Best way to improve my Theater with $1500.00


I just won an award from my work. They gave me $1500.00 worth of Amazon gift cards. I want to use it on my home theater, and was hoping to get a little advise.

Right now I am in a condo, so my HT is basic. In about 6 months I will buy a house and build a dedicated home theater. I usually buy used gear, to save a small fortune. I have not spent any money recently on anything new. I did try a Pioneer Elite Receiver with the digital amps and HDMI and all that. It didn't sound as good as my B&K gear at all so I returned it.

My theater consists of a b&k Ref 50s2. B&K AV-5000S2 amp. Sony BDP-s550 blue ray running LPCP analong out to the Ref 50. All monster m1000 series interconnects. I also have a PS3 and a Direct tv box. Right now I have a 60" Panasonic Plasma, A thiel Smart Sub, DCM TFV-6.0 as mains and CX-17 as center, plus rears. When I get the full theater going again I will use my DCM TFV -10.0's as mains (I have 2 pair) and maybe rears/ center. I will also want to go with a front projector for video. I listen to both music and movies, and would like to look into streaming lossless from my PC.

So, Knowing my plan, what gear should I buy?

1. I have been debating on upgrading to an all Thiel system. I can pick up used speakers on Audiogon, craigslist o ebay pretty cheap. I may invest the 1500 twards new ones though.

2. Oppo bdp-105 or the step down. I know they do lossless streaming and have good DAC's. However, will I see that much increase over the DAC in my B&k? (since I coudl keep it instead of getting a new processor)

3. Get a new processor. One of the newer Marantz/ onkyo ? emotiva/ outlaw. Would I need a new or better blue ray at this point? Or just use my PS3 or PS4 when it comes out. Will I notice better sound/ vid quality with lossless formats by ising an oppo over the ps3 with a newer processor? Should I get an AVR and use it as a Processor?

4. Wait and buy a projector? I would probably like this potion least. Just because I can probably grab a deal on craigslist on a used one very cheap. I am less concerned about video quality and don't want 3D. I want a good picture but my thing is mainly sound.

5. When I build my theater I will build it to my ideal. I have spent 16 years building houses, so the construction is not a problem.

So Any thoughts or ideas on how to spend my money??
dcmlover
Do nothing until after you move. Once you are in your new home, access your needs then. If you are like most people when you move into new digs, there will be many, many more needs for the $1,500.
I'm about 100% certain that all of your guests will mostly be WOWED by a huge HD front projection screen image, over any upgrade you could make to your audio system!
There's simply no replacement for the immersive impact that a large screen experience offers!
If it's me, I'd ditch the 60", and you can get STUNNING huge screen, ulta high quality imagery, going JVC projector, from any of the following - HD350/RS10/RS250/RS15/RS20/RS25/HD750/HD550/HD950/X3/X30/RS40/RS45/RS35.
ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE CAPABLE OF DARN NEAR WORLD CLASS 1080P IMMAGES OFF A STANDARD WHITE - even cheapo - projection screen! (dark room, necessitated, in any case though - uness you got light rejection screen for bigger budget).
I dare you to get more "WOW" out of your system than upgrading to quality front projection!
That's just my thoughts .. but then I have been in and out of high end audio/video for 18 years. Now, sound isn't a huge priority, as is video. But that's me.
If sound is going to be most important for you right now, you're going to find you get most upgrade from speakers!
Better, more effective home theater speakers are going to have the most dramatic improvement in sound for you, yes.
You'll spend more on higher end music capable speakers, that also do super dynamic, coherent, transparent, effective HT speakers, but they're out there.
Look through your Stereophile and Ultimate Home Theater, even HT magazine recommended components and reviews for high end speakers that double for HT duties, effectively, and that should help.
Sure,..stay with your B&K (I'd upgrade if no current HD codecs or HDMI switching though), and focus on loudspeakers for audio, yes. If you must do full range loudspeakers for 2 channel, etc, then look into ultra high efficiency, Dappolito, multi-woofer/tweeter designs for strongly reinforced sound propegation, and solid soundstage, speed of and impact of mid/hi freq sound, with good focus (especailly vertically) and coherence. Powered woofers help GEATLY for dynamics, and horns always have lots of pressence, and focus, and strong dynamics and efficiency. So consider.
I would stay away from more delicate, open, single mid-woof/tweeter traditional stereo speakers for all out dedicated movie speakers. You'll find they're the opposite of what a good dynamic, hard hitting movie theater loudspeaker - with lots of presence (not laid back) - has to offer! So choose wisely.
Yep, first front pj upgrade, then consider maybe high end dedicated movie monitors, and mate quality subwoofers with em!
There's a ton of monitor system upgrades you could have, USED, for $1500 invest, sure!
Hope this helps
I know that I will need to spend money on a good projector. I will make the room with no windows. So light isn't an issue. I also know I will spend thousands of more dollars. Just anxious to buy something now. Hahaha.

My speakers already sound darn good. Won't I have to invest tons more money to get better sound out of my speakers?
I appreciate both of your suggestions. I am looking for as many opinions as possible to make an educated decision.
AVgoround wrote

I would stay away from more delicate, open, single mid-woof/tweeter traditional stereo speakers for all out dedicated movie speakers. You'll find they're the opposite of what a good dynamic, hard hitting movie theater loudspeaker - with lots of presence (not laid back) - has to offer! So choose wisely.

Does AV's POV on HT speakers have a lot of support? ...

IE... you have to go very high end speaker to get the impact and presence that you want for HT... Basically the two tasks are different enough that you have a fork in the road choice to make.

If so... the advice of keep your two channel rig separate from your HT rig carries even more weight..