Down sizing need advice on a A/V….

[Silverfoxvtx]

Hello,
I am 73 and have to down size my system in a big way. I have my 2 channel and home theater in the same small space and the two channel has to go leaving the Home theater, here is my two systems and I have to end up with just one doing the 2 channel and home theater in one box. Meitner MA3i dac/streamer hooking direct to the Pass Labs XA-25 amp to the Volti Lucera speakers, Home theater is the Yamaha RX-A2060 which needs updating, front mains is the Volti Audio Razz speaker, center channel is the Klipsch RC-6411, with the Klipsch RP-250S, 4 of them…the question is there a A/V that will give the 2 channel goodness and home theater?..going to keep the Volti Audio Lucera speakers as the front mains for 2 channel with a A/V and the Klipsch speakers doing the rest of the home theater..so I have to end up with a A/V…I am use to the Yamaha is there a Yamaha I should upgrade to or should it be a different brand…
thanks

 

[Nondemo01]

Good morning! Sorry to hear you need to down size. I did the same not long ago with a full atmos system when I moved to a small apartment and had to put my stuff into storage. I went a different route though, I bought KEF's amazing LS60 Wireless speakers and never looked back! They're my current "entertainment system" for both music and movies. Couldn't be happier. If you want to keep your speakers and just use an A/V Receiver or AVR, I'd look at the Denon AVR-X4800H or a refurbished Marantz Cinema 30. The Yamaha's are good but have been lapped by the offerings from Denon and Marantz. The ability to use Dirac or Audyssey is a plus and the DAC performs well enough for most.

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Nondemo01
The Marantz 30 keeps coming up, I will figure something out…Thanks

 

[Eppie]

@Nondemo01
The Marantz 30 keeps coming up, I will figure something out…Thanks

Nice AVR but you will pay a little more for the Marantz name. The Marantz and Denon AVRs offer similar specs and features but some don't mind paying more for the Marantz name and looks. I have the Denon X4800H but the 3800H will suffice for most people and offers good value. You might find some old stock on-line. The latest version is the 3900H which came out this year. It has more channels of amplification than you need but that's ok.

Pretty much all modern AVRs have a stereo mode for 2-channel playback and many have a pure or direct mode if you want to avoid digital processing of music. Nice thing with an AVR is you can also experiment with surround modes. Some music can sound quite nice with Dolby Neural-X.

If you still like Yamaha, look at the specs for the RX-A series (A2A / A4A / A6A)

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Eppie
my main focus is the sound quality of the 2 Channel when playing music with my horn speakers, the Volti Lucera, there’s nothing much on tv these days, being retired I have watched every thing a couple times..There is a fine line with horn speakers not coming off to bright, my current Yamaha isn’t to bad but a tad bright…

 

[Eppie]

@Eppie
my main focus is the sound quality of the 2 Channel when playing music with my horn speakers, the Volti Lucera, there’s nothing much on tv these days, being retired I have watched every thing a couple times..There is a fine line with horn speakers not coming off to bright, my current Yamaha isn’t to bad but a tad bright…

Pretty much any modern amplifier will measure flat from 20Hz to 20KHz so any perceived brightness is most likely due to other factors. Toeing the speakers out slightly so that they are off-axis from your listening position can help roll off the highs a little bit. The sound is influenced by speaker placement and positioning much more than the equipment. Depending on your seating distance, floor and wall reflections can come into play too.

If you are using YPAO, try pure or direct mode to disable sound processing and see if it is the YPAO processing affecting the highs.

I looked at the specs for your RX-A2060. It has more power than the AVRs mentioned and is a good AVR. Personally, I don't think you would gain much in replacing it. The main difference would be Audessey sound processing vs YPAO. Audessey tends to work better than YPAO. Some don't like the surround processing and just leave it off, If you have manual EQ you can try some manual tone adjustment.

Horn speakers are very efficient and don't need a lot of power so the A2060 is more than enough. If you happen to like the Pass Labs amp, note that you can use the pre-amp out on the Yamaha to drive the Pass Labs amp for the main speakers. You would need to run YPAO again because the power level from the Pass Labs is different from the Yamaha and you will need to level match the centre channel and surround speakers to your mains, or level match them manually. I think you should experiment with what you have before buying a new AVR.

@AcuDefTechGuy is familiar with Yamaha and can correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@Eppie thanks a lot that’s great advice, no use buying another A/V if I don’t need too….I will do a little experimenting…all I have room for is one box to do everything….I am pushing it keeping these monster speakers…might have to sell them..

 

[TLS Guy]

@Eppie thanks a lot that’s great advice, no use buying another A/V if I don’t need too….I will do a little experimenting…all I have room for is one box to do everything….I am pushing it keeping these monster speakers…might have to sell them..

I vote for selling the speakers. They are not units I would like to listen to. The acoustic measurements I have found on those speakers look like the results of a bottom end amateur hour designer.

Very, very nasty that.

 

[lovinthehd]

Looking at your gear think you're fine as is, why do you think it isn't? What is so special about your dedicated 2ch gear?

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

It am leaning that way, they are popular should not be hard to sell them, any suggestions on other speakers that are very efficient?…the Lucera and the Razz sound good but I came from the Forte IV that speaker I didn’t like…
my budget is around 10k and can stretch it to 12 if I have too…

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@lovinthehd I am not stuck on my 2 channel it all can go, looks like I have the wrong speakers….i need to hear other speakers..and go into a different direction with your guys help…I am in the Pacific Northwest…of Washington state…

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Pretty much any modern amplifier will measure flat from 20Hz to 20KHz so any perceived brightness is most likely due to other factors. Toeing the speakers out slightly so that they are off-axis from your listening position can help roll off the highs a little bit. The sound is influenced by speaker placement and positioning much more than the equipment. Depending on your seating distance, floor and wall reflections can come into play too.

If you are using YPAO, try pure or direct mode to disable sound processing and see if it is the YPAO processing affecting the highs.

I looked at the specs for your RX-A2060. It has more power than the AVRs mentioned and is a good AVR. Personally, I don't think you would gain much in replacing it. The main difference would be Audessey sound processing vs YPAO. Audessey tends to work better than YPAO. Some don't like the surround processing and just leave it off, If you have manual EQ you can try some manual tone adjustment.

Horn speakers are very efficient and don't need a lot of power so the A2060 is more than enough. If you happen to like the Pass Labs amp, note that you can use the pre-amp out on the Yamaha to drive the Pass Labs amp for the main speakers. You would need to run YPAO again because the power level from the Pass Labs is different from the Yamaha and you will need to level match the centre channel and surround speakers to your mains, or level match them manually. I think you should experiment with what you have before buying a new AVR.

@AcuDefTechGuy is familiar with Yamaha and can correct me if I'm wrong here.

I will keep using my Yamaha CX-A5100 AVP and RX-A3080 until they die.

I don’t use room correction. But I do think Audyssey XT32 is better than YPAO.

 

[lovinthehd]

@lovinthehd I am not stuck on my 2 channel it all can go, looks like I have the wrong speakers….i need to hear other speakers..and go into a different direction with your guys help…I am in the Pacific Northwest…of Washington state…

I'm not even sure what you refer to the 2ch gear. Speakers are usually a good way to change things rather than the other hardware. Best place to audition speakers is in the space you have for them. I'm in Oregon, so also pnw....

 

[Silverfoxvtx]

@lovinthehd i am looking to get rid of my 2 channel the Meitner MA3i dac, Pass Labs XA-25 amp. and the Volti speakers the Lucera and the Razz and keep my Yamaha RX-A2060 A/V and get the right speakers…I just don’t have space any more…the Razz is in my home theater at the moment in the front channel, for new speakers around 10k or a little more…

 

[TLS Guy]

Looking at your gear think you're fine as is, why do you think it isn't? What is so special about your dedicated 2ch gear?

Well, with an FR like that, that system has to be an unpleasant earful. There is nothing wrong with two channel systems, I have one in the family room and that would suit me fine if push came to shove. It sounds very good and I really enjoy in the depth of winter by the fire. In fact I think most systems would be better 2.1 or 3.1. If the speakers are capable it is fine without the 0.1. I have listened to 2.0 most of my life. Well done there is nothing wrong with it at all. hHgher quality two channel systems easily best poorer multichannel systems.

 

[TLS Guy]

@lovinthehd i am looking to get rid of my 2 channel the Meitner MA3i dac, Pass Labs XA-25 amp. and the Volti speakers the Lucera and the Razz and keep my Yamaha RX-A2060 A/V and get the right speakers…I just don’t have space any more…the Razz is in my home theater at the moment in the front channel, for new speakers around 10k or a little more…

I probably am not one to ask about speakers. I have always designed and built my own speakers, and so I don't have to speaker shop. But I do hear commercial speakers in homes and dealers now and again, and I am more often than not negatively impressed.

I did help a local member pick out some KEF towers, and I have to say they sound very good and he is pleased with them.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

It am leaning that way, they are popular should not be hard to sell them, any suggestions on other speakers that are very efficient?…the Lucera and the Razz sound good but I came from the Forte IV that speaker I didn’t like…
my budget is around 10k and can stretch it to 12 if I have too…

You could do much worse than a pair of Philharmonic Audio HT Towers and a matching HT center.
They are sold out, but I think if you ok with waiting, you could still order them from Dennis. (I think)
Another recommendation would be Arendal Sound (like the 1610 Tower 8) and MoFi SourcePoint V10.
Ideally, you should listen to these somewhere before purchasing.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well, with an FR like that, that system has to be an unpleasant earful. There is nothing wrong with two channel systems, I have one in the family room and that would suit me fine if push came to shove. It sounds very good and I really enjoy in the depth of winter by the fire. In fact I think most systems would be better 2.1 or 3.1. If the speakers are capable it is fine without the 0.1. I have listened to 2.0 most of my life. Well done there is nothing wrong with it at all. hHgher quality two channel systems easily best poorer multichannel systems.

Due to the whole system or just some arbitrary measurement of his speakers? Two ch is fine as long as that's all you've got for content. I also have listened to 2.0 most of my life as that is all that there was. Why bother with poor multich systems?

 

[lovinthehd]

@lovinthehd i am looking to get rid of my 2 channel the Meitner MA3i dac, Pass Labs XA-25 amp. and the Volti speakers the Lucera and the Razz and keep my Yamaha RX-A2060 A/V and get the right speakers…I just don’t have space any more…the Razz is in my home theater at the moment in the front channel, for new speakers around 10k or a little more…

The avr should do fine for dac/amp. Keeping an external amp of better capability is one thing, but that Pass amp is relatively a low power and limited use amp IMO.

 

[TLS Guy]

Due to the whole system or just some arbitrary measurement of his speakers? Two ch is fine as long as that's all you've got for content. I also have listened to 2.0 most of my life as that is all that there was. Why bother with poor multich systems?

Those measurements were by John Atkinson of Stereophile. You can trust his measurements.