HOGFAN

When you say check the line voltage, do you mean from the electrical outlet on the generator? I actually use an extension cord between amp and generator (heavy gauge). I guess I could check it at the end of extension cord where amp plugs in for power. I have not been using a ground with generator.....will make sure to do so going forward. So, the above two items would cause the amp to automatically shut down at higher volumes? It shuts down at exactly the same volume level.....anything under this level and it works great.

Tis the season for football and tailgating. Last season, I started bringing a few stereo components to our tailgate and noticed that at higher volumes, my amp would shut down.....like in a protection mode. I can turn it back on and it works great, but I have to keep it under a certain volume (about 11 o'clock). My amp is an older Sansui AU-717 (listed at 85W/ch), tied to Quartet's. The amp is being powered with a Honda generator (2K watt)....a small portable one. Is there something wrong with my amp.....or is it just doing what it is supposed to do....reaching the protection mode? I don't think there is an issue with the generator's power. If I could get more out of another amp, what should I be looking for (used, as it will be used mainly for tailgating and outdoor purposes).....say under $500, if possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Hogfan

Thanks for the feedback. If possible, I would rather just make a good decision on the front end.....rather than end up with more speakers and have to deal with the wife thing. Should I just stay put with the LS's and maybe some day add a decent center and sub or sell the LS's and bring in the RF-7 setup. Again, just looking for the best solution for HT and music. Would I be disappointed if I unloaded the LS's and picked these up? I am hoping to make a decision tomorrow. I could sell my LS's pretty quick......they are in VG condition with updated crossovers. Decisions, decisions.....?

Will the RF-7's come close to satisfying my La Scala taste, in terms of music? Before I pull the trigger, I just want to cover all my bases. Thanks, Hogfan

I know someone looking to update their system and he has offered his existing system to me for $1,200.....all cherry finish... pair of RF-7's, an RC-7 and an RSW-15 subwoofer. Is this a good/fair price? Should I offer lower? Secondly, I have a pair of La Scala's....enjoy the sound with music, but have not yet added a center speaker or subwoofer for HT. Therefore, I really have only been able to enjoy the LS's for music. I can not use another LS as center (space constraints). I am looking for a well balanced 2 channel/HT setup. I have not listened to the RF-7's....they are out of area. Would the RF-7's come close to the LS's for 2 channel listening? I would use the setup probably 50/50....HT/music. Should I take him up on the offer? If so, I would use this system for both music and HT.....and probably sell the La Scala's. Thoughts? Thanks, Hogfan

Congratulations.....I think you will be very satisfied. Let us know what you think......and certainly post some pics.[H] Hogfan

I can not give you any input on a comparison between the two amps, as I have no experience with the Arcam. However, I have an HK 730 hooked up to La Scala's......and I have no interest in changing amps (unless I eventually decide to try out a tube amp). The 730 is wonderful.....very smooth with tight bass. Before picking up the 730, I had the LS's hooked up to a Sansui AU-717....very clean and detailed sound.....highly regarded integrated amp.....the Sansui is now doing garage duty. Can't go wrong with the 730. Hogfan

Ideally, the Academy is the perfect match (aside from another forte) to the forte's. I have seen others comment on how well the KLF-C7 matches, as well. I would not go with the KV-2.....although a good speaker, I can't imagine it would match well with the forte's. The center speaker is very important in an HT setup......some 75%+ the sound in movies comes through this channel. I would wait for either an Academy or the KLF-C7. Just my thoughts. Hogfan

I appreciate the advice. This is certainly an option. But, I was hoping for recommendation on an overall better solution for both 2ch and HT. Otherwise, this may be what I have to do. Is there a much better avr for my needs.....that would be better than the 347 (HT) and the 730 (2 ch)? Or, are there separates that would perform better than what I have......within my budget....that would be worth the investment?

My room is 15 x 20, with TV and LS's on 15' wall (with built-in entertainment center). Currently, I am using a Quartet as center until I can find another LS. The HK 347 sounds OK in 2 ch, but does not compare to the HK 730 for music.....the 730 just sounds warmer, with a much stronger/punchier bass. As crazy as it sounds, I use both amps. When I listen to music.....I actually disconnect the LS's from the 347 and connect to the 730. I know this probably sounds silly.....but there is that much difference in sound. So, it would be nice to have a single system that does both HT and 2 ch very well. Is there an avr out there that would work, or should I be looking at pre/pro separates.....something like Rotel, Parasound, etc. (probably used) that would work best? Thanks, Hogfan

I am looking for advice in the best (price/performance) single setup for La Scala's....for 2 channel and HT (50/50). Specifically, I'm looking for power recommendations.....under $1,000 in total. I currently have an HK AV 347, which is a decent receiver for HT, but no where near the sound quality of my HK 730, for 2 ch listening. Is there an AVR or separates that will give me the best "all in one package"? Again, I do have a budget, and really don't have the room or the money for two separate systems. Thoughts? Thanks! Hogfan

My system consists of an HK 347 AVR and the Sansui AU-717. I had the them connected, using the HK as the pre, with my LS's on the Sansui, and my center and surrounds on the HK. For music, it is just OK, for any of my sources run through the HK. When connected directly to Sansui, I hear a big improvement.....but a little warmer sound would be nice. I recently picked up an HK 730, which I really like, but was thinking of using it for workshop duty. I like the excess power with the Sanusi, but it is not as warm/smooth as the HK 730. Just trying to find a way to improve sound with Sansui and someone in an earlier thread mentioned that adding a good preamp (tube, if I recall correctly) would warm up the sound of the Sansui.

I currently have a Sansui AU-717 that I really like, but would like to help improve the sound (make it a little smoother). I have been told that adding a good preamp to it will improve the sound considerably. So, I am looking into my options.....say with a budget of around $500. A pre with a remote would be nice, if possible, but not a deal breaker. I assume that I should be looking for a tube rather than a SS pre, but unsure which brands/models would be best. Used would be OK. What should I be looking for? Thanks, Hogfan

Yes, I think what Bruce is recommending seems the correct path. However, just one more idea that comes to mind (before I embark on a build project)....please give me your thoughts. Would a Tuba 18, tied to the LS top section, work? The Tuba 18 looks like a very easy build, but just wondering if it would work as well as the min-LS option. I know I don't need the low end the Tuba 18 produces, but not much below 100 Hz would come through the center anyway. Mainly it would be much easier to construct. Thoughts? Thanks! Hogfan

My room is 2,700 cubic feet (15x20x9). The entertainment center is along a short wall (15'). My old setup was three Quartet's across the front, which sounded very good. When I picked up the LS's, and not having the space for a dedicated 2 Ch. setup, I decided to rebuild my HT setup around the LS's. I still have a Quartet in the center, and I can certainly tell a big difference.....it just seems off. I want to get as close to another LS in the center as possible, given my dilemma. I am pretty new to most of this HT/audio/technical stuff and certainly don't have the electrical equipment/knowledge to test and study this too much. So, here is what has been proposed so far: 1) Just use a modified LS top section with a special network that would send the LF's to the mains and/or subwoofer (as I understand it). 2) Build a smaller LS....a little narrower with a shorter bass bin (maybe with a 10" woofer). I guess this would also work, as it appears the lowest vocals are at about 80 Hz.....and a regular LS bottoms out at about 53 Hz. So, building a center that gets down to 100 Hz or a little under would probably work.....at least 99.99% of the time. 3) Build something like a Cornscala Jr.....like the LS solution with a smaller LF section. 4) Go the more standard path of using either an Academy (which could be added with very little work) or a Heresy II. If I missed any other recommendations, please let me know. Which direction should I take? I have pretty decent woodworking skills and understand some of the basics of the speaker components; however, I have never built a speaker before. I am not afraid to try, but would certainly need some help getting it tweaked and calibrated properly. On the other hand, if using an Academy or Heresy II would work as good as anything I could build (given my space contraints), maybe I should just go the easy route. Thoughts? Hogfan

Al, How close would this solution bring me to the best solution.....being a regular LS? Would it be better than using an Academy? How about a Heresy II? Or, is there another option (please understand, I am really new at all of this and just trying to think of the best solution to fit my needs).....maybe using the top components of a LS (tweeter and mid-horn) and adding a couple of 8" woofers or maybe a single 15" woofer to give me an "all in one" 3-way center speaker? Again, if what you are recommending is as good as a regular LS, then I think I have found my answer. If there will a noticable difference, then maybe the Academy, Heresy II or some customed 3-way option is what I should do. Thoughts? Again, I really appreciate your help. Hogfan

Al, When you say "absorb", are you saying everything below 400 Hz would be sent to my HT sub? If so, how will the center perform on deep male vocals (maybe in the 125 Hz range)....will it be noticeable at all that it is not coming from the center speaker? I have heard before that bass is omni-directional, but for levels below 100 Hz or so....if this is true, I am afraid of how it will perform on these deep vocals...I would not want it to be noticable that such vocals are not coming from the center speaker. In the end, if your solution will perform equally to a regular LS center, I certainly want to explore this further. Thanks! Hogfan

AL, Would I need to put the LS doghouse (base bin) in the room? I saw a thread on here from a couple of years back where a member mentioned that he has seen the LS center spit....with the top piece in the center position, but the base bin was placed elsewhere in the room. Are you saying the same thing? Or, are you saying that the base bin is not needed at all? Thanks for your valuable input. Hogfan

I appreciate the feedback, but that is not an option. My opening for the center speaker is in a custom built entertainment center (that cost me about $2,500). I would settle for an inferior center speaker before tearing into the entertainment center. I was hoping for some great insight into a doable solution using LS components crafted to meet my space constraints. If there is absolutely no way of doing it, I will look at the standard path of picking up an Academy or a Heresy II. I am just trying to think outside the box, if you will....no pun intended. Thanks, Hogan

OK, I'm trying to squeeze a La Scala (DIY build) into the fixed opening for my center channel. The problem I have is that the opening is not big enough for a regular La Scala. The opening is 22" wide x 28" tall x 24" deep. Could I make a La Scala top (a little narrower than stock) to put it in this space and then build the LS doghouse and position it elsewhere in the room (obviously connected to the top portion)? I am trying to get the best center speaker for my La Scala mains, and I don't have room for another LS. Help!!!!! Thanks, Hogfan

Cornman, I appreciate the feedback. The "switch on the back" of the Sansui is new to me.....I'll have to look at it tonight and experiment. Between the two amps, which is overall better in your opinion? From my standpoint, with LS's, I am looking for the best overall sound I can get, without getting into tubes. I listen at moderate levels....not low and not at house shaking levels. From a sound standpoint, I'm looking for quality over quantity, but with enough power to satisfy. Thanks, Hogfan

The Sansui AU-717 is a great amp (and I will certainly be keeping mine) with loads of power. It is my first "old school" amp and I can tell a big difference in sound compared to my HK AVR 347. I am somewhat new to all of this, but I think it is a worthy amp. I needed an extra amp for my workshop, and have seen all the great reviews on the HK 730, so I jumped on it. Again, I will see which amp mates the best with my LS's and the other will get reassigned. Hogfan

After reading/hearing all the praises for the old HK twin-powered receivers, I just won a 730 off an auction site. I can't wait to get it and try it out. I am currently using a Sansui AU-717 with my La Scalas.....which sounds good. Will I hear much improvement with the HK 730? I needed an extra amp anyway.....the loser between the two will end up pulling shop duty. Thanks! Hogfan

Thanks to all for the great feedback. I think I will start with refreshing the LS's.....new caps and maybe the CT125 tweeters from Bob....I'll also check the gasket on the mid horn. Overall, the bass is very acceptable. I may look at adding a sub down the road, but not a priority now. I like to listen around mid/high volume (about 9 or 10 o'clock on the Sansui dial). If this doesn't remedy the issue, I'll then start looking at replacing my amp and/or CD player. If I end up replacing the amp (hopefully I won't need to), would a 3 or 4 watt tube amp give me enough power....in comparison to the Sansui AU-717 (which I believe is 85 wpc)? I don't know how many watts I usually use of the Sansui when volume dial is at 10 o'clock.....I know it is pretty loud.....floors are vibrating a bit. Of course, right now I have to choose the right music to play at that volume.....no thin vocals. I really appreciate all the great advice you all have added.

My setup is in a 14x20 room....speakers are in the corners of short wall. The flooring is carpet....9' ceiling. I have been told the Sanui is a very good amp, but starting to wonder if it mates well with the LS's. If I should look at changing amps, what should I look for.....again, under $500....better yet, $300-$400...if possible. Used is OK with me. I have been hearing good things about the older HK twin powered amps.....430, 730 etc. Also, I also hear the Music Hall A25.2 is a really good amp.....and can be picked up for $350. However, I don't want to switch amps unless it really improves the sound.....noticably. After more thought, should I just start with upgrading the tweeters and re-capping the crossovers on the LS's?