Wolk1 Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 but I know what I like. I recently replaced a very old Yamaha receiver with a new Onkyo as part of my home theater, with Cornwalls up front. The system sounds great as a theater set up, but sounds very harsh when playing music cds in a two channel mode. The old 30 watt Yamaha sounded a lot better (warmer?). Any thoughts on what might be a good amplifier to match my speakers? Nothing too esoteric. Thanks for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 Onkyo built some decent SS stuff, but Yamaha was (and perhaps remains) one of the best for the bucks SS builder. SS is cheap, and often just fine if it floats your boat. If you have Cornies you you didn't inherit or steal you can afford a decent SS amp it that is what you want. Just shop around. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 Heritage Speakers are unforgiving to low quality components like all in one receivers. One of the best deals on a quality SS amp is the McIntosh MC-250. It is a sterio 50 watt (more like 75 watt) solid state amp built in the late 60's and 70s. Can be had off Ebay in the $300-400 range, sometimes lower. JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 I would recommend a nice tube integrated but I dont know if that would float your boat. Persnally, the CW sounds plain amazing with even run of the mill tube gear, doing better than semi-expensive solid state. Having run quite a few samples of both, I would opt the tube route. If going solid state, the Monarchy Audio SM-70 is an ok choice but still doesnt equal a tube amp operating on all cylinders. This is just what I have found although you will have others via SS happy and smiling a'glee. Vintage options from EICO, Scott, Fisher, and Pilot will please. It's money well spent. Regardless, used is the option to take via somewhere like Audiogon and ebay if feeling the force is with you, cliche included. There are some little solid state integrated that arent that bad too, but I prefer the tube route. You wont be sorry and will probably never look at another Japanese receiver again, except in passing. kh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 is it possible that more of the difference would be going from analog to digital if thats what you did? I'd imagine the older yami wouldn't have optical inputs, but you're using them now with the onkyo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 Are you looking for a better sounding multichannel unit, or stereo only? What have you budgeted for this purchase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 yeah, it's Dean's turn to run with these things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted August 16, 2003 Share Posted August 16, 2003 That's right -- turn the Audiochondriac loose on the unsuspecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 ---------------- On 8/16/2003 8:06:57 PM j-malotky wrote: "One of the best deals on a quality SS amp is the McIntosh MC-250." JM ---------------- I'll second that as well...for SS, it (and the MC2100 and other Macs) are hard to beat. But it's also not the only game in town. If you're still considering SS, you may also want to check out the '70s harman/kardon 430 and 730 receivers (also the 930, although you really don't need all its power for your Cornwalls). And if tubes interest you, the above mentioned vintage H.H. Scott, Dynaco, EICO, Pilot, Fisher, Marantz, and also McIntosh, are definately good bets as well. If you still want to stay in an AV receiver that's good for both movies and music, I hear that the latest Yamaha and Outlaw receivers sound pretty damn good with 2-channel music and Heritage horns...it's worth a check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdm56 Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 I guess I don't really understand why your rig would sound "great" in HT mode, and "harsh" with music in two-channel. Since so many soundtracks are recorded fairly hot, I would expect the opposite to more likely be the case. Does the music sound harsh on movies? If so, maybe your room is a bit too lively, and perhaps just turning the treble down a wee bit on your receiver would help. If the problem is only with CD's, then the cause is more likely a cumulative effect of bright digital, bright ss and hot horns. Again, just back off the treble a couple of db's and see if it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 In a attempt to see what my Cornwalls could do,(and because it's been too damn hot to run tubes)I hooked them up to my ol' wore out sloppy NAD 2300 power envelope. Fixed out from the CDP to the amp. The amp has two volume pots for L/R. Instant PA speakers. Throw on the Death Metal and go outside. Thank God it cooled off.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolk1 Posted August 17, 2003 Author Share Posted August 17, 2003 Thanks for all of the replies. In response to a couple of the questions- I didn't inherit the cornwalls- but I did get a great deal on them 15 years ago- they came out of Chet Atkins house in Nashville Pure music off of DVDs sounds harsh as well- no real difference compared to CDs I am looking for a 2 channel only amp and to seperate it from the home theater set up. In reading over the numerous posts, I'm leaning towards tubes. I've got my eye on a Dynaco SCA-35- I would like to keep my investment down- any other suggestions on good tube "starter" amps? Thanks again for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 Any suggestions on good tube starter amps? Lordy. That's basically what most of this place has been about the past few years... There are many options and although the Dynaco SCA-35 is a neat little amp, I think better sonics can be obtained from other vintage units. The SCA-35, though nice, it not the best in the bottom end. My personal #1 choice is the EICO HF-81 but others love the various Scott 299 selections. Pilot made some excellent amps too. I like a few of the Fisher units as well. The HF-81 recently has come way down in price making it one of the top bargains again. Lord, there is a thread about it at the moment that holds the traditional 2 Channel exchange, always an amusing thing with a cup of coffee and pad of chocolate for dessert. The archives hold so much banter on the various 2 channel tube integrateds, you would get gray before wading through it all... kh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 The last HF-81 on Ebay ended a $257 while this is less then the insane days of last year it is in no way any better bargain then any other integrated. A bargain integrated would be $150 ! All of the better integrated amps go for $200 to $350 depending on cosmetics. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minn_male42 Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 i picked up dynaco sca-35 from ebay for $151.... spent another $65 to replace all the tubes.... best purchase i've ever made for my sound system!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 I think the pre amp of the Onkyo is the problem,I owned 656,777,898 and Carver amps couldn't help em'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 Definitely looks like you've landed yourself into Scott or Eico territory. You will need to factor in some additional money to have your choice gone over to make sure it is safe to use. Some parts will probably need to be replaced. Figure on $200 to bring it back to spec -- bringing with it an excellent, harmonically rich sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyclonecj Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 ---------------- On 8/17/2003 9:06:03 AM Fish wrote: I think the pre amp of the Onkyo is the problem,I owned 656,777,898 and Carver amps couldn't help em'. ---------------- I have the opposite experience here. My Onkyo 777 works great as a preamp in direct mode feeding my Adcom amp. I know there were two different generations of the 777 released. The first one had a bad hiss problem in the center channel. Maybe that was the difference. Wolk1: You never say what your CD source is. If you are only having a problem with CD playback, have you tried a different CD player, or at least tried switching from the digital to analog outputs? I know I have the same problem if I use the digital connections from my CD player. The analog out has a much better sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtice Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 ---------------- On 8/17/2003 9:49:04 AM DeanG wrote: Definitely looks like you've landed yourself into Scott or Eico territory. You will need to factor in some additional money to have your choice gone over to make sure it is safe to use. Some parts will probably need to be replaced. Figure on $200 to bring it back to spec -- bringing with it an excellent, harmonically rich sound. ---------------- Wolk1, I've got a factory built Eico HF-81 that I think I'm ready to let go. Rebuilt by Craig a few months ago. Email if interested. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnalOg Posted August 17, 2003 Share Posted August 17, 2003 "always an amusing thing with a cup of coffee and pad of chocolate for dessert." Kelly, I would take more like breakfast, lunch & dinna before dessert to make it through that thread! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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