Help me choose my next HT setup

[HipHopPotatoMouse]

Hi all,

I plan to upgrade system to HDMI 2.1, and looking for your help with my choices.

I have a PC connected to LG E7, and Marantz SR7012. I watch movies using the PC, shows from the TV apps and PC, game, and listen to music. I have KEF R11s (biamped), Q6 Meta center, B&W surrounds, and an old SVS PC sub whose amp died and I drive with a Crown XLS1502. I'm satisfied with my sound. I want to upgrade my TV for higher brightness, higher color bitrate and higher refresh rate/VRR for gaming. My AVR has gotten old, and it doesn't do networking anymore, but it's not a big deal

I will upgrade my TV to LG C5 or G5 to meet my visual goals. I am trying to decide what to do on the AVR side. I believe my options are:

1. Keep SR7012. Use TV as the HDMI hub. ARC from the TV for TV apps and Xbox. For PC input, get sound out via DP to HDMI converter direct into the AVR for 5.1 LPCM. This will be a partial downgrade of my sound, and added complexity (e.g. when changing input).
2. Upgrade AVR to Denon x3800h or Onkyo RZ50, which can be found around $1k. I'm worried whether this will be an upgrade. SR7012 seems to have a better DAC than these options (768 kHz/32 Bit) and is paper-specced to deliver lower THD at a higher power. These receivers are also already 3-4 years old and may not be the smartest upgrade.
3. Replace AVR with separates: a miniDSP Flex HT and a Buckeye amp. LG C/G5 will eARC 5.1LPCM, decoding the TV apps itself, and passing thru the PC LPCM. People who've done similar changes in this forum reported audible improvements. Class D will be a lot more efficient and will run for decades, so future upgrade decisions will be simpler. I also own a Class D Audio SDS-470C I can add in here.

What are your thoughts? I am excited about the improvements #3 can offer, but I'm also afraid of leaving my well treaded AVR path. Wrt. AVRs, I don't see an option that gets me excited, that doesn't cost >$2k, and under that, they're barely upgrades, so it's a RoI. I may linger in #1 until I see a good deal for 2 or 3.

Cheers

 

[napfkuchen]

Welcome!

Can't see into a crystal ball, but so far I haven't seen any discussions or even announcements about a successor to the Denon xX800 series. Perhaps I'm biased because I own the x3800h myself, but I tend to be one of those who don't see any practical importance to the slightly inferior SINAD. I previously had the x4700h and switched to the x3800h because of its Dirac support and did not regret it. The update to the DiracART option was just recently released. It's actually the perfect time to buy both the receiver and the Dirac software with a Black Friday discount.
With option 3, you're limited to standard DiracLive, and together with a power amplifier, that doesn't seem attractively priced.

 

[DVDdoug]

Replace AVR with separates: a miniDSP Flex HT and a Buckeye amp. LG C/G5 will eARC 5.1LPCM,

Can the miniDSP decode the other surround formats, or only LPCM? That could be a limitation.

but I'm also afraid of leaving my well treaded AVR path.

You generally get a lot for your money with an AVR. And it's the most convenient way to set-up a home theater.

 

[HipHopPotatoMouse]

Thank you @napfkuchen ! Long time lurker but a recent poster

I was hoping to snatch the $900 refurb deal I saw for RZ50 but it's already gone.. Hopeful for better deals to come at BFCM!

@DVDdoug AFAIK, miniDSP doesn't do any decoding -- its biggest limitation. The input devices can send lossless: I already do that w/ my PC, Xbox has a setting for it, and I read that the TVs can do it too, especially LGs can send multi channel LPCM.

My hope w/ #3 was that I'd ~never need to change it: Since it doesn't do any decoding, it's won't be outdated every ~5 years like AVRs years do, and when it does, I'd just change miniDSP rather than the whole system. But then, y'all are right that it costs ~2 generations of AVRs...

Since I got my Class D amp, I have been wanting an AVR to come with one, so that it's smaller, less power hungry/cooler and still sound amazing. #3 was also my in for bringing Class D back into my entertainment

 

[Pr0phet0ffD00m]

Hi all,

I plan to upgrade system to HDMI 2.1, and looking for your help with my choices.

I have a PC connected to LG E7, and Marantz SR7012. I watch movies using the PC, shows from the TV apps and PC, game, and listen to music. I have KEF R11s (biamped), Q6 Meta center, B&W surrounds, and an old SVS PC sub whose amp died and I drive with a Crown XLS1502. I'm satisfied with my sound. I want to upgrade my TV for higher brightness, higher color bitrate and higher refresh rate/VRR for gaming. My AVR has gotten old, and it doesn't do networking anymore, but it's not a big deal

I will upgrade my TV to LG C5 or G5 to meet my visual goals. I am trying to decide what to do on the AVR side. I believe my options are:

1. Keep SR7012. Use TV as the HDMI hub. ARC from the TV for TV apps and Xbox. For PC input, get sound out via DP to HDMI converter direct into the AVR for 5.1 LPCM. This will be a partial downgrade of my sound, and added complexity (e.g. when changing input).
2. Upgrade AVR to Denon x3800h or Onkyo RZ50, which can be found around $1k. I'm worried whether this will be an upgrade. SR7012 seems to have a better DAC than these options (768 kHz/32 Bit) and is paper-specced to deliver lower THD at a higher power. These receivers are also already 3-4 years old and may not be the smartest upgrade.
3. Replace AVR with separates: a miniDSP Flex HT and a Buckeye amp. LG C/G5 will eARC 5.1LPCM, decoding the TV apps itself, and passing thru the PC LPCM. People who've done similar changes in this forum reported audible improvements. Class D will be a lot more efficient and will run for decades, so future upgrade decisions will be simpler. I also own a Class D Audio SDS-470C I can add in here.

What are your thoughts? I am excited about the improvements #3 can offer, but I'm also afraid of leaving my well treaded AVR path. Wrt. AVRs, I don't see an option that gets me excited, that doesn't cost >$2k, and under that, they're barely upgrades, so it's a RoI. I may linger in #1 until I see a good deal for 2 or 3.

Cheers

Option 1. You're not upgrading your receiver for under 2k, but you can add a second sub to help your crippled SVS and upgrade your TV since it should be the centerpiece of your system in 2025. I've had nothing but trouble with LG TVs and they even removed features with OTA firmware updates. I'd avoid that brand. I use HDMI for PC to TV and as long as the TV has passthrough (incl Atmos, etc.) your receiver is probably fine. I noticed all manufacturers cripple the new products by not supporting Pro Logic decoding (which is the most compatible for old analog movies and DVD era recordings). Since I retired my Dolby Digital AVR, I've discovered a new love for pure analog AVR with original Pro Logic processing. Sure the 5.1 doesn't provide as distinct FX separation in some cases for new films, but the dialog is clearer w/o Audyssey and music sounds more natural without the filtering.

 

[scorlee]

I think you can upload some picture to show your methods

 

[scorlee]

has anything you want ?

 

[staticV3]

Keep SR7012. Use TV as the HDMI hub. ARC from the TV for TV apps and Xbox. For PC input, get sound out via DP to HDMI converter direct into the AVR for 5.1 LPCM. This will be a partial downgrade of my sound, and added complexity (e.g. when changing input).

Why not PC->HDMI->LG->ARC->Marantz?

 

[HipHopPotatoMouse]

I have some updates:

• @Pr0phet0ffD00m, I upgraded the TV to LG C5 with a good deal at the partner store. A lot brighter, and more vibrant colors. Great upgrade.
• I discovered SR7012 got eARC support via firmware update, and its ethernet was working (loose cable at the switch!). I'll keep it until HDMI 2.2 AVRs come and HDMI 2.1s depreciate (next year, maybe?)
• @staticV3, given eARC's support of lossless 5.1 (LPCM), I did Inputs>TV>eARC>AVR. The alternative was a workaround for ARC's low bandwidth/lossy 5.1
• I am chasing upgrading surrounds (B&W LM1), considering Q4 Meta ($740), Q50a ($530), R8 ($800) or R8 Meta ($900). Any inputs between the choices? Mounted at the top of the wall near the ceiling, the angle of the atmos speakers work perfectly, but Q4's ported design may give fuller sound.
• Also, a small chance I can snatch R6 Meta at $750. Reselling my Q6 can make this a $250 upgrade (or one can dream)