Legacy Products?

[Tod]

OK, here's my situation. I'm a poorish grad student who, through the magic of Mr. Stafford's sweet lovemaking, is trying to upgrade at least a couple of steps beyond typical consumer-level audio. I'm going for a reasonably nice-sounding 2-channel setup with good speakers and excellent headphones for the computer/bedroom where I do nothing but listen to music.

I'm also about to upgrade all of my speakers for my HT setup. The plan is to go for Polk Rti10 l/r, Rti8 rear, and a pair of Rti4s in parallel for top/bottom center speakers. The projector screen makes a huge hole in the soundstage without 2 speakers, so I'll just hope I don't melt down the amp. It's worked so far at least.

Anyway, I just have a basic Yamaha 105 w/channel receiver and if I have any cash left after the speakers (at least until next semester's financial aid comes in!), I'd obviously like to get a little more power going. A product like the Yamaha RX V2500 (something with 120+ w/channel would be nice) which showed up in a bunch of threads looked nice and is in my price range. Here's the problem. I don't want to go beyond 5.1 at the moment, so don't want to pay for anything I can't use. However, all of the last generations of 5.1 receivers seem to be off the market. The 7.1 models are more than I'm willing to pay at the moment.

Does anyone know of a reliable source for "obsolete" products like that? I'm thinking in the $400-600 range if possible. Looking online, the only dealers are places like Etronics, which one buyer reviewed as having an unflattering similarity to shopping in Mexico. I don't like the idea of places like that, or ebay. I may if I'm lucky be able to buy the product. But taking a gamble on anything sets me up for a loss I can't afford to risk.

I'd love it if anyone can steer me in such a direction, unless all those models were just sold cheap on closeout and you just can't find them any more.

 

[sholling]

I've done business with etronics and while I wouldn't grade them up there with Amazon, they're ok and their prices rock. They were a week shipping my first order when I called and canceled it (no problem), the second order that I placed (too cheap to resist) went out same day and they do have live english speakers to talk to. Remember that they are just NYers so you need to expect some attitude issues. I'd grade them as 3 of 5 stars but would not worry about being cheated as long as I've done my homework on product warranties.

If you don't need HDMI I'd look at the Pioneer VSX-816 ($250ish), if you want HDMI then the VSX-1016 ($400ish) would be a good choice. It all depends on your needs. Your system is going to sound great if you have the money to pull it off.

Personally I'm a cash and carry kinda guy and if I were equiping a dorm room I'd put a $90 ATI HDTV Wonder tuner card and a totally awesome $40 Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card in my PC and plug in a Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 Ultra speaker setup and rock the living crap out of the dorm for under $500 instead. Trust me it gets LOUD while staying very clean for the price! I'm nearly debt free and I just hate to see a student take on even more debt. A couple of my semi-successful friends have been in debt for over 20 years with their student loans, and are paying for their kid's college and are getting hounded to death. Anyway you're an adult so it's your call and I'll respect it.

 

[Tod]

Thanks for the reply already. Yeah, the debt thing isn't the greatest but I'm touched with a bit of OCD when it comes to certain things. If I get the idea in my head, there's pretty much no stopping it. And I am earning pretty good money at the moment too doing some teaching on the side, so it's not all bad.

I can handle a wait for the stuff, but what worried me about Etronics and all of the other similarly listed sellers that show up on nextag or bizrate were the cases of incorrect items, remanufactured being sold at new price, items never being received, etc. However, if a few other people show up in support maybe I'll consider buying.

I should say I'm in a real house, not just a dorm room, and frequently have people over for movies. And I've already invested enough that I can't back down now. The projector, screen, Velodyne DPS-12, and a start on the Polk speakers. My existing ones worked (some older JBLs and others), but I know how much better it can get. These people don't know (or maybe they do know) how lucky they are to have me as a friend.

For the computer, I've already got a Harman Kardon HK-3480 (just got it!). The speakers in there right now are some Sony bookshelves and JBL sub, all bought in an uncontrollable fit of poverty some years back. Out of consideration for the roommates (I have rather eclectic musical tastes) though I mostly listen on my lovely Sennheiser HD 600s so have managed to put up with the molestation of my ears when not using the 'phones thus far. I'm about to change to possibly some Wharfedales (the Diamond 8s with the maple wood/champagne front are pretty!!!) or Axioms or something like that. $300-400 range budgeted for those.

But yeah, my main concern now is finding enough cheap power to run what I'm getting for the theater.

 

[sholling]

I have the HD-600s as well. They get rather picky. What do you listen to? Just curious. With your sub might I suggest some Marcus miller if you like Jazz. Or Roy Buchanan's You Are Not Alone of you love the blues. Stuff few know about. If you are a fan of either style then expect to be blown away by the greatest bassist and the greatest guitarists of all time.

 

[Tod]

Mostly classical. Not Mozart, either. You can listen to that stuff on a clock radio. Other composers such as Mahler, Shostakovich, Part, Hovhaness, Vaughan Williams, that need power in some cases or purity and silence in others to even give them the chance to express what they were trying to say.

Beyond that, some Bluegrass, a lot of traditional European music, and most importantly some of the Scandinavian fusion bands (especially those on the Northside label). Garmarna, Hedningarna, Gjallarhorn, Varttina, Frifot are some. Crazy stuff and I love it! And I do listen to the occasional bit of "normal" music, or at least some that's on the edge of normal. Some alternative stuff and also British Trip Hop like Massive Attack and Portishead. Needs some bass again.

And the only guitarist I listen to for now is Leo Kottke. It's not usually my favorite instrument, but he makes it work for me. No real taste for jazz/blues, although maybe someday that will change. Anyway thanks again.

 

[AVRat]

You may want to rethink the Polk RTi 10s unless you plan on powering them with a “VERY ROBUST” amp. A mid-level receiver doesn’t power them appropriately. It would also be prudent to wire the 4s in series instead.

You might consider the Pioneer VSX-1016 receiver - $400: http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4111547

 

[Tod]

I've tried the Rti4s in series and parallel, and they sounded best in parallel. Series seemed to produce some distortion. I was able to turn down the center level somewhat in parallel, and hopefully that takes enough load off the amp that I don't fry anything. On the other hand, if I burn it out maybe I'll get a new one sooner.

Yeah, the more I read I may consider starting with the Rti8s for the mains, some smaller bookshelf speakers (the Wharfedales or Axioms I plan on getting) for the rear, and then when I can afford a new amp move the rears to my computer setup, 8s to the rear, and then get the 10s for the front. Just circulate things around a bit. I was hoping to get away from mismatched speakers sooner, but anything's probably better than what I've got going now.

Thanks again for the input. It is helping me focus my thoughts a bit more, since I'm trying to get things that will put the desire to upgrade out of mind for a long time. Like until I'm a rich successful PhD. Sarcasm intended entirely. In my field, the only ones are corporate sellouts. But at least until I get a full-time job.

 

[goodman]

In my field, the only ones are corporate sellouts. But at least until I get a full-time job.

What is your field?

 

[Tod]

Wildlife Conservation-related things. I'm a student, but I'll either end up teaching, government agency biologist work, university-based research, or Taco Bell. Not corporate sellout.

 

[Tomorrow]

Wildlife Conservation-related things. I'm a student, but I'll either end up teaching, government agency biologist work, university-based research, or Taco Bell. Not corporate sellout.

Think you can escape, eh? I see I gotta chase you and your dreams down over here, too.

A Yamahaha RX-V2500 will do quite nicely for your needs and in your price range. Plus it has the flexibility of being useful to you for many years. PM me if you want a good source.

And nice career choice, Tod. But forget the burger flippin'. Write Dr. Jacques Gauthier at Yale, and tell him I told you to ask him for a job. Anyone who begs for help getting out from under JBL speakers can't be all bad.

Good cheer.

 

[Tod]

Actually I started this one first, and have since gotten much more information on the other one.

And what should appear on Craigslist yesterday but a RXV 2500... Only problem is the guy selling it is selling it with a complete speaker system (JBL E series) and doesn't want to do separates yet. Maybe he'll get desperate though. I'd love to trade my amp for a few dollars off his and then he'll still have something to power what he's selling. Mine could handle those speakers fine anyway.

Good luck to me though!