Best Receiver for a pair of KEF C35s?

[Xenogear]

Hi,

I have an old pair of KEF C35 bookshelf speakers. I want to use it to liven up the sound to my DVD player, but I do not want to go the surround sound route. I merely want good quality stereo sound. Which receiver would give me the warmest sound:

1) Denon 685

2) Marantz SR4320

The room is small sized, but the speaker is 6 ohm, I think. Maybe 4. I rarely play loud though.

I really prefer a warm sound. I want to upgrade from a small HK integrated amp with no remote and only 40 watts of power. I've had the amp and speakers since 1989. The speakers are in great shape.

Thanks for the help.

 

[DCROSS]

Receiver

Arcam Avr250 From The Uk Awesome Sounding Amp For Music And Video Good Transtional Receiver .

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi,

I have an old pair of KEF C35 bookshelf speakers. I want to use it to liven up the sound to my DVD player, but I do not want to go the surround sound route. I merely want good quality stereo sound. Which receiver would give me the warmest sound:

1) Denon 685

2) Marantz SR4320

The room is small sized, but the speaker is 6 ohm, I think. Maybe 4. I rarely play loud though.

I really prefer a warm sound. I want to upgrade from a small HK integrated amp with no remote and only 40 watts of power. I've had the amp and speakers since 1989. The speakers are in great shape.

Thanks for the help.

Warm sound depends on speakers, room acoustics, recording. Tone controls or EQ should help out.
What sensitivity is that speaker? Either of those may be fine.

 

[Xenogear]

mtrycrafts

I believe the sensitivy is around 88. Not at all sensitive.

Anyway, since posting the original thread, I ran into a deal on an Adcom Pre-amp and Adcom power amp. Both are used components that I got for a fraction of their new value. They're both maybe ten-fifteen years old. Great shape. The amp is the 545II, which has 100 wpc in 8ohms and 150 wpc in 4 ohms. And oh boy, do they bring out the sound of the speakers! They sound great.

The only negative is that the power amp does not have video switching.

At this point, to get a fuller sound, would it be better to just add a subwoof or get a bigger set of speakers? Either way, I have to go the ebay route.

Won't the sound of the subwoofs be muddy because it's taking speaker-level signals and then passing it back to the satellite's?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I believe the sensitivy is around 88. Not at all sensitive.

Anyway, since posting the original thread, I ran into a deal on an Adcom Pre-amp and Adcom power amp. Both are used components that I got for a fraction of their new value. They're both maybe ten-fifteen years old. Great shape. The amp is the 545II, which has 100 wpc in 8ohms and 150 wpc in 4 ohms. And oh boy, do they bring out the sound of the speakers! They sound great.

The only negative is that the power amp does not have video switching.

At this point, to get a fuller sound, would it be better to just add a subwoof or get a bigger set of speakers? Either way, I have to go the ebay route.

Won't the sound of the subwoofs be muddy because it's taking speaker-level signals and then passing it back to the satellite's?

Firstly, it would be the pre-amp that would have the video switching, if it had one. How badly do you need a video switch capability?

If you get a powered sub, make sure it has speaker level inputs and outputs and internal crossovers. This way, it will not rob any power from the main amp and use a small amount of the signal from the low band. The, the band above the crossover will go to your main speakers with full power of the amp capable.

 

[Xenogear]

Subwoof

Does that mean that the speaker wires coming from the amp will go instead to the powered subwoofer? Won't that degrade the sound going to the main speakers?

Also, the Adcom pre-amp has a second set of line level outputs (probably for a second power amp. Can I use that instead and connect it to the line level input of a powered subwoofer?

Will a reasonably priced Yamaha subwoofer do the trick?

Thanks for the help. I've never owned a subwoofer and I'm confused.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Does that mean that the speaker wires coming from the amp will go instead to the powered subwoofer? Won't that degrade the sound going to the main speakers?

Yes, first it would go to the sub. The sub would take the low frequency and pass on the frequencies above the sub crossover. No, it should not degrade the main speakers.

Also, the Adcom pre-amp has a second set of line level outputs (probably for a second power amp. Can I use that instead and connect it to the line level input of a powered subwoofer?

You could use that if it is activated at the same time. In another word, if it is passing the signal without switching it in thereby loosing another active output. You certainly could try it and see what happens. Use a left over interconnect and see.

Will a reasonably priced Yamaha subwoofer do the trick?

Thanks for the help. I've never owned a sub-woofer and I'm confused.

Well, that depends on how much you like low frequency reproduction. If you are after something like a theater experience, look for a better sub
SVS or Hsu. If, just to help a bit with music, it should work out. The only think would be is if it turns on as a low signal is present and it uses a mechanical solenoid for switching it on; that could be audible and annoying.

 

[Xenogear]

Got my subwoof

Thanks for the help. I got my KEF 30B subwoofer. Tell me if I connected it in the best way for music.

I connected the line out from the Pre-Amp to the line in of the subwoofer. I then took the line out from the subwoofer and connected it to the line in of the Power Amp. The speaker binding posts of the Power Amp is connected to my speakers.

So far it sounds good. I used left over component interconnects. Should I get cables specially made for subwoofers? Anything I can do to get the best sound possible?

Also, I'm using my Sony DVD player to play CDs. Would I be better off getting a dedicated CD player?

Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks for the help. I got my KEF 30B subwoofer. Tell me if I connected it in the best way for music.

I connected the line out from the Pre-Amp to the line in of the subwoofer. I then took the line out from the subwoofer and connected it to the line in of the Power Amp. The speaker binding posts of the Power Amp is connected to my speakers.

So far it sounds good. I used left over component interconnects. Should I get cables specially made for subwoofers? Anything I can do to get the best sound possible?

Also, I'm using my Sony DVD player to play CDs. Would I be better off getting a dedicated CD player?

Thanks

It works. Great. You will need to play with the volume on the sub, if it has a control, so it will not be overpowering.

Your leftover component cables are fine. You will not get anything audibly better.
Don't bother with a CD player, unless you want convenience from a multi disc player.
Remember, audio is not exempt from bs, mythology and voodoo. Come back to this place that usually free of that stuff

 

[Xenogear]

DVD player

Do you think my inexpensive Sony DVD player is playing the compact discs as well as they need to be played? Maybe a used Denon or Sony ES from ebay might give better sound? What do you think?

 

[westcott]

Do you think my inexpensive Sony DVD player is playing the compact discs as well as they need to be played? Maybe a used Denon or Sony ES from ebay might give better sound? What do you think?

For CD sound, your Sony DVD player should be fine using digital connnections.

For DVD's, you could benefit from a better DVD player like a Denon or Panasonic. Oppo if have a DVI display.

P.S. I have an appointment to audition the KEF XQ series next week. I like the coincident design found in KEF speakers and other single point sound source solutions. I think a sub, properly calibrated and set up would really make your KEF's shine!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Do you think my inexpensive Sony DVD player is playing the compact discs as well as they need to be played? Maybe a used Denon or Sony ES from ebay might give better sound? What do you think?

How inexpensive?
Can you use digital out from it? Then, it is just fine. If no digital, then is it a discman?
But, most likely even analog should be fine.

 

[Xenogear]

thanks

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I picked up a KEF 30B subwoofer. They add bass to the system.

My DVD player is probably $80 when bought back in 2004. I didn't look to see what kind of connections it has in back. My Adcom pre-amps may not have that kind of hookup anyways.

I want to hook up a separate sound system to my Playstation 2. I found a used receiver and I can get some used speakers reasonably priced. What is your opinion of the Sony GX700Es receiver? I can start off with two speakers.

Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

What is your opinion of the Sony GX700Es receiver? I can start off with two speakers.

Thanks

Don't know about it. You have any info about it? A link to performance, specs, etc?

 

[Xenogear]

str-gx700es

Don't know about it. You have any info about it? A link to performance, specs, etc?

It's an older 5.1 receiver. 70wpc up front, center, and I believe 25wpc in the back.

 

[mtrycrafts]

It's an older 5.1 receiver. 70wpc up front, center, and I believe 25wpc in the back.

That will work, just be aware of possible limitations as to what speakers you buy for it, how loud you plan on playing, room size. Your best bet is an 8 ohm speaker and close to 90 dB sensitivity. This should handle a powered sub.