The right amp or receiver

ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
How long was that combo of gear together and in use? Before this problem started occuring?
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
My receiver wouldn't push these Vegas without kicking out I don't think a sub would help
Most subs have their own amp, and can take some of the load of lower bass both from the speakers' amp as well as the speakers themselves....just because they are 15" speakers doesn't mean they do lower bass particularly well (they're woofers, not subwoofers). Larger speakers in larger speaker cabinets tend to be more efficient/sensitive, so often they need less power than smaller speakers....
 
M

Mamabray

Enthusiast
How long was that combo of gear together and in use? Before this problem started occuring?
Most subs have their own amp, and can take some of the load of lower bass both from the speakers' amp as well as the speakers themselves....just because they are 15" speakers doesn't mean they do lower bass particularly well (they're woofers, not subwoofers). Larger speakers in larger speaker cabinets tend to be more efficient/sensitive, so often they need less power than smaller speakers....
Well the receiver is about 20ys old and the Vegas are around 10 now. The receiver never could push the Vegas. I always figured we needed a better receiver but could never really get a opinion on what would be a good receiver. I just found you guys a figured I'd ask some questions an May be a recommendation.
 
MaxInValrico

MaxInValrico

Senior Audioholic
I have a set of cerwin vega vs 15 towers. Currently I have a pioneer 400w receiver. But I can't turn it up past 1/4 of the way with out the receiver kicking out. What can I do to stop this? New receiver maybe a power amp? If so what is a good recommendation? Thanks
To drive the speakers, I would recommend a decent 2 channel amplifier or a pair of monoblocks. The Outlaw Audio 2220 monoblocks are $399 per and should have more than enough power (200 wpc into 8 ohms, 300 wpm into 4 ohms) to drive your speakers to whatever volume you can tolerate. Provided your receiver has a pre-out you should not have to replace it.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
The reason I asked about how long this pairing has been together is to help identify if there may still be another problem lurking (pinched wire, etc).
That said, I think it is a safe bet that updating the Receiver is possibly overdue.
I would strongly encourage ditching any external EQ, too.

Are you using this system for HT (TV/Movies)? Do you have other speakers than these 2 you want to connect?
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
No pre-outs on the Pioneer 307 except for the sub pre-out. Monoblock amps wouldn't necessarily be meaningful, altho the Outlaws are pretty good deals in any case. A pro amp like a Crown XLS1502 would be less money and more power, tho you still need a receiver/pre-amp for most uses. The 307 does have a tape loop for external eq , tho (and tape loops aren't offered on current gear due drm).
 
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lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
$800 for a new multich avr with pre-outs (let alone the external amp) is doable with some shopping around perhaps, maybe go used, especially if your video needs are only that of the 307.
 
ryanosaur

ryanosaur

Audioholic Overlord
A good point is to be certain you have the connections on any new Receiver you will need for the euqipment you have in your system that you plan to carry forward.
It may be wise to consider a receiver that will support external amplification.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
My receiver wouldn't push these Vegas without kicking out I don't think a sub would help
Are these the speakers you have? The specs are meaningless for those speakers. They will not have 95 db sensitivity, nor will they take 400 watts. Everything about them appears to be absolute junk. They really do look like the bottom of the heap, and likely have an impedance curve that is a torture test from a carelessly designed three way crossover.

My advice is to stop abusing your receiver with that horror show, and get some decent speakers instead.
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
I have a set of cerwin vega 15 towers. This is why I'm asking I know that Vegas are power hungry
The problem is that if one search for Cerwin Vega 15, one will find all sorts of variety such as LS-15, XS, LV-17, AT-15 and possible more.. So which model do you have exactly? Does the speaker have a name plate that can identify the exact model number?

If you can't identify it exactly, then I guess based on the other models we can find and assume they all have similar impedance and sensitivity specs, and then would be: 4 ohms or 8 ohms, 102 dB/W/M.


Edit: Thanks to HD, now I know it is the VE-15, only 95 dB/1W/1M, still very easily to drive unless it has some nasty dips to say between 2-3 ohms.

In that case unless you listen to very extremely loud level, your receiver should be able to power it without shutting down. So how loud was it at 1/4 volume just before the receiver shut down? If it was very loud, then turn the volume down a little and see what happens.

You cannot go by this 1/4, 1/2 volume thing because it depends on the input level and that could be dependent on the source/contents you listen to, though in most cases, it shouldn't shut down at 1/4 but could still be normal for your case.

Do you have another pairs of speakers you can try just to prove your old Vega 15? is not the problem?
 
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Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
2 pages in and we still don't know what speakers you're using! That info is necessary to help troubleshoot. It would also help if we knew how loud 1/4 volume is...

Can you download a free spl app on your phone and give us an idea?
 
S

Sachb

Full Audioholic
Ok then please give me ur opinion on what receiver would you recommend. My husband likes to feel like he at the concert lol. Good clean sound.
Grab the Yamaha RX-A1080 before the stock runs out. New units are still available on eBay, giving you the link to the top-rated seller:

 

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