Hey guys. I have set aside $2,000 dollars to upgrade my home theater sound system. I am agonizing over the best option so I would love to get your opinion on what option you would chose. I currently have 3 year old M60s, VP150, a SVS Ultra sub, an older Onkyo receiver and dipole Wharfdale surrounds. Here are my two options.

1. Using the trade-up program I get the high-gloss cherry m80s, vp150 and qs8 for about $1400. I love the way the high gloss speakers look and I would like to take advantage of the free upgrade promotion. But, with the m80s, I would need upgrade my receiver. That would only leave $600 for a receiver. Maybe I could find a used or refurbished Denon for that, but it certainly would not be the latest and greatest receiver.

2. My other option is to buy a top notch home video receiver. My brother-in-law is a Marantz dealer, so I could get a new SR7002 for around $1000, or the SR8002 for around $1400. Then I could get some QS8s from the factory outlet, and pickup one of the cheaper HD-DVD players, or even a Sony PS3.

So which one would you choose???

Thanks,
Chris

Do this and then pick up a Pro amp for around $500 to power the M80s, that is if your reciever has preouts. Nothing makes as big of a difference in a system than the speakers.

I really wish I could, but unfortunately there are no pre-outs on my Onkyo.

Then buy a new receiver :).

I was thinking at getting a power amp to connect to my AVR. I was looking at the crown XLS serries. But I noticed that the crown only has a balanced input and my pre amp out is a unbalanced rca type connectors. Is there anyway I can wire my unblanced output to the balanced input of the crown??

There are adapters made for this.

Actually, if I am not mistaken, I think the A1400 comes with such adapters. They seemed pretty straightforward. You can check the A1400 manual on its web page.

Yes, it does come with those adapters. I missed them on my first time through the box, but then I remembered they were supposed to be included.

Chris, if the Axioms that you list in your option 1. are attractive to you, that's the way to go, rather than worrying about the receiver. There's much misinformation circulated about amplification in general and certain receivers in particular. Many users have been enjoying M80s and other 4ohm speakers for years with Onkyos and other similar receivers. You shouldn't assume that your present unit wouldn't be enough to satisfy your particular use pattern.

Thats good to hear John. I really would like to upgrade the speakers, but I read so many posts about the Onkyo not working well with the M80. I don't crank up my system very much, so maybe my receiver can hold me over until I can afford something more appropriate.

Another for vote option #1...

Not knowing what type of display you have, my choice may not be relevant.

For $1100 you can get the Denon 3808 from Sixth Avenue. I’ve had bad luck with Marantz and suggest you consider that purchase very carefully.

I’d then buy a Toshiba A35 for about $400 and a Panasonic BD30K for about $425. The combination of those three will give you the ability to hear all the new audio formats, and you’ll probably get better stereo sound as well, although that one’s harder to qualify than the surround improvements.

You will get more “wow” (both audio and video) by going HD over upgrading the speakers you have now. If anything, I’d swap out the surrounds you are using with some QS8’s before upgrading the rest of them. The Q’s are probably the best surround speaker made.

I would go the receiver & HD DVD/Blue Ray Route. And replace the surrounds with QS8's

Denon 2808 CI ($1200):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8355601&type=product&id=1177717702254


Samsung BD-P1400 BD ($300):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8497897&type=product&id=1186004519330


And factory QS8's ($486)


grand total? $1986


Then you could enjoy next gen HD surround in all it's glory!

And don't forget that you could move the existing surrounds to the rear, so you'd also be going from 5.1 to 7.1.

Ya forget the Marantz and spend the cash elsewhere.
Although the speaker finish is nice to see, so is a new fron screen projection system and hi def movies.

Man you guys are killing me! I was about to pull the trigger on the complete high gloss system M80 system, now I am reconsidering.

QS8s are a definite. Despite my brother-in-law, I will consider other options than the Marantz. I am still agonizing though -- why can't I be really rich?

Nitro,

I haven't followed this thread but I can tell you that no one, absolutely no one, should be without M80s. As long as you have the room for them in your space and can form an equilateral triangle between you and them (or close to it), you will be in audio Nirvana.

I concur. M80 all the way (no kidding, just 100% listening).

EP500 and some M60's

Listen to the man, he knows of what he speaks.

Personally I'd probably keep the M60s & VP150 and just get a matching pair of M80s. The M60s would make excellent surrounds, no?

I wouldn't spend a dime on HD DVD or Blu-ray at the moment, there's too much uncertainty as to which will prevail and too many comments from the studio types hinting at unification to a single format in the near future. E.g., the head of Fox studios said yesterday that in his opinion, "... by CES it will be apparent that there will be a single HD format." CES is in about 3 weeks and he should be in a position to know things we consumers don't so I'd think it is a poor time to invest in an HD disc player of either flavor.

In the end, the format wars are decided by the people who DO spend a dime. Executives only really know after the fact, like the rest of us.

But that doesn't change the economics for someone on a budget. If you want a pair of M80s, are considering upgrading your surrounds to QS8s, are considering replacing an aging AVR, and are budget limited why in the world would an investment in a format that may be dead in six months make sense? Better, IMHO, to spend one's limited funds on things certain to bring enjoyment for years to come but of course YMMV.

I wasn't even paying attention to the rest of the thread. Ha ha. But still, I stand by my statement of executives being stupid.

Have I told you about the VP at a former employer who used to routinely lose his temper in client meetings and toss his laptop across various conference rooms? Or the newly-minted MBA who strolled into my office and said (I swear), "We don't have enough money for the entire computer system you requisitioned so you'll have to choose 2 of the following 3 pieces, you can have any two of: 1. the processors, 2. the memory, or 3. the hard drives." And don't even get me started on marketing or HR, it actually gets worse as you move away from management ....

I was debating the same thing for sometime and I ended up just upgrading the same speakers to the HG finish and getting an extra set of QS8's.

I truly love my M60's and love the way they look, I prefer the look of the driver arrangement and extra cabinet from the front. I've heard M80's and think they're great but I have absolutely no desire to change to them.

The HG is so nice and I love seeing them when walking in to my room and from the couch.

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Good luck on your choice...

It was that nicer wood look from the front that made me go for the M60s in the first place as everyone said the M22s, M60s, M80s sound similar, after hearing the M60s directly compared to the M22s, I had to get the M80s. The M60s are just a tad recessed compared to the M22's and M80's in the upper midrange and beyond.

while M0's are no doubt INCREDIBLE, especially in HG, your M60s are very good speakers. Take advantage of these and EXPAND you system to the next gen VID and AUDIO. Of course, this is only my opinion.