Kain

By the way, I was wondering if this is a bad time to replace my SD plasma for an HDTV and also get a Blu-ray player. Isn't all the 4K stuff around the corner or will it take time for everything to get settled-in?

Since I am looking at exceptional build quality and reliability as well, how about the Parasound Halo A 51 + Yamaha AVENTAGE CX-A5000?

Is the Parasound Halo A 51 + Onkyo PR-SC5509 a good combo? How is the PR-SC5509?

Okay, what if I get the Parasound Halo A 51 amp? What preamp should I get that is good value?

The reason I am looking at the high-end 9-channel AVRs is because they tend to have the most powerful amps.

Youthman, I've haven't heard Yamaha with Klipsch personally but I was just going by what I've read in the past regarding the bright nature of Yamaha. Am I correct in assuming the that SC-79 has better amps than the RX-A3030 or are they pretty much equal? People say that the amps in the SC-79 are awesome if not the best amps in an A/V receiver. Build quality is also very important to me because I tend to keep stuff for a very long time. My current A/V receiver was bought in 2003 or around that and is still working fine. Schu, Best for sound quality and loud listening sessions I guess.

Thanks for the replies. Back when I was putting together my first "real" home theater in the early 2000s (the one in my sig), Yamaha A/V receivers had the tendency to sound bright. As a result, they were noted to not mate well with Klipsch. Is that still the case or have times changed?

Between the Onkyo TX-NR5010, Yamaha RX-A3030, and the Pioneer Elite SC-79, which would be the best match for my Klipsch RF-7, RC-7, and RS-7? I have a 5.1 setup with a single SubMersive. My Klipsch speakers are the original models from back in 2002. I need an A/V receiver that can drive them to reference levels with ease and, of course, have excellent sound quality. By the way, I am also open to other suggestions for A/V receivers so please suggest any if you like. I would like to stay away from separates right now.

Thanks. What are the US equivalents of these Pioneer A/V receivers? Got this from the European/Middle East Pioneer Web site: SC-LX87 (I know this one is named SC-79 in the US) SC-LX77 SC-LX57 Secondly, is the only main difference between these the power ratings? Even then, the differences in power are very small. Is the SC-LX87 and SC-LX77 worth it over the SC-LX57? Link to Middle East Web site: http://www.pioneer-mea.com/en/subcategory.php?subId=39&catId=37

Thanks for the replies. Any opinions/comments on the Pioneer Elite SC-79 (named SC-LX87 in Europe and the Middle East)? Is it really as powerful as its specs state or is that all "marketing drama?" I am assuming it would easily drive my speakers at very high volumes? Any other A/V receivers of this caliber that I should look at?

Currently, my main home theater is in the DVD ages. The A/V receiver, the DVD player (obviously), and my SD plasma TV. The Emotiva Fusion 8100 caught my eye and I was wondering if it would be a good choice for me (it will power the speakers too). I have the original RF-7, RC-7, and RS-7 with a single SubMersive. Speakers are fine but just looking to get a new Blu-ray "capable" A/V receiver, Blu-ray player, and a new HDTV. My current A/V receiver (the Harman Kardon AVR 8500 or AVR 8000 as it was named in the US) is known to have a quite beefy amplifier section. Because of this, I am a little weary of the Fusion 8100 because it seems quite slim/slender and I don't know how well it can cope driving the RF-7, RC-7, and RS-7 to reference levels. My room is quite small though (about 15 feet x 11 feet x 9 feet). So, how does this sound? Emotiva Fusion 8100 for the A/V receiver $200-$300 for the Blu-ray player $1,000 for the HDTV

Look awesome! How big is the room?

I've been wondering the same thing. I searched on the AVS Forum and it seems he hasn't posted since 2010. http://www.avsforum.com/u/7659308/theear

Thanks for the replies. The "defects" are not exactly pops but more like crackles and ticking sounds. I might be my A/V receiver because it is quite old (bought new in 2003-2004) and used at high volumes often. But I am still not sure because I can reproduce the issues at the exact same scenes at much lower volume settings too. I guess I'll stick in the DVD in my desktop PC and see if I can hear the same stuff.

To OP, I have the RF-7s too and experience the same thing. Movies sound awesome but CDs simply don't. It's like the mid-range is weak or something.

If you looked at my other thread, you'll notice that my main home theater (the one in my sig) is still in the DVD ages. Due to this, I still buy DVDs. I've noticed that on recent DVDs, there are repeatable minor pops, ticks, and crackles in the sound during a few and certain portions of the movie. I am wondering if the Blu-ray Disc version of the same movie has the same issue? I just watched Turbo on DVD yesterday at -8 to -10 dB on the volume nob and there were a few pops, ticks, and crackles in the sound during some parts. If I recall correctly, they are repeatable at lower volumes too. Do these "defects" develope during the Blu-ray Disc to DVD conversion or are they also present on the Blu-ray Disc?

I have never watched a Blu-ray Disc. My main home theater (the one in my sig) is still in the DVD ages and doesn't even have an HDTV nor a Blu-ray Disc player. The TV in the living lounge is a nice Sony 1080p LED TV with a Sony Blu-ray HTIB but I still don't own any Blu-ray Discs. My PC also has a Blu-ray burner but only use it for ripping CDs, burning CDs, and OS installs. I have and do watch 1080p rips on my PC and the living lounge TV though.

Sure am! The SubMersive was an awesome upgrade to my home theater. I ran it without a subwoofer for 6 years till I bought the SubMersive in 2009. Took the experience to another level.

I hit 120-122 dB peaks during bass-heavy scenes in movies. Otherwise, with music, I tend to be around 90-95 dB.

My home theater setup is in my sig. My mobile "setup" consists of Sony XBA-3 IEMs with the 5th generation (latest) iPod touch.

Is this normal? I experience it on my home theater when listening to music and also on my IEMs with my iPod. Basically, if I turn up the music to loud levels (95-100 dB), it seems I cannot hear the highs as well as when at lower volumes. I did notice one thing though, when listening to music through my home theater, I turned it up really loud (100 dB or so) and put my fingers in my ears. The cymbals in the music were more pronounced and clearer. I guess this means it is not the audio setups and just my ears? By the way, is this normal? Maybe I used the wrong words but I can still hear the highs, it is just that they don't sound as "delicate" or prominent (or even as airy) as when at lower volumes. Basically, I can hear more detail in the highs at lower volumes than at higher volumes. This goes for my speakers and my IEMs.

I don't know how you do it. We tried to watch a DVD not too long ago on our Sharp and the blacks were blotchy and hideous. You're missing out waiting for 4k IMO. Well, UHD/4K is already here. TVs are on sale. Might just have to wait a year or so before the "supporting" equipment comes out (suchs as discs, players, etc.). We do have a 1080p TV and Blu-ray HTIB in the house but just not in the main home theater. Good DVD sound > HTIB Blu-ray sound and picture.

Wasn't DTS more popular on DVDs prior to the release of Blu-ray? It seems that ever since Blu-ray came out, the DVD versions of new movies only have Dolby Digital. By the way, how is the movie? I haven't watched it. I skipped watching it in the theater to get the "full effect" of watching a horror movie alone at home on a nice home theater. I heard it got an "R" rating not because of gore or violence, but because of how scary it is?

What I meant when I made this thread was that I was (positively) surprised to see the DTS 5.1 track on the DVD. Based on recent DVD releases, all of them only have a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I had concluded that DTS was gone from new DVD releases...until now. Is there a reason why DTS is so rare on new DVD releases?

Yes, I still care about DVDs because my main home theater still is in the DVD ages. Waiting for UHD/4K before I do a re-do. Anyway, just wondering how The Conjuring DVD is coming with a DTS track. I thought they were done with DTS on DVDs? http://www.amazon.com/Conjuring-DVD-UltraViolet-Vera-Farmiga/dp/B00BEIYMAG/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1380451718&sr=1-1&keywords=the+conjuring