I have something of a mish-mash of a surround sound system and I'd appreciate some advice. My listening room is 12x14' with 11' ceilings, carpeted and reasonably furnished.

I have a system based round a Denon AVR-3805 receiver, sources are Samsung DVD-HD950, Sky HD, Apple TV, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Screen is a Pioneer PDP-436XDE. The video sources are connected via HDMI to the screen (some via an Octava automatic switcher) with the exception of the Wii which is connected to the receiver via component. The audio is connected via digital (coax and optical) direct to the receiver and there is a separate 5.1 analogue connection for DVD-A/SACD from the DVD player.

That little lot is all fine and dandy, but where things get messy is in the speakers - they've kind of grown organically from a stereo pair, and as such could probably stand some work. The main speakers are a pair of Tannoy 611 Mark II from the mid nineties - and they're biwired. The centre is a Celestion (don't know the model number) bought is a hurry a few years ago when I blew my previous centre. There are two pairs of Mordaunt-Short 903i's on surround duty and a sub from a Tannoy FX 5.1 package adding a bit of bass. The speakers are all mounted between 2.2 an 2.4m from the ideal listening position, at the correct angles as described by Dolby, but the seating area is about 2m wide.

What on earth should I do with this system? It's used mostly for TV and movies (from Sky HD, DVD and Blu-ray) and then for music, mostly from the AppleTV (320kbps AAC), but also some DVD-A and SACD. I tend to listen to music in the most direct way possible without any additional processing from the receiver, but TV and movies are usually processed via Pro Logic IIx.

I think the best path will be to upgrade the main pair and centre channel and possibly dispense with the sub, but what would you recommend?

Thanks,

Andrew

I have to say I would get rid of all the speakers and start again. In principle, you need speakers from the same manufacturer and model range with the probable exception of the sub.

Your alternative is buying more 611 second hand. I suspect that would really not be that expensive. You can actually do without the centre channel at a pinch. Russ Andrews suggests this as a valid way of saving money - just switch off the channel in the settings of the amp.

In terms of upgrade recommendations from the 611, you're probably looking at £500+ a pair for floorstanders if you're buying new. Perhaps these but it's a difficult call as the 611 is an old model and most people's memories of them are now quite dim.