Looking to upgrade my audio over the next few months.

[leglez]

I am looking at upgrading all my home audio equipment over the next few months. My current audio is:

Receiver: Pioneer VSX-D711
Center: CS-C280-K
Fronts: Pioneer CS-G304a
Rears: Pioneer CS-X580-K
Sub: Fisher SW-6100

I am not sure what receiver to get. I think I want to go with Onkyo, but not sure which one. I am mostly just wanting to upgrade so that I can have 1080p upconversion (I think that is what it is). I want to be able to run 1 HDMI cable from my receiver to my TV. Then I want to be able to plug my Xbox 360, Original Xbox, Wii, and computer into it. I will also be purchasing a PS3 in the next few months and want to be able to hook that up to it. I would like to keep this as cheap as possible.

I am looking at picking up the Polk R50s for fronts. I looked at amazon and it looks like they are $200 for 1. But then I looked on ebay and it looks like $200 for a pair. Does that sound right? Would you suggest picking up a pair for ebay? Are there any reputable dealears on there?

I am not sure really sure what to go with for rears or center. I like polk speakers and would prefer to have all polk unless there is something better out there.

I also plan on going with the BIC PA-120 (The 2009 model of the BIC H-100).

Any suggestions? Thank you!

Also I plan on selling my current gear after I get the new stuff. How much do you think I could sell it all for?

 

[erwos]

The lower-end Onkyos don't upscale to 1080p, only to 1080i. IIRC, the cheapest receiver that does go to 1080p that is the Sony STR-DG920. Remember that you'll only get upscaling on analog sources, not HDMI/DVI (unless you go higher-end with an Onkyo 875/876).

Fry's sells Polk R50s for cheap pretty often. You definitely want to have a matched center (and I believe Fry's also sells one of those).

 

[leglez]

Actually I don't know what I was thinking. I only need it to upscale to 720p because that is all my TV does and I don't plan on purchasing a 1080p TV for a while. Are there any that upscale to 720p?

 

[leglez]

Also is it a bad idea to use floor standing speakers for rears? I have the space and think I would like that more.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: leglez
Also is it a bad idea to use floor standing speakers for rears? I have the space and think I would like that more.

I am not aware of any problems with doing so. I think most people use bookshelves for side and read surrounds because they're smaller and more easily wall-mounted - plus the surrounds don't get used nearly as much as the front stage. FWIW, I use a pair of towers for my side surrounds and a pair of bookshelves for my rears.

 

[leglez]

Ok I think I have decided I want to use floor standing speakers for both front and rears. Any suggestions on some floor standing speakers that would go good with the R50s?

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: leglez
Ok I think I have decided I want to use floor standing speakers for both front and rears. Any suggestions on some floor standing speakers that would go good with the R50s?

I'm not a fan of low-end Polk gear, including the R50s. Have you listened to them in a HT environment? It is worth noting, though, that Frys has sold these for $100/pair in the past - it's hard to argue with that sort of price.

If you spend a bit more money, you could get some Paradigm Atoms, which are lovely speakers. If you want a no-headaches HT system you could also get something from the Paradigm Cinema series, although I wouldn't.

Infinity also does some nice budget speakers - I recall the Primus line as quite good, and the price is right.

EDIT:

http://shop4.frys.com/product/...sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

$120/pair.

 

[leglez]

How about this for a receiver: Here it upconverts over HDMI for $170.