In the past few month's I've been debating of up grading my home theater system. I'am currently using a Sony STR-DB930 receiver and a Sony dvd and cd player. I read the wonderful reviews of the products that this company has to offer. The pawn shop has offered me 650.00 for all my equipment. I've been looking for a 6.1 or 7.1 reciver, Any suggestions?

Hey Wayne...

Depends on how far off the cliff you are willing to jump! My personal suggestion is to go all the way with a 950/770 combo (mine is on it's way from California to Canada right now...should have splurged for the next day shipping!) For a pre/pro with 7.1 sound and Dolby Pro Logic II, the price on the 950 is tough to beat. Also, the 770 is pretty future proof...200w/ch for 7 channels is going to last quite a while.

My $0.02

Just got my 950/770 combo w/ Outlaw PCA cables and a SVS 20-39PC+ and LOVE IT!!! note: the 770 gets pretty hot, I wouldn't stack the 950 or anything else directly on top of it. And if you do a side by side, I don't think the .5m cable will make the stretch. Hope this helps.
DmC

Another thought would be to wait for the 7100 to arrive and get a 950/7100 combo -- about $1000 cheaper than a 950/770 and still 100W per channel into seven channels.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Sorry to post here, but

DMC,
I,too, just got my 950/770 combo and PCA/PDO cables and am awaiting the delivery of my 20-39PC Plus. What are your other speakers, and how does the 20-39 do?? Room size?? I debated on getting (2) 20-39's but figured I'd start with one. But the sale is almost over!!!

EFSIII,
Right now, my mains are KEF 104.2 and KEF Center. I think Rears are PSB? My listening area is 21x21x9 that is open (no wall) on the rear and add about another 20ft. I swapped out my Velodyne F1200 for the 20-39PC+ and it was about double the intensity of the slam,bang,pop,etc., My couch, which is about 12 ft. from 20-39 started to shake and my pants leg moved! NO EXAGGERATION. But while calib. it with AVIA- doing Low Freq. Sweep, it just stopped working. However, their Great customer service is taking care of that. So, while it worked, It was unbelievable with the 950. I don't think I, or my room, could take (2) of them!! P.S. This was with the 950 sub channelout at -3db and the 20-39 set at only 3/4 volume. Hope this helps
DmC

Wayne, depending oh how (dis)satisfied you are with your present system AND how far your finances will stretch, I would recomment the pre-processor/power-amp route instead of the receiver route. If you can not afford to purchase both the pre-processor and the power-amp both at the same time, purchase whichever you want or need (replace the weakest link?) or can afford first.

I am using a Sony STR-DB940 as a pre-processor in my system. I am also using the rear rurround channels' power amps for the rear speakers. I am also using a Sony NS700p DVD player and a Sony 705ES CD player (both of which may be replaced by the upcoming Sony 999ES DVD/SACD player). The 705ES feeds directly into a Sony TAP9000ES 5ch preamp, the output of which feeds to a couple of monoblock power amps I built many, many years ago. These power amps drive a pair of modified Acoustat 2+2s.

The DB940's front channels feed into a Nakamichi 610 preamp, which also has an input from my turntable. The output of the Nak also feeds into the TAP9000ES. A somewhat complicated setup that is designed for maximum quality of the front L and R channels.

For my use and priorities, the DB940 and how it is setup is giving me more than acceptable service. I have forgone the purchase of the 950 because it would have to replace the 940DB and the Nak. and so I would have very high audiophile expectations for it. I am more interested in a higher-end Outlaw product than the 950. I would still have to puchase a phono stage preamp as well to play my vinyl. This is getting expensive.

Although I spend more time watching TV/DVDs, I have much greater expectations (higher standards) when I seriously listen to music, thus my equipment purchases are more governed by sound quality rather than the latest AV developments.

So, back to you, Wayne: I would like to know more about your present system; what kind of DVD and CD players, what speakers you are using and how power hungry they are and how satisfied you are with them. Where are your priorities, music (2 or multichannel) or home theater? Is whatever you watch DVDs on of high enough quality to make use of a better DVD player?

If you don't want to purchase a pre-processor and power amps right away, you can purchase one or the other now and use the Sony 930DB as the other on a temporary basis. If you used the 930DB as the power amps, you would have only 5 channels for now, unless you had something else to use as two additional power amp channels.

Let us know more about your present system and your priorities and goals.

Paul

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the 1derful1