I have spent a couple of hours researching answers here and have several visits to local shops to refine what I would like to do to upgrade my current Home Theater arrangement. I am not (yet) looking for 6.1, 7.1 or HDTV - I expect satisfaction with my mismash for several more years. While not being purely on the skinny side of costs, I am not going to heavily invest for any thing other than my HT whims on this system for the next 4-5 years. The following is existing setup (components are 5 - 6 years old):
-Hitachi 50UX26B/27K - 50" analog TV - Keeper
-HK FL8300 CD player - OK, Keeper
-Hitachi VTFX623A - Oh well, not a major part of HT anymore so I am keeping.
-Pioneer DV-525 DVD - I really like - keeper
-Digital Cable - all composite, take what they give me - keeping
-HK AVR40 - Been great but need to replace to get 5.1 and better video switching (I am going to go to S-video out for this TV) - needs replacement
-Heresy (circa 1980) main speakers - They are mine till I die - then going to daughter in will. I was a Klipsch fan before it was cool to be so (I was also a Jimmy Buffet 'parrothead' before they had a name for it).
-Infinity CC2 center speaker, not so good - needs to be replaced.
-Infinity surround - nuff said, will be replaced.
-Infinity Bu-2 subwoofer - don't shoot me, but this baby has been pretty darn pleasing (especially for two channel music and movies) so I will keep.
The room - fairly poor, this is a very open family room, HT. Open foyer behind primary seating (that means right rear is about 5 feet higher and the rear wall is 4 feet deeper than the left rear). Left rear not tons better - just to the left opens (about 8 foot space) to dining room/kitchen (sounds funky, but very nicely done - come by and visit when in town). I currently have rears evenly spaced and pointed to center - cool enough for pro logic, but offers a 5.1 challenge (a larger speaker would compete with Chandalier for space).
Restrictions:
- As much as I try (and want) I cannot get a heresy to fit in TV center - we have a beautifully done full wall custom/built in cabinet, bookshelf,etc. Having said that - Dave S. since we are both St. Louis area folks - if you end up with a heresy in the closet I will probably work the deal and raise my ceiling to fit if necessary.
- Sorry to say, Heresy in rear is difficult due to room config.
So far and request for advice:
- Reciever - Moderate price (remember I only want very good 5.1 with existing stuff). I am clearly impressed with Yamaha RX-V620 to date (gives me some stuff for gradual continual upgrade). Thoughts or other help?
- Center Speaker - Unless Dave S. comes through, I am looking at KLF-C7. Local shop trying to sell me on RC-3II, but you folks are scaring me on that. Thoughts on tonal matching as well as RC-3II?
- Rear speakers - Need lots of advice here. Assume I understand that Heresy all around is great and that is an option I am very much exploring, what are the next best(has to be ceiling/wall mounted)options. Local folks trying to sell SS-1, however I was not suitably impressed with them. Is SS good match? Which Klipsch is closest match (as noted above - other than Heresy)? I do want to stay with Klipsch.
Thanks in advance for all your help. My reading here to date has been very helpful.
HenryW
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Henry Watkins