whell
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Posts posted by whell
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With the system you've described, you might do quite nicely with the HSU Research VTF-2. The VTF-3 is excellent, but the additional cost is not justified in this case, IMHO.
You can order direct from HSU Research. Or, if you're willing to sniff around for good deals, might be able to find one used. Price new is in the $450 range, and it is an excellent value at that price.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 07-03-2002 at 11:25 AM
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Good input, and thanks for chiming in on this thread. Sounds like some folks have create some elegant and not-so-elegant solutions for the "problem" that maintaining a home theater system creates.
I'm not sure that I subscribe to the notion that I've created a system that is disadvantaged when reproducing 2 channel music. However, I've not "A-B" tested that idea yet, so I can't be sure. I've love to try a test of my old Kenwood against my new Marantz (or old Marantz against new) and see what results I get when comparing 2 channel reproduction. Or, maybe an A-B that pits my current system against a well built modern 2 channel amp integrated or separates.
However, I've not heard anyone give me a compelling reason to wait for the maturity of DVD-A or DTS multi-channel music formats. I've not tried SACD, but have to believe that the results are fairly close to DTS music disks or DVD-A.
Boa, you sound like you're spending time in the 5.1 music realm. DO you find that the reproduction of the sound stage is convincing? You suggest that it reminds you of a recording studio. However, the recording studios that I have been in master music recordings in 2 channel (mixing is done in multichannel, but this is with the ultimate objective to get to a "dubbed" 2 channel master recording).
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 07-01-2002 at 04:17 PM
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MPGWAGON:
Ah yes, the Yamaha RXV-620. I just sold mine, and happily so. I had it set up to run a 2nd system in my basement. I then cam across an old Kenwood KA-9100 integrated amp (with dual power supplies and true separate signal paths for each channel) at a garage sale, along with a Yamaha T-85 tuner (the one that typically sells on Ebay for over $250), and bought the whole thing as a package for $50!!
I brought it home, and ran an A-B comparison between the Kenwood and the Yamaha. No contest! The Kenwood, at over 25 years old and counting, blew away the Yamaha. I even ran the A-B comparision for my wife, who, God bless her soul, thinks everything sounds good. She very quickly noticed that the speakers sounded like they had a sheet over them with the Yamaha, and sounded much cleaner with the Kenwood.
So...the Yamaha went bye bye on Ebay, and my basement set up is the first to return to two channel. Now, my basement system is not at all set up for critical listening. It is just there for when I'm working out, or working downstairs. But, with the money I was able to reclaim in moving out the Yamaha, I was able to buy something nice for the wife! I was also able to blow the dust off an old Sanyo turntable that has been collecting dust in my mom's basement for years, since the Kenwood has a phono input. That'll be the next project....getting that up and running again.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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OK, so having a 5.1 set up allows me to experience the novelty of surround sound. So it is kind of cool to hear a chopper come from behind me and zoom overhead and appear on my TV screen flying away from me. I'm now in the "been there, done that" mode with my system. I have to admit it has been rather cool. But, now what?
Now, I'm back to "home base", listening to and enjoying 2 channel music, much as I've been doing since I was a kid. I'm looking around the room and wondering what these expensive RB-5's are doing sitting there quietly while I'm listening to 2 channel through the RF-3's up front. Seems like a waste of money, and an under-utlization of a great sounding little speaker.
Most of my listening and use of this equipment is 2 channel, but I don't have the space for a separate 2 channel set up, so my music and home theater must be produced in the same room with the same equipment.
So, I go out and find some DVD-A and DTS music disks to experiment with. These multi-channel disks promise to be the next generation of musical bliss. I drop in the Eagles "Hell Freezes over Disk", followed by Diane Krall's "Love Scenes, followed by Vince Gill's "High Lonesome Sound", etc.
After listening to several disks, I find that the 5.1 channel presentation of the music is unconvincing, and ant times, downright irritating. Instruments and vocals that I would expect to come from in front of me now appear behind me, or at my side. The experience is so un-natural that it becomes a distraction. Call me old-fashioned, but I find the whole experience flawed, and wonder if the format itself is compromising the artist's original intent in favor of giving the consumer a little sizzle. Is this the musical equivalent of Snake Oil?
Since my Marantz is set up to process the DVD-A or DTS disks in the digital domain, I switch back and forth between 5.1 channel and 2 channel presentations of the same material. I find that I actually prefer to listen to the DTS or DVD-A disk in 2 channel. It seems that I get the benefit of a higher resolution format, but keep the realistic and more convincing presentaion. Is all this really worth paying an extra $5 - 10 per disk (versus the cost of a regular 2 channel CD)?
Does my experience ring a bell with anyone else? Are we still waiting for multi-channel music to live up to its promise? Do those of you who find yourself renting/watching DVD's a couple of times a month really get irritated seeing your expensive equipment stilling there under-utilized the rest of the time? Do any of you who have heard it, like I have, really think Pro-Logic II is anything more than a baby step forward for a format whose days are hopefully numbered (again, not a compelling justification for shelling out big bucks for a surround set up)?
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 07-01-2002 at 11:30 AM
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The real test would be to examine the same recording on your system with a quality digital or analog source. There are too many variables, without knowing quite a few more details about the broadcasting source (broadcasting equipment, quality of the broadcast signal to your receiver, whether the station employs any signal limiting devices, etc.), to know whether or not your equipment is an issue.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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MH -
Of course, you're right. We do have 2 NPR stations that are, sadly, mostly talk (what a waste of an FM frequency), one that plays good jazz from time to time (not the smooth jazz mass market music either).
Tuning in the stations in the Detroit area, we are able to receive Canadian broadcast out of Windsor. Doesn't hit my indoor antenna (working on this) as hard as I'd like, but still, the classic and jazz music originating from this station is a blessing. This station, sadly, has no counterpart on the FM dial with any station originating in Metro Detroit.
I really need to get that FM mast up on my chimney and start to pull in some stations from further out. Detroit FM is so homogenous, more so than many other cities I've sampled. The ability to DX with my current setup is limited, but to have even a little more selection would be a huge bonus.
Back to the original post from "dndphishin", this is the real reason one might want to drop a little more cabbage on a nice tuner: to be able to utitlize the tuner's potential to pull in more, distant signals (sensitivity) and then discriminate between signals that are closely adjacent to each other on the FM band (selectivity): be able to find and discern between various broadcasts to find content that you really want to listen to.
Damn the media conglomerates, full speed ahead!
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 06-26-2002 at 12:02 PM
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I owned the ACT-3 for a while. If you're looking for a quality home theater centerpiece, that is currently (for a limited time) upgradable from the manufacturer, it is a good option. If you also have a combined HT/Music system, the ACT-3 is a great option. The DAC's are first rate, and music CD's and DVD's really sing.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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Some variability exists in each setup, with the variables being, among other things, quality of the tuner, type of antenna, distance from the transmitter, atmospheric conditions, etc.
However, "near cd-quality" is possible with optimum conditions and equipment. FM broadcasts are processed through electronic limiters (limiting the db swings of recorded music or other content), and frequency range is generally limited to 30 hz - 16 khz (approx). Most musical CD content is within this range.
Quality of equipment is another variable, as mentioned above. Visit the tuner information page mentioned above for a detailed explanation of tuner design.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 06-25-2002 at 07:49 AM
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I'm considering the possibility tube equipment for my system. Just a couple of question to the participants of this thread, if I may:
- What is the life expectancy of the average tube on an amp or preamp, on equipment that expects to have daily use of about 2 - 3 hours?
- Should tube equipment be left on rather than be subject to daily warm up and shut down?
- Are tubes best used in the amp stage, preamp stage or both? Is there any sonic risk in having a SS pre amp and a tube amp in the same system?
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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I second the nomination of the Yahoo Tuner Info page as a great source of info on tuners. Based on their input, I was out shopping with a printout of the page in my back pocket. Went into a pawn shop on a lark, and found a Yamaha T-85 in very good condition priced at $50!! Obvously they didn't know what they had, and I whisked that one out the door and into the car as quickly as I could.
I am still experimenting with antennas, and this is one are where, if you're going to plunk down between $300 and $500 for a good tuner, you should not skimp. The internal bipolar antennas that are packed with most units will pull in a signal OK. But, as someone who has been an avid FM fan all his life once told me, a $200 tuner with an externally mounted Yagi-style antenna will consistently blow away a $1000 tuner with a bipolar antenna.
Enternal antennas are critical if you live in rural areas, or over 25 - 30 miles from the transmitter of your favorite station. While you might still receive decent reception, an external antenna will bring the audio from your tuner to life.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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If you're open to "vintage" equipment, one option is a Yamaha CA 810 or 1010 integrated amp. Produced in the mid 70's, these integrateds have a warm and clean sound, and match very well with my RB-5's. They have alot of functional flexibility and an outstanding phonp preamp section should you ever decide to use hook up a turntable with either a moving magnet or moving coil cartridge.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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I only wish that:
a) I could afford to shell out $3K right now
Had ANY room in my house that could accommodate a set of K-hornsc) Had good quality tube equipment to drive them properly (though they might not sound too bad with my Marantz gear)
One of these days, closer to my retirement, maybe! :-)
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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BBE used to make one of these, as well as SAE. The SAE model is out on Ebay right now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1359399563
Supposedly, these devices connected between the turntable and the receiver/preamp, and "cleaned up" the signal coming from the turntable, by removing the pops and scratchy noises produced by records in less than mint condition.
Does anyone have any experience with these ddevices? Did they do the job that the manufacturer claimed it could do? Was there a noticiable positive or negative impact on overall sound quality?
Thanks for any feedback!
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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LOL! No, junkie. A rotor is out of the question. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try wiring a line to the center screw of an outlet. I'm assuming that the wire will attach to my tuners "ground" antenna connection?
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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Need some assistance from any of you Radio junkies that might be lurking around these parts!
I work in an office, with a Window that does not open, but have a fairly decent set up in here with a good quality tuner (Yamaha T-85). Reception is horrible, and I'm looking for suggestions for improving reception indoors. Both FM and AM are important.
I think I'm doing OK with FM reception, but if there are any suggestions to improve things over using a basic dipole antenna, I'd appreciate it.
No luck at all with AM reception, though. I'm using the manufacturer's stock plastic AM loop antenna, and have tried different orientations, but little if any improvement.
I've seen some of the Jensen and Terk "amplified antennas", but I've heard that these offer little improvement over the conventional antennas that I'm using. Is this true?
Any suggestions are appreciated!
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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Your budgetary constraints might prove to be a challenge. Many questions need to be answered before good suggetions can be given, such as:
- will the system be used for video and music, or video only?
- what are the current upstream electronics?
However, a general rule of thumb for a surround system is that the center channel is the most critical element for propper surround sound reproduction. If you happen to like the Polk center, then adding another manufacturers L/R or surrounds, or possibly even another model from the Polk line, will create a mismatch that has the potential to color the sound. For example, with your Polk center and, say, a pair of RB-3's for your R/L, while watching "Top Gun", an F-14 flying across the screen will sound different asit flys from left to center channel, and then the sound will revert back as the jet "arrives" in the right channel.
This might be a long way of saying that if you are pleased with the Polk center, find Polk L/R and surrounds from the same model line to match the center.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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You guys drive me crazy. You've now got me thinking about an old Sanyo turntable and some old disks that are in storage in my mom's basement. No strobe, and belt drive, have no idea about the condition of the cartridge, but I'm now tempted to pull it out and see if it still works.
There! Are you guys happy now??!?!
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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This subject has made the rounds already. You might do a seach to review previous posts.
Also, I know the Marantz web site carried the original press releases on this topic. The is no immediate statement of the impact of the merger, and its impact on product lines. However there is a suggestion that the future might look like a focus on Denon for audio and Marantz for video products.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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Truly one of the things I love about this forum. Not only do questions get answered in spades, but sometimes the thread takes on a life of its own, and one gets more useful info than they bargained for.
Thanks for the responses.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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This is very much one of those "your milage may vary", "personal preference" kind of questions. You'll truly be able to reach audio heaven if your local audio retailer allows you to take equipment home to audition. If not, than maybe taking you're KG 3.5's into the dealer's showroom is not out of the question.
I'm not a "tube-o-phile", but I must second the suggestion of Marantz as an option for SS gear. Marantz has some nice integrateds, and some of the vintage gear is worth the price (not ANY price, mind you). classicaudio.com sells vintage gear that they refurbish and provide a limited warranty on. Newer Marantz gear still retains much of the vintage sound, if not the build quality, that set the vintage gear apart.
By the way, I've got an old Yamaha CR-810 intergrated amp that sounds pretty nice connected to RB-5's. Its 65 WPC, but Klipsch speakers can do alot with 65 watts.
Good luck in your search.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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Audio Flynn:
I owned the Sherwood Newcastle separates for a short time. I liked them alot, but decided that, with a new baby on the way, I couldn't justify that much $$$$ invested in my second system. I got them on a steal of a deal to start with, so when I Ebay'd them, I got all of what I paid out of them. Now, my second system consist of what my wife calls my "mid-life crisis system": a number of components that I liked but could not afford in my youth! For example, a Kenwood KA-9100 amp as the foundation of the system. The speakers are a pair of old Infinity Studio Monitors. I am keeping my eye out for some vintage Klipsch to replace the Infinity's though!
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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I use an old Yamaha integrated amp in my office set up (an old CA 810, which is in such great condition that it should be a museum piece!) with the variable loudness feature that other posters have described. It really is a bonus in my set up, since I do most of my office listening at low volumes (I've got 8 co workers outside my door, not all who share my taste in music, so the volume stays down most of the time). It is such a joy to be able to have good sounding music at lower volumes. I tried a newer amp/preamp combo, and playing with the bass and treble never seemed to yield the right sound. The Yamaha gets it spot-on, with a little help from the variable loudness. Which, by the way, has a "Flat" setting to bypass the circuit completely.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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In the '70's and early '80's, I was changing out and upgrading stereo equipment faster than some folks change their underwear. One feature that was fairly common on the integrated amps and receivers of that period was the "loudness contour" button, or simply, "loudness". In practice, as you all know, the loudness contour goosed the low frequency of the source signal (for a variety of possible reasons: compensate for loss of bass at low listening levels in less efficient speakers being the leading reason that I recall).
In recent years, the loudness button seems to have disappeared from better receivers and integrated amps. Why is this? It can't be because amplifier design has gotten better, can it? (Seems like it has in many cases gotten worse!)
Thanks for setting me straight on this.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
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You're dealer should be able to order a replacement woofer for your RF-7 under warranty. The dealer I purchased my RF-3's from was quite aware of the fragile woofer issue, and stated that he would be able to order replacements for the full term of the 5 year warranty, provided that I did not abuse the speakers, or the priveldge.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
Had ANY room in my house that could accommodate a set of K-horns
Nad s200 or harman signature 2.1?
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
At the outset, let me specify that I am an owner of a 5 channel amp: the Marantz MM 9000. I like the performance of the Marantz, as 5 channel amps go.
However, it strikes me that the more channels you put in a box, the more compromises that are required by the manufacturer to make it all fit in a box that will fit in your entertainment center.
If you are committed to 2 channel audio, then you really would benefit from auditioning 2 channel amplification, IMHO. If you like the sound of the NAD, when you audition it, then that might be your best option.
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Mike - Livonia, MI
Klipsch RF-3 L/R
Klipsch RC-3 Center
Klipsch RB-5 rears
HSU Research VF-2 Sub
Marantz SR-19EX receiver
Marantz MM-9000 Amp
NAD T550 DVD
Adcom GCD 700 CD
This message has been edited by whell on 07-08-2002 at 10:51 AM