Joseph Audio Help

[Mies07]

I am trying to set up a modest 3.1 home theater system. I am poised to replace my current ampification system to match my two new purchases:
1. Joseph Audio RM25XL
2. Oppo BD95
Yes, I meant 3.1 - FR, FL, Center, sub -later to grow into 5.1
My current short list is:
Cary Cinema 12
Parsound Halo A51
My budget is about 9K

Alternate system:
* Denon 3312CI (used as preamp only)
* Conrad Johnson ET3 Tube Preamp with home theater pass-through
* Halo A51
Any opinions out there as to which will sound better? My primary concern is stereo and 5.1 SACD music playback. The HT side of things is secondary, but I am mating to Pioneer Kuro 110FD, so I would like to do justice to it, too.
Definitely require ability to stream music and video, but the Oppo satisfies that - am willing to forego separate video processing in favor of superior pre-amp (Cary) but on the other hand there is the issue of trying to future-proof (Denon 3312CI - although would be happy if they were to release a 4312ci or 4313ci)
Thanks!

 

[j_garcia]

So you've heard the Cary? How did you determine that it is a better pre than the Denons? There is really no "future proof", only how long before you will need to upgrade I'd say in that regard, the Denon would be the smart choice.

VERY nice speaker choice BTW.

 

[Swerd]

+1 on the nice speaker choice. Despite their high price, I like them.

I've only seen & heard them at an audio show – I've not known anyone who owned Josephs. Just curious, what other speakers did you listen to before you chose the Josephs? And what led you to choose them?

The A51 amp has plenty of juice to drive the RM25XLs, which apparently are not very hard to drive. Sorry, but I can't comment about your preamp choices.

 

[Mies07]

Thanks for responses.
Auditioned:
-Thiel CS2.4 - too clinical and unforgiving of sources
-B&W 803 - way too warm
-Focal Chorus 836 -combination of being driven by all valve system (Bob Carver Cherry 180 monoblocks) and many spotty reviews caused me to have reservations - couldn't tell if warmth, bloominess was amp or speaker artifact - probably not a fair audition
-Wilson Audio Sophia 2 (used) - out of my league, but there's always the lottery...
-Dynaudio Focus 260's - don't remeber associated equipment. but did not impress
-Various and Sundry at Best Buy Magnolias, etc.
-Joesph Audio Perspectives driven by LM (Line Magnetic) 845 219A amplifier - again way out of my league but only speaker I've ever heard that might be better than the Sophia's (at that price point -the straining, breaking price
point of mere mortals)....
-Joseph Audio RM25XL (same dealer) driven by Parsound 5250 5 channel amp w/ Marantz AV7005 pre/pro and Marantz UD7006 Universal SACD player - at last a dose of reality - listened to, among other things, the 20th Aniversery SACD Dire Straits Brothers in Arms and heard some of the tautest bass and clean, liquid, non-fatiguing highs I've ever heard at this price range. The bass surprised me - although rated to 32hz, they sound pretty full range to me. Only down size is that at 88db they need power for good mid-range, despite comments to be found elsewhere (not just here) about how easy they are to drive, and they are extremely placement sensitive - but worth the effort.
Thanks again - still hope to hear more about pre-amps from everyone.

 

[j_garcia]

Low sensitivity with a ton of power to get the SPL out of them is not a bad thing in my book actually. Plenty of people favor high sensitivity to utilize lower power, and maybe that is OK when going with tubes, but for SS, lower sensitivity is just a reason to get a better amp

 

[ski2xblack]

J_garcia, while most of my stuff follows the low sensitivity/heavy handed amplification approach, the older I get the more I'm drawn to higher sensitivity speakers. Lower distortion. Much better dynamic range. In many ways which elude the low sensitivity/high power approach, more like the real thing.

- still hope to hear more about pre-amps from everyone.

Seems to me that pre-amps are pretty easy to do well and shouldn't cost a fortune. Even the pre- sections on AVRs are transparent as can be. So, if I were you, I wouldn't sweat the pre-amp too hard, just get one with the specs, aethetics, and features you're seeking specifically for your use.

A lot of hype surrounds the output voltage of pre-amps, but few power amps require more than 2v to come to full power (e.g. some of the bigger Bryston amps, some pro-sumer amps), and most require less than 1v. Now, if you can dial back the gain on your power amps, then hotter pre-outs can pay dividends (improved s/n on what you feed the amps).

That's all I got for now. Take it fwiw, as i can't tell the difference between expensive Benchmark and mainstream mid-fi pre amps.

 

[j_garcia]

J_garcia, while most of my stuff follows the low sensitivity/heavy handed amplification approach, the older I get the more I'm drawn to higher sensitivity speakers. Lower distortion. Much better dynamic range. In many ways which elude the low sensitivity/high power approach, more like the real thing.

I agree. Low sensitivity/high power can be a good thing, but when I auditioned my speakers I had the smaller, much lower sensitivity 2 way A/V-1s and the fairly high sensitivity 2.5-way (but also 4 Ohm) A/V-2s. It was clear to me that there was a noticeable benefit to the A/V-2s in terms of more effortless output, though I still needed a bit more oomph than most receivers will provide to drive them. So, I wasn't saying that low sensitivity/high power was the best method, just that it isn't always a bad thing with the right setup.

 

[norml4721]

3.1 selection

Hi ;

You have some realy nice gear it must sound incredable. Just wandering I don't think that you did Focal justice by auditioning the bottom line of speakers that they make(Chorus). They have 2 lines above that Electra and Utopia I believe. In your price range I would think the mid to higher range of speakers that JMLabs makes would be more to your likeing. Check them out.

I am a little biased as I have been listening to there speakers for years, I love them, I have a 7.1 system. all Focal, mostly there mid line except for rears (chorus line) also with an older Pioneer Elite Plasma and Oppo 93 Blu Ray

Good Luck in finding the back end of your home theater. All that matters is that you like them not so much what other people think. regardless I wish you luck in finding what you enjoy.

Best,

Norm L (Newbie to this forum)