How does my set-up sound?


Hello everyone-

I've been looking on this site a lot just trying to make sure I get somewhat good equipment. I've sorta pieced my system together with good deals and stuff that I've had for awhile. Please let me know if the equipment I have will work well together or if there some of it that I should just replace. I'm not rich but more in the lower middle and I'm going for more home theater and music that I would usually be walking around the house listening to or for parties. Also this is in a not so large living room and will have to be placed above the fireplace and to the sides of it.

Equipment:
Pioneer Elite Pro-920
Pioneer Elite C-91
Pioneer Elite M-72
Pioneer Elite F-91
Pioneer Elite SP-91D
(1) B&W CWM 650 (that I planned on using for the center channel)
Monster HTFS1000
Panamax PMXMAX5100

Future Planned Equipment:
Pioneer Elite SP-99D(for surround sound)
Pioneer Elite DV-59avi (if I get a good deal)
(4) more B&W CWM 650
and honestly I haven't thought of the Subwoofer I want yet.

I am open to your suggestions because I really only know the little I read on here and other sites.

Thanks

Wes
surewest
Wes,

The components listed are all pretty good pieces of gear for their time and class. However, that SP-91D processor is way behind the times in terms of surround decoding capabilities. By that I mean it will only decode the analog Dolby Pro Logic format. It will not decode any of the newer digital formats such as Dolby Digital(5.1)/Dolby EX(6.1)/DTS(5.1)/DTS ES (6.1), or Dolby ProLogic IIx(7.1). These newer formats, even while most having been around for years, are light years ahead of the old Pro Logic system in terms of sound quality.

If you are really wanting to get into a home theater setup you would be doing yourself a great injustice to stick with that processor.

My .02 would be to ditch the C-91 preamp and the SP-91D processor and move up to a newer preamp/processor that has the newer surround decoding features. Now, that C-91 preamp is a pretty decent item so if you wanted to set up a second stereo-only system, you could hang on to it and make some use of it. The processor though, sorry to say, is probably a disposable item - not much value unless it's sentimental. You could try to sell it, but I doubt it'd pull much more than $50, if that, could be wrong.

The power amp is a 2ch/4ch design so it could be used in conjunction with the C-91 for that 2nd system 2-ch only, or could be used for the surround channels in a newer setup. If you opt to use it for a 2nd 2-ch only setup, then you would need a new/used amp with 5, 6, or 7 channels to use with the new/used processor. If you keep the power amp to use with the home theater, then you'd need a 3-ch amp for the 2 front speakers and the center channel.

If all that sounds overwhelming, you may just want to consider selling (or setting up that 2nd 2-ch system) most of the Pio stuff and getting a newer surround sound receiver. Based on your description of intended useage, that may be the best way to go anyhow. There are some very capable surround receivers these days that don't cost a fortune unless you want one with the audiophile name and performance.

Regards
Wes,

Sorry, missed the possible addition of the SP-99D. That would add Dolby Digital (5.1), but that's all. It's still quite an improvment over Dolby ProLogic, but I think you could do better even with a newer surround receiver, let alone a newer processor/amp setup.

With M-72 amp, you are still one channel short from having a discrete 5 channel system. You could probably phantom the center, but that's not really a good way to go IMO.
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I would have to say that I've been alittle busy shopping since I've posted this. I took your suggestion Whoaru99 and bought a newer reciever. And Krelldog I was looking at those subs, but ended up getting a great deal on a new B&W sub.

Heres how my setup is now:
Pioneer Elite Pro-920 (Plasma)
Pioneer Elite VSX-56txi (Reciever)
Pioneer Elite DV-59avi (DVD Player)
(3) B&W CWM650 (front/center speakers)
B&W ASW300 (Subwoofer)
Monster HTFS1000 (Plasma Surge Protector)
Panamax PMXMAX5100 (Stereo Surge Protector)
Sanus VMPLSb (tilting wall mount)
Monster MV quad (Speaker Wire)

Still Need:
Stereo Rack
(2) B&W CWM650

Now that I have all this gear I have a question about the wiring. I bought that monster speaker wire because of the super, crazy cheap price I bought it for. However its quad 16awg cable, So should I combine 2 wires for each speaker or just use 2 of the wires and leave the other 2 disconnected?

Thanks again guys.

-Wes
I think that Monster quad wire is for biwiring incase your speakers have four binding posts. If not, combine 2 wires for each binding post.
Combining the wires may be overkill depending on the distance, but better to make use of them than just leaving unused.

Another possibility would be to run the speaker pairs through the quad cable and cut back the jacket enough so that each pair reaches the appropriate speaker. This would cut down on the number of cables laying around, but I don't know if it would have any negative effect on sound quality to do it this way.