Best improvement / bang for buck

[EL Duke-A]

If you have analog outs coming out of the Roku, there’s definitely some sort of digital to analog converter in it to make that happen. If your TV is outputting sound via a toslink optical cable to your receiver, it’s your receiver acting as the dac for the signal for TV and movies. but your receiver’s dac is unfortunately being bypassed by the Roku for the Spotify analog output.

hopefully you can score that inexpensive mic off eBay or convince that local seller to sell you his... that seems unlikely though.

Roku i have is an hdmi stick... it has no audio specific output other than the hdmi itself. All audio data come to roku through internet (wireless), through hdmi to tv, out tv to receiver via optical. Content data is either analog or dolby digital. Some movies are DD 5.1, some not. All Spotify music data is analog through roku.

 

[isotopesope]

Roku i have is an hdmi stick... it has no audio specific output other than the hdmi itself. All audio data come to roku through internet (wireless), through hdmi to tv, out tv to receiver via optical. Content data is either analog or dolby digital. Some movies are DD 5.1, some not. All Spotify music data is analog through roku.

Ahhhhh, okay.

 

[EL Duke-A]

After messing more, few realizations.

1) my older (2014) 4k tv does not have hdmi 2.2 so best picture i can get is 1080p... which still looks pretty good to me.

2) because my roku is plugged into the tv and then sound via optical out of tv to receiver... best sound an optical can carry is dolby digital or dts. Better sound mixes have to pass over hdmi.

3) i am starting to think i just dont like the way the onkyo sounds period. When i tested the bludento, on this system, i did not like it much... but it sounds amazing on my other system which is a tx-8500 (vintage 52lb stereo amp) pushing to klipsch heresy’s on speaker A + polk monitor 10s on speaker B.

next test is to run roku to receiver and hdmi picture to tv. Wondering, even though receiver supports 1080p... will the picture be as good... . This should allow better sound modes though...

another random lesson learned - purchased advanced power strip that has master and slave plug ins... master is turned on, slaves come on. Idea was plug receiver into master and b&k power amp (only has push button power on) would come on too. Apparently, the onkyo draws too much power in stand by for this to work. Power strip sees it as always on. So i switched master to TV and put receiver in regular non-slave power and it all worked as i wanted...

My long approach of buying good older equipment 2nd hand is starting to show negatives on my movie system... i can live with picture at 1080p but back to really wanting better sound.

more to come...

 

[EL Duke-A]

Roku now direct to receiver and hdmi from receiver to tv. Audio quality in all formats significantly improved (stereo signal from Spotify app and movie audio). Just a depth and detail i did not get before

i can see no degradation in video quality... in fact - some things actually look better (i.e. spodify app and roku home screens are way better).

roku premier stick + still limits audio format to dolby digital plus on the high side... and getting that now. Rear speakers are dialed and more present and bass is way more controlled and less boomy. Really notice much more audio detail in general.

wish i had changed this months ago.

 

[isotopesope]

That’s awesome you’re getting some free improvements out of your experimenting!

In terms of 2nd hand gear, if you’re fine with 1080p, I sure wouldn’t kick this Marantz processor out of bed, especially for the cost...
https://www.audioclassics.com/detail?detail=AV7005&nav=cat

AC is very well respected in the McIntosh circles. I only hear good experiences from people who deal with them.

My Marantz processor is just an absolutely incredible piece of equipment. Also, I find my 5 channel Marantz amp has incredible synergy with my Klipsch speakers too.

 

[EL Duke-A]

That’s awesome you’re getting some free improvements out of your experimenting!

In terms of 2nd hand gear, if you’re fine with 1080p, I sure wouldn’t kick this Marantz processor out of bed, especially for the cost...
https://www.audioclassics.com/detail?detail=AV7005&nav=cat

AC is very well respected in the McIntosh circles. I only hear good experiences from people who deal with them.

My Marantz processor is just an absolutely incredible piece of equipment. Also, I find my 5 channel Marantz amp has incredible synergy with my Klipsch speakers too.

dang - $200 for the av7005 seems too good to believe. Ebay has them around $500.

i will say - moving the roku to receiver has completely changed my impression of that unit. I would actually say this was probably the main cause of my initial lackluster feelings about the setup. It now sounds as i would expect given the gear i’m using. I’m happy again ... but... $200 for a processor that retailed for $1,500 and is about same capabilities as my sr706 is definitely worth consideration. Would have to make a few other changes to my system (current wireless rear setup require speaker wire out connection to transmitter vs rca)... but doable... i’ll give it some thought.

Thanks for your replies and help thinking through all this isotopescope.

Maybe someone else out there has my same issue and no idea of this tweak to improve... hope it helps someone else.

 

[isotopesope]

sure thing man! It's fun trying to figure out these sort of problems. free tweaks and fixes are way better than throwing money at the problem.

it's too bad that AV7005 doesn't have wifi or built in bluetooth though... but is a heck of a deal for the price. So many connection options! I know AC's grading is VERY stringent. Meaning, even the C unit is still probably in really good shape.

 

[whoaru99]

After messing more, few realizations.

1) my older (2014) 4k tv does not have hdmi 2.2 so best picture i can get is 1080p... which still looks pretty good to me.

I don't believe you need HDMI 2.2 to get 4K. Technically you could get 4K over HDMI 1.4 but only at low frame rate. HDMI 2.0 should be the start for mainstream 4K support.

Perhaps meant HDCP 2.2?

The mouthful of it would be for 4K Ultra HD and HDR and all that good stuff one must have HDMI 2.0 or higher in conjunction with HDCP 2.2 or higher.

 

[EL Duke-A]

I don't believe you need HDMI 2.2 to get 4K. Technically you could get 4K over HDMI 1.4 but only at low frame rate. HDMI 2.0 should be the start for mainstream 4K support.

Perhaps meant HDCP 2.2?

The mouthful of it would be for 4K Ultra HD and HDR and all that good stuff one must have HDMI 2.0 or higher in conjunction with HDCP 2.2 or higher.

ah - yes... you are correct, I was mixing that up. HDCP 2.2... HDMI 2.0... and all that stuff... it sure is a lot to keep up with.

i think about my vintage systems for listening and how much more simple those systems are... messing with theater stuff again after several year of not keeping up has been a learning curve for sure.

listening to my system now and having a .. its really kicking arse.

i agree with comment above too - its easy to through money at this stuff... but there are so many little tweaks you can make with these modern theater setups that can have a major impact! I also agree its fun to mess around and explore maximizing what you already have.

cheers!

 

[robert_kc]

OP: Have you tried high-quality Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, vs. streaming?

 

[EL Duke-A]

OP: Have you tried high-quality Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, vs. streaming?

i have tried blue rays on PS4 pro... not sure if that qualifies... but with changes outlined in this thread streaming quality is way better... impressive imho.

 

[EL Duke-A]

Dudes... decided to use my onkyo A-7 to power my center channel... so now... onkyo 706 as avr... pre’s out to B&K 1430 to power mains (infinity rs IIIs), and to onlyo A-7 vintage integrated to power center channel... having the A-7 power the center did exactly what i expected.. it has a punch and warmth that only those those vintage amps can deliver. Also, the entire system is dead silent when nothing is playing.

this system has gone from less than stellar to seriouly killer with these minor tweaks:

1) roku to receiver and hdmi to tv... prior was roku to tv and toslink to receiver... largest improvement here.

2) brought up mids in onkyo equalizer for all speakers (1-3 db pending frequency range).

3) using “advanced” power strip so when TV comes on... B&K and A-7 auto power on... basically getting around fact that those devices dont have remotes and would otherwise require manual turn on

4) this last change to use A-7 to push / as power amp for center.

Poor man’s seperates...

i am so happy with the outcome. Its just killer!

 

[isotopesope]

Nice!!

 

[Audiofreak71]

I have a hodge podge system. Onkyo sr706, martin logan 50xti center, vintage infinity rs iii fronts power by b&k st3140, some vintage ar bookshelf rears set up wirelessly, and 2 svs pb 2000 subs.

been fiddling with receiver settings for a while and just can seem to get it where i’m happy... it just feels like its missing something.

i use it for movies/tv (roku through nice samsung) and sound is dolby digital which is nice... but when i’m listening to analog coming in from spotify app on roku, i’m using PL II THX Music and its decent... but not as good as it should be given equipment... at least in my mind.

room is probably 14ft by 30 ft with 7ft ceiling - finished basement area. Carpet floor over concrete slab. Tv/equipment and Listening position are opposite the 14ft dimension. There is a fair amount of soft furniture in room and ceiling has several lower boxed in sections hiding duckwork/water lines etc... so a decent room for acoustics.

i dont mind spending money - but i want it to matter if f i do.

considered getting martin logan 60xti fronts but wondering if that would even be improvement over my infinity rs iii...

so - where would you start?

Acoustic treatments. Get the room properly acoustically treated Bass Traps etc and done probably one of the biggest upgrades you’ll do for your system.

Audiofreak71

 

[EL Duke-A]

Acoustic treatments. Get the room properly acoustically treated Bass Traps etc and done probably one of the biggest upgrades you’ll do for your system.

Audiofreak71

I 100% believe you. I need to study up on this... actually have a box of acoustic tiles a friend gave me for studio use... you know roughly 18”x18” black squars with jagged designs... suppose i start by googling and reading but if you have any specific suggestions, would love to hear.

 

[daveg3588]

Great discussion here, much to learn about tweaking my system.

 

[EL Duke-A]

Great discussion here, much to learn about tweaking my system.

hey Dave - no pride of thread ownership here... feel free to jump in and share your setup and ideas for tweaking... who knows... maybe we can help...

i’m going to bust out that box if acoustic tiles and give it a go maybe starting today... read a bit and will start with corner bass traps and on ceiling... will use cardboard backing and attach tiles to there so i can easily move things around until i discover best placements... then i may make nicer looking (build frames, cover with fabric etc.)... welcome ideas for placement... also contemplating behind main speakers or wall opposite then... ...

 

[EL Duke-A]

Also signed up for free 30 day trial of Tidal HiFi which has better file format over spodify... we’ll see...

 

[whoaru99]

That’s awesome you’re getting some free improvements out of your experimenting!

In terms of 2nd hand gear, if you’re fine with 1080p, I sure wouldn’t kick this Marantz processor out of bed, especially for the cost...
https://www.audioclassics.com/detail?detail=AV7005&nav=cat

AC is very well respected in the McIntosh circles. I only hear good experiences from people who deal with them.

My Marantz processor is just an absolutely incredible piece of equipment. Also, I find my 5 channel Marantz amp has incredible synergy with my Klipsch speakers too.

Yeah, seems like a good buy. I know it's a rather silly position but I'd put mine on a shelf rather than sell for $150-$200. Presently my AV7005 is still in use in a system, but has been superseeded by an AV7705 in an ATMOS setup.

 

[daveg3588]

I have a 5.0 system in my family room, std house family room open to kitchen, second set of speakers in living room with switch box, controlling mains in family room and living room. I can only have one system in the house, so I've maximized the system. Like many here most equipment is vintage, I like 5.0 music, if I can add the TV its a bonus. The system up until 2 weeks ago was B&K reference 20, MC2200 (from Joseph H), Adcom 2535 (running 3 channel), Marantz CD5001, Sony PS-X7. Speakers JBL L200t3 (mains in family room, JBL L166 in Living room, JBL center (new last year to match JBL voice) and JBL 4301 as rear/surround. I was pleased with the way it sounded but the B&K did have a lot of adjustment, it mostly ran in stereo front/rear. TV connected with optical cable, old basic DTS. I been shopping for a new/used AV preamp for the the last year, missed on few, watched Audio Classics for a used MC, any well rated was 800-1000. So I took a leap 3 weeks ago, bought a refurbished Emotiva XMC-1. The jump from the B&K (1998) to the Emotiva is amazing in sound quality and adjustment. Just learning the all of the settings, choices set-up programming, has taken 2 weeks, I haven't done room correction yet. The reference stereo, is in a class by itself, straight line bypass, main speakers only. I'm hearing new sounds, better sounds, greater sound stage. The DTS for TV offers so much more sound. So I am reading what I can on set-up and how to use the preamp with all it's hookups/ connections. Listening to Pandora through just a 3.5 mm plug to RCA input as I type this, surprised how good it sounds. So what do you think I should do besides read/ adjust and learn.