Ok, so the Roku/Fire TV/Chromecast thread started to get me thinking about home audio solutions (receivers, speakers, etc.). I'm not an audiophile, but have recently been upgrading my surround sound system and would love to hear what others are currently using...get some shared tips/advice on best practices for speakers, setttings, etc.
Currently, I'm running (room is about 20' by 20')...
Receiver: Sony DN 1060 7.2 Channel (no Dolby Atmos decoding unfortunately)
Center Channel: Sony Core SSCS8
Front L/R: Sony Core SSCS5 Bookshelf Speakers
Surround L/R: Yamaha NC-C125
Surround Rear: Sony SS-SRP900
Subwoofer 1: Paradigm PDR-80 (front-firing)
Subwoofer 2: Klipsch SW-350 (down-firing)
Yes, the surrounds used to be my L/R front speakers and my rear speakers my surround L/R. I'd like to upgrade both most likely. The Sony Core line, to me at least, is very strong; clear, solid mids and highs- faithfully reproducing HD sound without distortion. I consider the center and front channels to be the strength of my setup along with the subs. However, it's becoming more and more obvious that, as they continue to break in, the front sound wall of my system is separating from the surrounds and rears from a quality perspective. I'm a budget guy and with a smaller room I'm more concerned about bang for the buck and clarity than I am filling a big sound stage.
Now, I have my eye on a cheap (like $40 a pair) of Bowers and Wilkins LM-1 speakers to replace my rear set. They weren't cheap at all when new, but they're not near new any more and I have a concern that I'm tossing $40 at speakers well past their prime. Additionally, I'm kicking myself for not grabbing a couple of the Sony Core SSCS3 floorstanding speakers when they were half price @$119 per during the pre-Thankgiving day sales. But should I really be pining for floorstanding speakers or should I continue to use the bookshelf pair in front and upgrade my surround L/R channels with something else? Does anyone have advice on underrated/under-priced speakers that might match what I'm looking for?
Any feedback would be appreciated and anyone can feel free to share their setup (I'm sure some have drool-worthy stuff)!