5.1/7.1 Setup

First-time “proper” HT buyer here! So I’ve been running a basic [Onkyo 5.1-in-a-box system](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F3ENAOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_dmHREb4YXVER6) (tiny speakers, passive woofer) for a couple of years - it’s been *okay* but has always bugged me a little.

I just got a pretty good deal on the [Klipsch 5.1 reference set](https://www.klipsch.com/products/reference-theater-pack) - 5 speakers and a powered woofer for $350.

I know it’s not top-end, but I hooked it up to the Onkyo amp and the sound upgrade was **huge**. I’ll be upgrading to a Denon 1600h with the last of my budget.

However, I already had some Klipsch R15m bookshelf speakers for my audio setup, and hooked them up to the fronts out of interest. I’m blown away. It was never the option to run them in 5.1 before because the Onkyo center was so underpowered. I love it.

Question is, am I better to:

- Keep the Klipsch 5.1 pack (including the smaller center and the powered sub) and pair them with my R15Ms

- Or should I return the 5.1 pack (losing the better center, powered sub, and decent rears) and spend the $350 on a beefier center and a sub, and keep the crappy Onkyo rears? I can’t afford to go over any more, but 5.1 is a non-negotiable part of the setup.

The big concern for me is that the center from the Klipsch set won’t balance well with the R15s, but honestly I don’t know what I’m listening for when I check!

Also - I’d be removing the bookshelves from my vinyl setup so I wouldn’t be running my turntable through a [dedicated amp](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072YL32D9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_UlC3XmZnjInIt) any more - will I notice an upgrade/downgrade hooking that up to the Denon 7.1 amp instead?

Big advantage to keeping the Klipsch 5.1 set would be that with the bookshelves, I could run decent-quality 7.1 when I upgrade to the Denon amp.