Upgrading home cinema system

[admin_exported]

Hi all.

I have a pretty fine budget set-up consisiting of Samsung 37" 1080i lcd, ps3, onkyo 576 and q acoustics 1010i (all of which are or were 5 star products). Although I'm happy with each component (I'd recommend them all), I'm looking to improve my system. But what should I prioritise for my next upgrade?

Should I get a larger, full hd tv (Samsung 6 series/ Sony W4000 series)?
Or should I get a higher spec amp such as one of the new Denon or Yamahas?
Or should I invest in a stand alone Bluray player (Panasonic BD35)?
Or how about extra speakers (for 7.1 sound)?

If it were your money, what would you do next?

Cheers in advance.

 

[lobby]

Well if you can fit a larger screen into your room, then thats what i would consider changing first, movies will look great in full hd on 40" screen or bigger. This will be your biggest improvement, i can't see any real need to replace your amp and speakers if they sound fine to you.May be a standalone blu-ray player, but to get a vast improvement, then what youve got you really need to go for a top end player, and then your tv won't really show it's full capabilities. So if i was you i would save and wait until March and see what new comes out from Panasonic. Ideally biggest screen you can fit, mid to high end blu-ray player, then consider speakers and amp.

 

[Big Aura]

if you have a perfectly good screen, then I'd upgrade the amp. I expect the next 18 months will throw up a glut of even better screens than what's out there at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for both of your replies. If I was to upgrade the TV, I would go for a 40-46" screen- I like the Samsungs and Sonys, mainly because I trust both makes and think they offer the nicest designs. I really want to upgrade to full fat HD, so maybe that is the way to go before anything else. Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Big Aura. Incidentally, your amp- the denon 1909- is one of those I've been considering. How are you finding it? The Yamahas seem to be the golden boys of the amp world, but I must say I have a penchant for the Denon's classy finish and design!

 

[True Blue]

If it was I would spend money on the following. In this order

1. Tacima (or equivalent) mains filter.

2. Denon AVR 1909

3. TV in a few months once new models out

4. Then a new gen Blu ray

Reference the Denon it is a cracking reciever. Can upscale, handles HD audio is well made and sounds amazing on Movies, the Yamahas are meant to be more musical but I have not heard one so cant comment.

 

[Big Aura]

I think my amp is great for movies and for upscaling, but does lack a bit of musicality. That said, I've worked with the setting a lot and it's getting better. I'm using an iPod at either lossless or 256kbps as my main music source and have some good, but not great interconnects - so that needs sorting soonish.

EDIT: Just bought some new analogue interconnects. I love the internet.