Erukian Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I'm running 4ohm 88db sensitive bookshelf speakers, so they're not exactly easy to drive, but i respect the expertise of people in this forum to give me an honest recommendation despite them not being klipsch's and all.. The speakers are for a bedroom setting and as far as I can tell, if I want something good I have to buy used. If anyone has something they believe will match up with my speakers, please let me know, i'm considering everything at this point. Tubes, SS, Tripath, integrated or power amps... The impedance curve on the speakers makes it somewhat easy to drive for a 4ohm speaker, the bass/mids are smooth and detailed, the bass is somewhat tipped up around 40-55hz (where it starts to roll off just a bit) so integrating with a sub is somewhat hard. The highs are bright and detailed for a typical soft dome tweeter, but definitely not klipschs' sharp detail. I'd say sonically, they're closest to the Polk LSi9's, but with a bit more brightness. Thanks, -Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Best bet would be an older 5 channel HT reciever used in 2 channel mode. In most cases, 500 or less, it will give you about 130 watts per channel in 2 channel mode with a power supply that will deliver very good performance since it was designed for 5 channels. Added value is the builtin DAC that will out perform the DACs used in most CD. DVD, SAT, and cable recievers if used via the coax connection. These HT recievers have advanced modes that let you customize the sound for just about any room larger than a phone booth but smaller than a gym. These HT recievers usally have FM as well as a phono stage. A few use class A output. Nothing like having a nice remote as well. You can probally get a real nice one for about 250 - 300. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Well I personally have never heard a budget 5 channel HT receiver that sounded even remotely good in 2 channel mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyKlipschFan Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Craig said.... Well I personally have never heard a budget 5 channel HT receiver that sounded even remotely good in 2 channel mode. So true... Take a model that is 2- 3- 4 years old, Look for a owner that is the 2nd 3rd too but fanatical about audio switching all the time. My suggestion....... look on audiogon. No H H Scotts at that price Craig? Or sugestions? They might be wonderful for him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedball Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Like Roger mentioned above.... www.audiogon.com ........take your time and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyKlipschFan Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 OK, get these asap.. Norh makes great products, you will be happy! http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1176387144 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 OK, get these asap.. Norh makes great products, you will be happy! http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1176387144 He would need a pre-amp to drive them....only 50 bucks left out of the 500 budget...since the mono blocks cost 450 before shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Well I personally have never heard a budget 5 channel HT receiver that sounded even remotely good in 2 channel mode. As used HT reciver is different than a budget HT reciver. Some examples of used HT recievers and common ebay prices....... Onkyo TX-DS939, list 3200, used 500 or less, 120 wattsX5 in 5.1 mode, 130 X2 in 2 channel mode. Onkyo TX-DS989, list 3800, used 500 - 800, 130X5 in 7.1, 130X2 in 2 channel JVC1024, list 1000, used 250, 110X5 in 5.1 mode, 130X2 in 2 channel mode, this one has class A output stages. All of the above rated at 8 ohms, more output at 4 ohms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 "No H H Scotts at that price Craig? Or sugestions? They might be wonderful for him..." Someone was selling a Scott for 600 that recently had 400 bucks worth of restoration work done...but these vintage tube units don't put out more than 50 watss per channel....might not be the best choice of 88 db speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben. Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Limited output might be fine in a bedroom - depends on how you use it. I typically only turn on the bedroom system when going to sleep and am distracted by anything louder than barely audible. I still use SS as I think tubes would be a bit of waste for me. Having a tube amp on for 6-8 hours when I only hear it for 30-60 minutes doesn't make sense. If he's using it for more active listening, that's a different story. The Scott mentioned was texas42 selling a 299B for $650, I think. Probably more like 20W? A nice deal but maybe not the best tool for the job. How about one of the larger vintage HK twin powered units? Mine worked out really well in the BR - using a console pull now, though. Fisher Futura. Sounds really nice, too and looks little more subtle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben. Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I just remembered that I've seen McIntosh MA6100 end in that price range as well on ebay. I've never heard one, but they are really classy looking and I can't imagine they'd sound bad. I was looking for one for about a week or so until I came to my senses and grabbed the Fisher out of the garage. If I'm going to spend $500 on audion in the bedroom, it should be on speakers. (That's just me, though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Beat this offer.....$250, includes remote, I am the original owner. This Dolby Digital receiver features a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, multiple digital inputs, five power amps to drive five channels, and a subwoofer output for special effects. . 130 watts x 2 min. RMS, both channels driven into 8 ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz with no more than 0.02% THD . 100 watts x 5 min. (2 Front, 1 Center, 2 Rear speakers) RMS, into 8 ohms, 1kHz, 0.8% THD . Back-lit Multi-Brand A/V-CATV-DBS Remote Control . Dynamic Super-A for smooth sound reproduction virtually free of switching and crossover distortion. . K2 Interface (main channels) provides better resolution ,enhanced ambience, and greater depth by eliminating distortion known as "jitter" and "ripple" . 1-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter (main channels) greatly enhances signal to noise ratio and dynamic range . Dolby Digital decoder built-in for theater quality surround from digital sources . Fully Discrete Outputs to ensure greater fidelity and longer life . Digital Acoustics Processor (DAP), with 4 preset sound fields (DSP) to digitally recreate these venues in your own home. . 3D-PHONIC Virtual Surround Sound creates dramatic home theater sound with just two front speakers . Text COMPU LINK will transmit text data carried by media like CD-Text and MD to display on your receiver and a television . AV COMPU LINK provides simple one touch operation between your JVC audio and video components. For example, pop a pre-recorded VHS tape into the VCR and it will automatically power up your receiver and your television and then turn them each to the proper inputs. . Enhanced COMPU LINK Control System . TV Auto on . Multi-Color On Screen Display simplifies control by allowing you to choose options from your television screen to operate your receiver . Dot Matrix Fluorescent Display with Sound Pattern . Line level Sub Out . 3-band electronic S.E.A. equalization with 5 presets and 1 manual setting for each source to give you flexible tone control and minimize sound degradation . Loudness switch, Balance, One-Touch Operation, Velocity-Sensitive Rotary Encoder Volume Control . Front Panel A/V Input with S-Video for the convenience of hooking up any A/V source quickly and easily such as a camcorder or video game . 5-Channel Pre-outputs for added flexibility in creating a high end A/V system . 1 Assignable Coaxial Digtial Input that you can designate to any digital source . 2 Assignable Optical Digital inputs that you can designate to any digital source . 4 S-Video inputs . 2 S-Video outputs . 1 Composite Video output . 2 Main Speaker Terminals . 40 AM/FM station memory . 2 Year parts and labor warranty . Weight: 26.3 lbs . Width: 17 3/16" . Height: 6 3/16" . Depth: 16 1/4" . Banana Plug capable for easy connection . High-Rigidity Z-Chassis . Dolby Pro Logic in Full Digital Processing . Center Tone Control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptnBob Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 A big sleeper these days is the Harman Kardon Citation 12. Not much to look at, but full dual mono construction, and a fair amount of pop in its 60 wpc. You can get the amp, the matching HK Citation 11 preamp and a reasonable tuner for under $500. For that matter, you might be able to find a MAC 1700 or 1900 for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erukian Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 I have two offers i've come across today. First is a Parasound HCA-1000A for $220 from a coworker. Second is a Carver Pro ZR1600 from audiogon for $540 shipped. The biggest difference being the Parasound is rated 200WPC @4ohms (John Curl designed), the Carver Pro is 600WPC @4ohms, but the carver is tripath based which has it's own positives. Ahh decisions decisions, why is it deciding on electronics is so damn hard for me ;( I have no reason to really buy a multichannel setup because if i go multichannel, i'm definitely not going to use these speakers in that setup, buying a multichannel amp is a decision for later, when i get a house. I do indeed do serious listening in my bedroom. -Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 The Parasound HCA-1000A is a great unit....price is good too...but your going to need a pre-amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I don't want to dog any gear too much and some avr's are ok but.....I had the affor mentioned jvc,that was the very worst avr I ever owned with 2ch that would make you cry,but not the good kind.It's only my opinion so don't take it the wrong way but I would not pay $50 for one.I had a jvc from the 80's,about $1k,maybe a 90X or something close,it sounded very nice with music,big change and my last decent jvc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 "I don't want to dog any gear too much and some avr's are ok but....." Don't worry about it...everyone knows that off shore stuff take a beaten around here. I offered up quite a bit of off shore stuff here first at deep discounts with no takers. I put it on ebay and get the buy it now price almost instantly which is always a few hundred more than what I offer my used gear here for. I keep forgetting that when folks ask for an options...they really want to limit responses to US made products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 "Well I personally have never heard a budget 5 channel HT receiver that sounded even remotely good in 2 channel mode. " I am at a loss as to why this would be. Granted, I fire up my ST-70 when I desire an extended dual-channel mono session. OTOH, the only difference I hear from my Class D HT in 2 channel mode is the distinctive "musicality" of the tubes (of course there is the warm glow...but that is gravy). Granted, both sound far superior to SS at any price (proving you can't make a square wave fit a round note). Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJbob Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 If you go with either of these, I have a Bottlehead foreplay II modded (SNubber, C4's boards and stepped attenuators) that would work great with those amps. That I would let go at good deal Let me know NJBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 A big sleeper these days is the Harman Kardon Citation 12. Not much to look at, but full dual mono construction, and a fair amount of pop in its 60 wpc. You can get the amp, the matching HK Citation 11 preamp and a reasonable tuner for under $500. For that matter, you might be able to find a MAC 1700 or 1900 for that. I just picked up a mint Mac 1900 that I may sell but 45 wpc may not be enough for 88 db speakers. Depends on the size of the room. Edit: Oops, 5100, wrong Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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