Quandry....

[cn11]

OK, I am in a quandry... I just tried out an Arcam AVR 300 (picked up one lightly used, for $725- couldn't pass up for that price), as a first step into HT. I am planning on going with Gallo Strada's (when they come out) for fronts/center, A'Diva Ti's (already have a pair, but not running them yet until I get a TR2 sub) for the rears, and the TR2 sub. The problem is that I just got finished A/B'ing it with my current 2 channel integrated, a Coda Continuum Unison, and it doesn't hold a candle to it when it comes to sound quality. When running the AVR 300 in direct stereo mode where all the wattage is optimized for 2-channel, it and the Coda are about 120 wpc each. But the Coda just has so much more soundstage, upper end detail, and deeper bass with harder slam. It's no contest. If home theater is going to be such a step back in sound quality, I am not willing to go that route. I would just be happy to go with a pair of Strada's, and the TR2 sub, and listen to movies in 2 channel plus sub. Or does anyone have suggestions for a HT processor that would work with my Coda?

Suggestions/ideas?

-Cheers.

 

[Haoleb]

Luckly for you the arcam has preamp outputs so you can use it as a preamp to the coda and hopefully keep most of what it has to offer for 2 channel performance while still being able to have surround sound.

Keep in mind though that it will still be different than running your source directly into the coda since you will be adding another component in the chain. I think the only thing you can do is just try it and see what it does for you.

 

[jamie2112]

Legacy Audio pairs really well with the Coda. Check out their website.

 

[cn11]

Man, do I have some researching/decision-making to do! Thanks for the suggestions to this point.

Much pondering...

 

[TLS Guy]

OK, I am in a quandry... I just tried out an Arcam AVR 300 (picked up one lightly used, for $725- couldn't pass up for that price), as a first step into HT. I am planning on going with Gallo Strada's (when they come out) for fronts/center, A'Diva Ti's (already have a pair, but not running them yet until I get a TR2 sub) for the rears, and the TR2 sub. The problem is that I just got finished A/B'ing it with my current 2 channel integrated, a Coda Continuum Unison, and it doesn't hold a candle to it when it comes to sound quality. When running the AVR 300 in direct stereo mode where all the wattage is optimized for 2-channel, it and the Coda are about 120 wpc each. But the Coda just has so much more soundstage, upper end detail, and deeper bass with harder slam. It's no contest. If home theater is going to be such a step back in sound quality, I am not willing to go that route. I would just be happy to go with a pair of Strada's, and the TR2 sub, and listen to movies in 2 channel plus sub. Or does anyone have suggestions for a HT processor that would work with my Coda?




Suggestions/ideas?

-Cheers.

Did you try the Arcam's ext. pass through inputs? That is the only way to eliminate the processor all together.

Possibilities are that there is something wrong with the ARCAM, or it does not like your current speakers. What are your current speakers? You told us what you are not using.

Really these sort of issues speak to the fact that the proper place for power amps is in the speakers. We need to move to a situation where all speakers are powered ones.

 

[Haoleb]

Really these sort of issues speak to the fact that the proper place for power amps is in the speakers. We need to move to a situation where all speakers are powered ones.

That... Would probably be.... The worst day in my life.

 

[cn11]

...speakers

Did you try the Arcam's ext. pass through inputs? That is the only way to eliminate the processor all together.

Possibilities are that there is something wrong with the ARCAM, or it does not like your current speakers. What are your current speakers? You told us what you are not using.

Really these sort of issues speak to the fact that the proper place for power amps is in the speakers. We need to move to a situation where all speakers are powered ones.

My speakers are Meadowlark Shearwater Hotrods. 2-way floorstanders, with 7" scanspeak woofer, & scanspeak revelator tweeter. They're very easy to drive, musical, and have very nice bass response.

The Arcam *SEEMS* like it is functioning properly. It is close to the Coda, but more congested, a bit less treble extension, and less bass presence / slam.

 

[TLS Guy]

My speakers are Meadowlark Shearwater Hotrods. 2-way floorstanders, with 7" scanspeak woofer, & scanspeak revelator tweeter. They're very easy to drive, musical, and have very nice bass response.

The Arcam *SEEMS* like it is functioning properly. It is close to the Coda, but more congested, a bit less treble extension, and less bass presence / slam.

There must be some alchemy between your speakers and your coda.

Take a look at this waterfall plot of your speakers.

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/669/index7.html

Just look at the complete mess in the crossover region. I would expect those speakers to sound congested.

I know those drivers pretty well and I don't consider them candidates for first order crossovers. Unfortunately very few combinations are.

The waterfall plot is the best window into how a speaker will actually sound. That one is ugly.