It's about both. Your source is just as important as your speakers. A particular piece of equipments ability to reproduce a source signal is dependant upon the quality of that component. You could have a top of the line DVD player and a top of the line receiver/processor if your speakers are junk you will lose the quality of the source signal reproduction. Wattage/power is important because you are requiring less signal distortion to produce equal volume levels. Does that make sense?
Single handedly the most important, most overlooked piece in your system is your cables. Video, audio are the most important. Budget 10% of your total cost for cables. It may seem pricey, but it pays off. Monster is ok, again much of the cost for the monster cable is going to thier huge marketing ploy. Check these guys out for great service and super quality cables.
http://www.cobaltcable.com/

 

 

I used to have a set of S38s, man I loved those speakers. That was back when I worked at Best Buy, employee discounts rock! I wish JBL still made 'em, they're discontinued.

 

Question for you regarding cable quality. With fiber cables or any "digital" cable. If it gets the zeros and ones to the other component correctly, what would the different be between a lower quality and higher quality cable ASSUMING they both made the zeroes and ones move?

I can understand salespeople when they argue cable quality with component or RCA cables but with a DVI or Fiber cable, wouldn't a cable be a cable since it is processing numbers not signals?

 

Cable does no have to ability to transfer numbers. It transfers the signal or pulse along a run. It is the components job to decipher this signal decode it to 1's and 0's for processing. The advantages of quality cables for digital applications and toslink is construction, connectivity, shielding, and efficiency.
Construction: You want to buy a quality cable once. It should have heavy solder, sturdy connectors and be heavily jacked for durability. In addition heavier gauge wire is preferred to provide for less resistance in longer runs.
Connectivity: The connectors should fit very tight and allow for the most contact area available. Gold/silver plating is great, it cuts down on corrosion which inhibits signal transfer.
Shielding: When current travels along a path it emits noise. This noise can actually transfer from one cable to another particularly between higher voltage power wires and lower voltage signal wire. Every attempt should be made to keep them separated. In most cases a cross somewhere is inevitable. Proper shielding prevents current noise transfer.
Efficiency: Most OEM cables simply do not use a heavy enough gauge wire to properly and efficiently transfer signals.
As for TOSLINK: It's all about construction and durability. A proper source connection is very important. The input needs to be as parallel as possible to the signal generator. Think of it as a straw in a glass of water. The straw will actually look bent when we know it's straight. Tight fitting metal connectors that do not wear is preferred. Lastly, he fiber needs to be pro protected by a very heavy jacket. Every fiber that breaks is one more portion of a signal lost.
Hope that answers some questions. That'll be five bucks.

 

I have some Definitive technology BP2000TLs for the front with a Infinity kappa Center and Infinity kappa rears all powered by a Sony ES-50 The Defintives and unbelievable with the 15" powered subs in the bottom

Super

 

When i lived in vallejo I had a cool setup in my room, but now there just isn't any room for it up here, but it works.

yamaha reciever
yamaha equalizer
Sony 5 cd changer
yamaha 8" desktop speakers

I like Yamaha stuff.... I have my Yamaha Bass in the corner also

anyways not bad for a little room.

 

I missed this earlier. I use the same. I have the 555ES mega changer too.

 

Low down from my point of view...
the main reason for good quality cables for a digital siginal is to maintain the timing of the sorce. The last thing you want it for a slip to cause a loss of sync for the pic and sound. Makes movies look dubed.

And for analog connections you want a good cabel so you arn't subjected to out side noice like cross talk, it's usely caused by having the cables buntched together with zip ties.

I used cat-5 for my speaker wire cause it's twisted, cansels out any possable noise. Spit the colors and the whites then twist them together. when i plug them in: colors =red, whites = black, turns four solid wires into about 18 gauge cable.


TIP OF THE DAY: for a 9db gain worth of bass place your sub 3-6 inches from a rooms corner. you get a 3db gain per serface. two walls and a floor make 9. enjoy..//NYR

 

Why would you spend all that money on the BP2000TL and compliment (or lack there of) with the Kappa's. Fishy

 

This receiver is old but aint it the shyt!!!! For anyone looking for an awesome 5.1 that you could pick up for dirt cheap right now. Hunt for one of these. I thought about getting another receiver but I love this one to much to let it go.

 

I noticed that too. Such high quality with decent stuff?

 

9?! Are you sure? Do you have a source? That's pretty loud.



I corrected your spelling and grammar.

 

Does anyone have suggestions for some in-ceiling surround speakers?

Room is about 20' wide and 27' long. Half of the length is for the 'living room' ther other half is kitchen in and dining.

I'm looking to prepare for a 7.1 setup so I'm gonna put in four speakers (2 rears and 2 side rears) They'll be wired in a 5.1 setup for now.

I'm not spending more than $500 per pair. 3-4 hundred is more confortable.

Go.

 

www.speakercraft.com