B&W + Yammy = harsh high end - Myth or Reality?

[Aburtch]

I'm looking to upgrade to a 5.1 surround system and have my eye on the B&W 600 series speakers. (601's for fronts and 600's for surround). I love the sound when I hear them, but they are run off of Rotel amps in the store.

I'm also thinking about the Yamaha RX-V659 (price is right and I don't need HDMI). But the sales guy said pairing B&W's with a Yamaha produced a very harsh high end. Is this true or is he just trying to sell me a $2,000 Rotel receiver? He was really pushing those things.

I would chalk it up to BS, but I seem to remember others saying the same thing. I realize this is subject to the opinion of the listener, but the B&W dealer doesn't carry Yamaha and the Yamaha dealer doesn't carry B&W. So it's hard for me to match them.

Does anyone out there have experience with B&W's paired with a Yamaha?

Thanks!

 

[Audioholics]

It's complete bunk... Period. It's kind of a pet peeve that there are people running around that haven't listened to a Yamaha receiver since 1980 and are calling them bright. We just reviewed a high-end Marantz integrated amplifier and the RX-V2700 sounded warmer - largely because it wasn't as detailed in the highs as the ~$4000 amp.

 

[gene]

Is this true or is he just trying to sell me a $2,000 Rotel receiver? He was really pushing those things.

Of course he wants to sell you Rotel. Rotel and B&W are part of the same company. Salesmen, geesh

 

[j_garcia]

Yup, Yammie was known for a brighter sound years ago, but I think they really have moved to a more or less neutral sound IMO. "Very harsh" with B&W is probalby overstated.

 

[Seth=L]

Yammy, not harsh, common misconception among die hard audiophile weirdies and sales men.

 

[Dystien]

Should be good combination.

 

[emorphien]

Yup, Yammie was known for a brighter sound years ago, but I think they really have moved to a more or less neutral sound IMO. "Very harsh" with B&W is probalby overstated.

I haven't heard a Yammie in years but I do recall them being bright. Always seemed like quality made gear though, glad to hear they're tamer now.

 

[MDS]

The simple answer is that Yes it is a myth and Yes it is reality. For some people in some rooms the combination may be perceived to be bright and others will say no way it sounds clear and detailed. The room acoustics account for the vast majority of how things sound.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm also thinking about the Yamaha RX-V659 (price is right and I don't need HDMI). But the sales guy said pairing B&W's with a Yamaha produced a very harsh high end. Is this true or is he just trying to sell me a $2,000 Rotel receiver? He was really pushing those things.
Thanks!

Ask the dealer to get a hold of a Yammy and have him demonstrate this, but be careful to level match and check the tone control setups for dealer trickery boosting the treble.

 

[Aburtch]

Thanks!

I appreciate everyone's response. It's good to get unbiased opinions here as opposed to salespeople myths.

 

[ChrisJam]

I would chalk it up to BS, but I seem to remember others saying the same thing. I realize this is subject to the opinion of the listener, but the B&W dealer doesn't carry Yamaha and the Yamaha dealer doesn't carry B&W. So it's hard for me to match them.

Does anyone out there have experience with B&W's paired with a Yamaha?

One of the shops in my area carries B&W, Rotel, and Yamaha. It'd be happy to sell you some 600-series speakers with a one of its Yammy 659 AVRs.

Chris