November 23, 2001
I don't know very much about home audio, and I
have a few questions. I have two Kenwood KL-777A floorstanding speakers that are fairly
old (Dad's old speakers) and Bose "Stereo Everywhere 2.2" speakers. Both have
8-ohm impedance; the Kenwood's maximum power is 110W; I don't know the Bose's maximum --
likely 30-70W range.
What considerations do I need to think about
to make sure these speakers are compatible with the receiver I choose?
Andrew Hammel
You should be fine with a mid-priced
receiver from any number of companies. With both speaker sets having a nominal impedance
of 8 ohms, they won't present a terribly hard load to drive. The maximum power rating is
of little relevance overall. Speakers are typically damaged by driving an amplifier into
clipping, which sends damaging distortion through to your speakers. So you are actually
safer buying a more powerful amplifier/receiver than one likely to run out of steam. I
would look for a receiver with the latest processing modes such as Dolby Pro Logic II and
possibly six-channel analog inputs in case you ever want to get into multichannel SACD or
DVD-Audio. This should keep you "current" for some time and allow for future
upgrading should you decide you desire that.
November 21, 2001
A friend has had in storage, for years, two
integrated amplifiers: a Denon PMA-757 and an Onkyo TX82. He purchased both back in the
'80s and has had them in various configurations over the years, but he had some
"interesting" ideas about configuration, and so never had them set up in a true
high-end system. They are both still in working condition, and with my friend thinking of
getting together a decent system, I'm wondering if you might be able to provide any info
on these items as to specs and if they were at all well regarded. Would they stack up to
today's lineup of Denon or Onkyo receivers, or would it be worth it to go ahead and
purchase new amplification? My friend isn't looking for the cutting edge, just
good-quality sound. Any info you might be able to provide would be appreciated.
Travis Cunningham
I'm not familiar with the two units you
mention, but I do know that, particularly Denon, made some fine integrated amplifiers back
then. Some of this "vintage" gear eschews bells and whistles in favor of hefty
construction and a more high-end approach than may be seen in some of today's
less-expensive receivers. I would first listen to both with the same pair of speakers and
decide which your friend will use, then look for ancillary gear compatible with it. If one
of the units has a "power amp input" you may actually be able to biwire a
speaker system, assuming there are no gain-matching issues. The only real way to know if
either unit is comparable to today's gear is to listen and compare. From there, make your
determination on the best route to take. Lastly, look at features as well, and decide
whether items like a remote control will be important in the future.
November 20, 2001
I would like to know your opinion on what
speakers would be a good match for the vintage Scott 299c amp, particularly minimonitors.
Andrew
The first consideration when partnering a
vintage amplifier is typically the speaker's sensitivity. I don't know any specifics
related to your Scott, but I am guessing it is a low-to-medium-power integrated. It will
likely sound fine if operated within its comfort zone. Good minimonitors from companies
such as Axiom, NHT, and Paradigm come to mind. Also, these manufacturers make powered
subwoofers that mate wonderfully with their monitors and more importantly will take some
strain off the main amp since they are powered. This may make sense too, particularly if
the Scott is on the lower end of the power scale.
November 19, 2001
The time has arrived, alas, to replace my
Denon TU-720 tuner. I recently replaced my old preamp with a NAD 114, which works well
with my old Bryston 2B run through an M&K subwoofer/satellite system. I bought the
system back in the late '70s and it's been very satisfactory. The only thought I ever had
was to upgrade the amp to a 3B, but I figured that since the subwoofer had its own amp,
the 2B was adequate to drive the satellites. To get to the point, I live in semi-rural
Maine (as though there were other locations), and reception distance is a consideration.
Other than that, I'm looking at the $300-500 range. Maybe I should think about replacing
the system? I just read the review of those Axiom speakers for $275 and thought that
prices have come down so far that I could put together a comparable system for a third of
what I paid in the late '70s. Come to think of it, I could also use some advice on a good
integrated amp for $500 for our cottage; it runs some bookshelf Advents (also ancient).
Nick
While tuners are not exactly commonplace
these days, you should be able to pick up a decent one in the price range that you
mentioned ($300 to $500). Several manufacturers come to mind: Arcam, Rotel, NAD, Cambridge
Audio and Onkyo. I believe that the Cambridge even has a multipath indicator. If
sensitivity is a problem for you, you should definitely look into that before purchasing
and if at all possible, try before you buy.
You could also upgrade your entire system
as you suggested. Rotel has a stereo receiver that might interest you or you might even
consider separates or a high-quality multichannel receiver. There are also lots of good
$500 integrateds that you should consider for your cottage system as well. We have
reviewed the Cambridge Audio A500 integrated here, and there are many others including
those from some of the other manufacturers I already mentioned.
November 18, 2001
I have just finished reading your review of
the NHT SB1 speakers, and I am interested in your evaluation of the CD player you are
using. I, too, am an owner of a Pioneer Elite PD-65 CD player, and I have been very happy
with the deck even with an upgrade of the rest of the components. I started with a pair of
Paradigm Atoms with an Energy ES-8XL sub, Kimber wiring and a Luxman L-100 integrated amp
and the PD-65. It has morphed into a Creek 5250 SER (active preamp module removed),
AudioQuest Slate and Viper wiring, Triangle Titus speakers, the same Energy sub (still
viable for my small room), Atacama stands, Sanus component rack, and the same Pioneer
Elite PD-65.
When I first auditioned the PD-65 (only 18
months ago), it went up against a $700 Rega, a $700 Rotel, a Denon, and a Yamaha. There
was no comparison. It took all of 30 seconds to hear the rich, accurate, emotional music
coming from the Pioneer, and the flaws of the others. I would be very interested to hear
from you concerning your choice of the PD-65 and if you may consider a modern equipment
challenge to the "old" deck.
Tony
It's interesting that you took note of my
Pioneer PD-65. That piece is fairly old by today's standards. I picked mine up new about
six or seven years ago. I bought it when my highly regarded CD player was frustrating me
when it kept crapping out. Initially, I was attracted to the PD-65's bullet-proof
construction, although I was intrigued with its Legato Link conversion, which aims to
reconstruct ultra-high-frequency information that is lost through the digital recording
process.
I agree wholeheartedly with your
assessment of the PD-65. I'm still a fan of vinyl, which I think sounds more
"real" compared to CD. The Legato Link conversion imparts a unique sound to the
PD-65, which I would say is more "analog-like" than most CD players out there.
You might also find that the PD-65 seems to have a lot more bass weight than most budget
CD players, which was the most surprising thing about this piece.
The PD-65 was known as one of the best CD
transports in its time because of its stable-platter mechanism, where discs are played
upside down. It took a while to get used to flipping the discs over, but I've had this
player for so long now it's second nature. I've tried the PD-65 with outboard D/A
converters, which often sounded worse or no better than the built-in D/A converter. I've
heard more expensive CD players that have more inner detail and resolution, but in it's
price range, the PD-65 holds its own.
The only way I can see myself replacing
the Pioneer PD-65 is if it breaks down, and I don't see that happening anytime soon, since
it is constructed so well.
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