How Often Do You Upgrade?

[frog_A_lot]

I know this is a fairly broad question, but was wondering how often you upgrade your AVR. How long do things like that last for you.

Are they like computers that get outdated every few months, or what?

Just interested to hear peoples thoughts.

[50mxe20]

Probably when there is a significant change to the technology.

[frog_A_lot]

Fair enough.. but i guess im asking, how often are there significant advances or changes to make it worth switching, with a computer for instance, they have significant changes and advances every few months easily

[50mxe20]

Probably every three years or so?

Although the gap between DTS and True HD (etc) is probably more than that?

Three years just happened to be the magic number for me.

It would be interesting to map the major changes in HT over the last 20 years.

[Kazz]

I'm on the 4th one within an 18 month time frame, but now that I have the Marantz 7002 I won't be upgrading again for quite some time.

[50mxe20]

OK, I've misinterpreted the question.

I was thinking, like a major revamp.

But based on how Kazz has phrased her answer I'd have to say a lot more often than 3 years.

Maybe every 6 months!

In my case it has more to do with passion for the hobby, increasing knowledge about what is really good quality, and access to money to do the upgrades.

20 years ago despite the passion I would not have been able to afford it.

[Guest]

Fair enough.. but i guess im asking, how often are there significant advances or changes to make it worth switching, with a computer for instance, they have significant changes and advances every few months easily

Well, if I consider my receiver purchases over the years, it's every 5-6 years:

1996 - Prologic Surround Receiver

2003 - Digital Surround Receiver (D.D ex, DTSes)

2008 - Digital Surround Receiver (new sound formats)

Speakers about every 10 years

AV equipment like DVD players and media players - yearly

It is usually a major tech change that motivates me though.

[Juicester]

I know this is a fairly broad question, but was wondering how often you upgrade your AVR.

not as often as I'd liked to, that's for sure. I'd buy a new one every 6-8 months or so if I could afford it/ get it approved. An AVR will last only as long as the owner is willing to keep it of course!

For some people who are well endowed with cash reserves and an understanding spouse (and there are a few of these lucky beggars on the forums) they'd probably update their AVR every time a newer model is released, which seems to be annually.

For those who are keen audio enthusiasts on a strict budget who have to get the WAF on every, and i mean every dollar spent, the turn over isn't anywhere as quick. I'd probably be in the boat of 3year minimum upgrade after purchasing an avr.

Unless i won the lotto. Which is hard to do considering i don't buy a ticket.

[Chesty]

Yorac upgrades once a day...

[Cody]

constantly!

always in the process of upgrading something in the chain...

[Jliang70]

deleted

Edited September 26, 2008 by jliang70

[Jliang70]

double post

Edited September 26, 2008 by jliang70

[Jliang70]

Here is what I have done with my upgrades in recent years.

Projector

2005 Panasonic PT-AE700

2005 Sony HS60 ( in December)

2006 Sony VW50 (in November)

Video processor

2006 DVDO HD+ ( Jan 2006)

2006 DVDO VP30+ABT102 ( June 2006)

2006 DVDO VP50 (November 2006)

AVR

2002 Pioneer AVX-2011

2007 Onkyo 805

Speakers

2002 VAF I91

2007 Tannoy TD10

CD Player

1994 TEAC VRDS10

2008 Raysonic CD-128

DVD- Recorders

2006 Pioneer 720

2007 Pioneer 645

Power Amp

2007 Cinepro 2K5

2007 Verastar Studio 6.4

I also added a PS3, HD-DVD player, HD-PVR and Satellite-PVR. I retain my Vaf I91, Sonus Faber speakers as rear speakers and also retain my 8 years old MX125 sub-woofer.

Edited September 26, 2008 by jliang70

[joz]

Well I've been playing with Ht for about 8 years really.

In that time only upgraded the PJ once,Receivers twice and subs once.

Speakers are next on my list after about 7 years.But the existing mains will be relagated to rears.

Hd+ BD aren't really upgrades since they are new items.

But along the way there have been plenty of additions

I keep adding rather than upgrading.

Edited September 26, 2008 by the joz

[MACCA350]

Too often

cheers

[eleventyseven]

My 2001 amp is still going strong... but I'd upgrade more often if I could afford it. Don't think it'll be long before I do though.

[MACCA350]

Here's the list for the last 5 years(bottom line in each category is the current setup):

TV

Teac 59cm CRT

Magnavox 68cm CRT

PJ

Infocus X1

Epson TW1000

Screen:

DIY blockout material on a wood frame

Dazian Material(shipped from US) on custom aluminum frame tensioned with springs and covered in velour

Speaker setups:

Technics 5.0 midi system

2x Wharfedale Modus 2 bookshelves, Modus Center, 2x Technics rears

2x Wharfedale Modus one-six towers, Modus center, Technics rears

2x Wharfedale Modus one-six towers, Modus center, 2x Wharfedale DFS rears

3x Wharfedale Modus one-six towers, 4x Wharfedale DFS rears

Subwoofers:

Velodyne CT100e

Velodyne CT100e, Wharfedale Topaz-12<----(that was a piece of cr@p)

Velodyne DD15

AVR's:

Denon 1603

Denon 3805

Denon 3808

DVD/HD DVD/BD players:

Panasonic VHS

XMS DVD, Panasonic VHS

Samsung DVD/VCR

Denon 2200 DVD, Phillips VHS

Toshiba XE1

Toshiba XE1, Panasonic BD30

Gaming consoles:

PS2

PS3

PS3, WII

FTA set top boxes:

Digicrystal 80GB SDPVR

Digicrystal 80GB SDPVR, TEAC HD

Beyonwiz P1 200GB HDPVR

Universal Remotes:

Universal remote (can't remember the name but cost about $200 5years ago)

Harmony 880

.........I still have pretty much everything on the list(except for the Topaz, got rid of that pretty quick)

Upgrades in the last 6 months(in order):

PS3

Denon 3808

Panasonic BD30

Upgrades to come in the next month or so:

LCD/Plasma screen to get rid of the 68cm CRT

Probably time to upgrade the speakers.....thinking about Triad's

If I do the speakers now I'll grab an amp.....thinking about 7 X 1000w - Icepower From Wyred4sound

Upgrades in the longer term(6-12+ months):

Acoustically treated and soundproofed dedicated room........looking at an underground detached construction...........WOTW, reference level at 3am here I come

New Projector and screen......looking at a curved AT 2:35 CIH setup

RadianceXD Video Processor

Second Velodyne DD15 (or maybe three more for a quad setup.....at'll fix them there room modes)

Eminent Technology TRW-12 Subsonic rotary woofer(maybe two)

Speakers and amplification(if not done already)

Denon AVP-A1HD pre(unless there is a newer one by then)

Contemplating the D-Box system

..........and whatever else I forgot

cheers

Edited September 26, 2008 by MACCA350

[50mxe20]

I don't think he was asking what?

Rather he was asking when?

[xrcist007]

i will only upgrade if the sale of my existing piece of equipment will contribute a minimum of 50% of the costs of the new equipment, in saying that i need to upgrade quite frequently while there is still some value in my older equipment. with certain sales i have had on ebay i have come as close as about 90% of the cost covered by the sale of the older piece of equipment, which is why its super important to keep all boxes, manuals and cables in mint condition, and if possible use a universal remote and keep the original in its plastic, sometimes this can be the difference between flogging something on ebay for a major loss or just a small loss.

[MACCA350]

I don't think he was asking what?

Rather he was asking when?

Oh ...............but ......but I did put some time frames in there

cheers

[Kazz]

Oh ...............but ......but I did put some time frames in there

cheers

It's always good to see someone else document their insanity...........................makes my own seem not quite as bad..............

[MACCA350]

It's always good to see someone else document their insanity...........................makes my own seem not quite as bad..............

:lol:

[Andre281503560612]

too often, yes strangely, not often enough!

[djOS]

As often as I can afford too providing I get a genuine benefit and can get approval from the MOF!

[yamapro]

Are you missing another O after the F there djos?