12 Year Old Home Cinema Set-Up. What would you upgrade first?

steve 111

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12 years ago I invested into home cinema and created a dedicated cinema room in my house. I bought some quite nice stuff, and created a 7.1 set up as follows:-

Projector: Panasonic PT-AE4000

AV Receiver: Onkyo SR-605

Front Speaker: Monitor Audio Silver RS6
Centre Speaker: Monitor Audio Gold
Surround Speakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS FX
Back Speakers: Monitor Audio Bronze B1

I've got £3k to upgrade my set-up. Would you upgrade the projector to something like the Epson 9400 or do I keep the projector and upgrade the AV Receiver/Speakers to create a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos set-up?
 
I guess it depends what you feel like you’re missing out on the most…

Do you want a better picture 4K or to improve your sound and upgrade your amplifier and potentially add some Dolby atmos speakers?

With careful buying an potentially going second hand you could certainly do both…

I wouldn’t worry too much about upgrading your current speakers and projector and amplifier technology has evolved a lot more than speaker design!
 
Don't forget if you make the decision for picture to also budget for your 4K source/s ;)
 
Don't forget if you make the decision for picture to also budget for your 4K source/s ;)
I'm not sure i'll be purchasing 4K DVDs, so will probably be Netflix and Apple TV for 4k content.
 
12 years ago I invested into home cinema and created a dedicated cinema room in my house. I bought some quite nice stuff, and created a 7.1 set up as follows:-

Projector: Panasonic PT-AE4000

AV Receiver: Onkyo SR-605

Front Speaker: Monitor Audio Silver RS6
Centre Speaker: Monitor Audio Gold
Surround Speakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS FX
Back Speakers: Monitor Audio Bronze B1

I've got £3k to upgrade my set-up. Would you upgrade the projector to something like the Epson 9400 or do I keep the projector and upgrade the AV Receiver/Speakers to create a 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos set-up?

I would upgrade subwoofer first if you watch lot of action/scifi/horror/war type of flicks - series and feel you could do with more impact. You didn´t list it,but your sig shows you have Mordaunt Short MS309W subwoofer. 10" 150w. Clearly this is quite underwhelming budget sub, but there is folks who doesn`t really care room shooking or chest thumping bass, but then again two quality subwoofers could transform your system big time if you are looking those things i mentioned. 1k - 1,5k£ min.

Av-receivers are priced very high atm. At the end of summer we might get to see some discounted prices if new models will be introduced. Nothing is certain yet though. You do have fairly basic 500£ receiver, but luckily it has support for the latest DD+, hd sound formats. Older hdmi 1.3 version which is ok with the old projector. New receiver what i would see as sweet spot for most folks would cost roughly ~1100£, perhaps less if you buy new speakers/subwoofer together.

The speakers are decent and your ears will be the judge. The older Silver RS range from 2005 is on par with the earlier gen MA Bronze technically with a little different voicing, but RS serie still has nicer real wood veneer finish which isn´t found in the lower ranges. If you looking big audible change then upgrading the front three is usually where one should start. You will get very good idea if you visit few local hifi stores listening what is available and would they be worth the ££. Of course there is also the thing that we get bored to look same speakers for over 10years so change of finish/looks can be meaningfull thing too.

Can you check behind the center channel which MA Gold it is? Or take picture.
 
I would upgrade subwoofer first if you watch lot of action/scifi/horror/war type of flicks - series and feel you could do with more impact. You didn´t list it,but your sig shows you have Mordaunt Short MS309W subwoofer. 10" 150w. Clearly this is quite underwhelming budget sub, but there is folks who doesn`t really care room shooking or chest thumping bass, but then again two quality subwoofers could transform your system big time if you are looking those things i mentioned. 1k - 1,5k£ min.

Av-receivers are priced very high atm. At the end of summer we might get to see some discounted prices if new models will be introduced. Nothing is certain yet though. You do have fairly basic 500£ receiver, but luckily it has support for the latest DD+, hd sound formats. Older hdmi 1.3 version which is ok with the old projector. New receiver what i would see as sweet spot for most folks would cost roughly ~1100£, perhaps less if you buy new speakers/subwoofer together.

The speakers are decent and your ears will be the judge. The older Silver RS range from 2005 is on par with the earlier gen MA Bronze technically with a little different voicing, but RS serie still has nicer real wood veneer finish which isn´t found in the lower ranges. If you looking big audible change then upgrading the front three is usually where one should start. You will get very good idea if you visit few local hifi stores listening what is available and would they be worth the ££. Of course there is also the thing that we get bored to look same speakers for over 10years so change of finish/looks can be meaningfull thing too.

Can you check behind the center channel which MA Gold it is? Or take picture.
Apologies for the poor quality of pic.
 

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You've really got two areas that need addressing and that is both the projector and av receiver and I've put the resale value from those into the av receiver as £3 isn't going to get you both

The 9400 will feel familiar as Epson produced the LCD technology within your Panasonic PT-AE4000 although you Panasonic will still better one area of the 9400 and it's just because Panasonic were great at sorting movement compared to almost all other manufacturers (so don't feel it's just Epson when pitching this area against Panasonic). For everything else, the Espon should walk all over the 4000 as it will look almost dull and grey in comparison plus its colours should look a little more natural as Panasonic's of this generation did sometime try to cartoon the image if you didn't select the correct picture mode

As for the av receiver. The Onkyo TX-SR605 was quite a powerful budget box and was more inline with the Denon AVC-X3700H today plus those Monitor Audio Silvers do deserve a little better as they can deliver more than you have experienced with the SR605 to date, so that should give you a real idea of where your budget is heading replacing the two main items
 
You've really got two areas that need addressing and that is both the projector and av receiver and I've put the resale value from those into the av receiver as £3 isn't going to get you both

The 9400 will feel familiar as Epson produced the LCD technology within your Panasonic PT-AE4000 although you Panasonic will still better one area of the 9400 and it's just because Panasonic were great at sorting movement compared to almost all other manufacturers (so don't feel it's just Epson when pitching this area against Panasonic). For everything else, the Espon should walk all over the 4000 as it will look almost dull and grey in comparison plus its colours should look a little more natural as Panasonic's of this generation did sometime try to cartoon the image if you didn't select the correct picture mode

As for the av receiver. The Onkyo TX-SR605 was quite a powerful budget box and was more inline with the Denon AVC-X3700H today plus those Monitor Audio Silvers do deserve a little better as they can deliver more than you have experienced with the SR605 to date, so that should give you a real idea of where your budget is heading replacing the two main items
I think this is where i'm heading. Had some advice yesterday from my local AV specialist who felt I might also get more out of a 5.1.2 set-up rather than 7.1. Obviously that does add in another £300 minimum of cost for the ceiling speakers, plus i'm also going to need to budget £150-£200 for new HDMI cables that can handle 4K.
 
I'm not sure i'll be purchasing 4K DVDs, so will probably be Netflix and Apple TV for 4k content.

I think you mean Blu-rays :)

Whatever you use, it will need to be compatible, that's all I'm saying. All I can see in your signature for a Netflix source for example is a Sky Q Mini which only supports up to 1080p.
 
I think you mean Blu-rays :)

Whatever you use, it will need to be compatible, that's all I'm saying. All I can see in your signature for a Netflix source for example is a Sky Q Mini which only supports up to 1080p.
What i'm saying, is i'll probably not be investing into a 4K player and 4K discs, i'll just keep my existing Blu-Ray player. I may switch my Sky Q boxes around though so the main box is in the cinema room.
 
I think this is where i'm heading. Had some advice yesterday from my local AV specialist who felt I might also get more out of a 5.1.2 set-up rather than 7.1. Obviously that does add in another £300 minimum of cost for the ceiling speakers, plus i'm also going to need to budget £150-£200 for new HDMI cables that can handle 4K.
In-ceiling speaker don't have to match the main speakers for surrounds, so a minimum of £300 isn't correct

I'd says Monitor Audio's basic 8" Pro-80 or our own Fisual IC80 should be suffice for Atmos duties which come in far less than £300. Reason is you don't need to tonal match like the other speakers giving you much more scope to pick and choice to choose the right speakers

The cable on the other hand, if budget it tight, then see what HDMI cable people are happy using with the projector you choose to use and this'll give you a real world choice. I will say that QED's Performance Active HDMI Cable should be fine. I know I use it predecessor with my HD projector and its a 15m run without issues
 
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£150-£200 for new HDMI cables
No you don't, especially if the runs are around two metres. Nothing wrong with the 4K spec cables you can find on Amazon.

I do agree though that 5.1.2 is more immersive than 7.1 and you don't have to put speakers in the ceiling, although this the best option. If you buy anyone of the upfiring modules then they can be placed on top of the front left and right speaker, or, because they also have keyhole fittings, mounted high on the front wall above those front left and right speakers.
 
This optical HDMI cable was recommended to me over on the projector forum.

Amazon product ASIN B0759CXK4H
Been running the 12m version for about 6 months and it‘s been flawless running 4K HDR @ 60Hz on my Epson 9400. Promo vouchers come up on these all the time and I picked mine on a Black Friday deal for about £46.
 
No you don't, especially if the runs are around two metres. Nothing wrong with the 4K spec cables you can find on Amazon.
My run from the receiver to projector is c.10 metres
 
I forgot to say that I agree with @Gasp3621 and would definitely upgrade the subwoofer first as IMO it’s the only thing that will give you a true night and day improvement to the performance of your current system. The difference it would make is not subtle at all.
 
This optical HDMI cable was recommended to me over on the projector forum.

Amazon product ASIN B0759CXK4H
Been running the 12m version for about 6 months and it‘s been flawless running 4K HDR @ 60Hz on my Epson 9400. Promo vouchers come up on these all the time and I picked mine on a Black Friday deal for about £46.

I have the same cable, also bought it on a deal - a Prime Day during June '21, and it has worked flawlessly.
 

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