seems to have a very good reputation on here. A receiver doesn't determine the kick from a sub as much as the sub itself does. Fortunately the Sub-12 is a very, very good sub so any receiver will be fine. Welcome to the forums!

Pretty easy game today against a team who hasn't won a game yet this season. I have to say that I'm glad Favre signed on. I never cared for him while he was at Green Bay but he is one amazing quarterback.

You got my vote!

Welcome to the forums! KG 5.2s 300-400 Academy 300-400 KG 2.5s 150-200/pair SW-12 150-200 Just going by prices seen on eBay and craigslist. Sorry to hear that you need to downsize. You've got the makings of a pretty killer setup there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SVS-PB1-ISD-PB12-ISD-12-Powered-Subwoofer-Near-Mint_W0QQitemZ280407796224QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item41499b6a00 http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_41&products_id=407

Holy crap, was that seriously one sentence?? I'm going to overlook that due to the fact that you're a fellow Klipsch and Mitsubishi 65" TV owner, otherwise... [] I would run HDMI into your receiver then into your TV. That generally will give you the best sound and picture quality possible and might eliminate the hiss you hear.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?homesubw&1260404576&/HSU-VTF-2-Make-2

What's your budget? New/used? Does it have to look 'pretty'?

Yep, I just looked at the forecast and we're in a Winter Storm Warning with a potential 4-6 inches between Sunday night and Monday morning! BLECHCHHC.