Old Sony Hifi System vs Denon AVR X2300W for 2 Channel Stereo Listening

[Sachb]

Hello Audiophiles,

I've been testing my old Boston Acoustics A23 speakers with 2 completely different equipment for stereo listening including:

1) AVR X2300W which is 95 watts rms rated
2) Very Old Sony MHC RV990D (Not supposed to do that) which is 100 watts rms rated

After continuos testing, I felt that I prefered the sound of my Old Sony Hifi system without any AUTO calibration compared to my X2300W.
The speakers produced a good amount of Punchy bass and mids when I connected the speakers to the sony. Ideally I shouldn't be doing it cause it would damage my speakers in the long run, but how is this cheap old Sony able to produce good sound for stereo music??

Why do AVRs sound so thin and lack the punch for 2 channel stereo listening?

 

[lovinthehd]

Hard to know what you're hearing, preference is a subjective thing; not sure what you mean about supposed to or not, or damaging your speakers. Those are very small speakers (3.5" drivers) and not capable of a lot in and of themselves either as main L/R speakers, I'd think better suited to use as surrounds. Comparing them should be done with the pure direct mode, rather than apply an eq or dsp (in either unit). Tone controls are defeated on the Sony during the comparison? How far away are you sitting and what spl levels are you listening at?

All my avrs do quite well in 2ch mode with a variety of speakers, even compared to my old 2ch separates with more powerful amps. The Sony is only rated at 100wpc at 6 ohms at 1khz with 10% THD according to its manual. At 8 ohm with full bandwidth and minimal thd who knows but far less than 100wpc, as a guess in the 50-60 range. Takes a doubling of power to make a 3dB spl difference, and hard to know just how much power you're using, too.

 

[Sachb]

All my avrs do quite well in 2ch mode with a variety of speakers, even compared to my old 2ch separates with more powerful amps. The Sony is only rated at 100wpc at 6 ohms at 1khz with 10% THD according to its manual. At 8 ohm with full bandwidth and minimal thd who knows but far less than 100wpc, as a guess in the 50-60 range. Takes a doubling of power to make a 3dB spl difference, and hard to know just how much power you're using, too.

It's how the power is utilized, and not just about a raw power, Sony tries to maybe colour the sound, as some1 said but in a good way which is how a music is meant to be heared but Denon with and without Audyssey is just not convincing for the stereo listening. It's just lacking in the mids I believe, the particular punch is missing.

Those are very small speakers (3.5" drivers) and not capable of a lot in and of themselves either as main L/R speakers, I'd think better suited to use as surrounds. Comparing them should be done with the pure direct mode, rather than apply an eq or dsp (in either unit).

Yes, and I did try in Direct mode too, it sounded dull and lifeless, I guess AVR's afterall aren't meant for 2 channel music listening, and it's specifically made for movies, TV shows.

You have to try it for yourself to understand what I'm trying to say here. There's something about this Sony HiFi system that gives a Punch to the Speakers and end result is better exciting sound for music. Even with DIrect mode, it sounds so bad on the Denon X2300W.

I think it's about the MID bass and mids all together.

Tone controls are defeated on the Sony during the comparison? How far away are you sitting and what spl levels are you listening at?

There's this option called" Groove, V Groove" basically a loudness button, not a tone control, I think this makes the speaker louder and livelier.

I sit 3m away from the speakers.

I replaced the LCR to ELAC's Debut 2.0 series, Bookshelves and Center as I found that Boston acoustics sounded muddy in dialogue.

 

[lovinthehd]

As I said, hard to know what you're hearing as differences or what those differences mean. If the Sony makes you happier, enjoy. I've got several avrs, pre-amps, amps in the house and quite a few different speakers as well. I think I've tried hundreds of combos but haven't come to your conclusion at all, as I still use my avrs even in just 2ch mode...YMMV. A loudness contour generally boosts the bass and treble somewhat to match the way we hear at lower spl levels. DynamicEQ in the Denon is a loudness contour of sorts as well, and changes with volume level (and can be adjusted as to use with movies or music).