Need help with pairing a receiver with the Songtowers

[rd3482]

Hi,

Do you guys think that it would be okay to pair the Onkyo TX-SR707 with the Salk Songtowers with no other amp? Any other suggestion for a receiver that is in the 1k price range? (one feature that is mysteriously missing from so many other models that I have found was a headphones jack, which I find essential)

I am planning down the road to buy a dedicated amp if necessary, but wanted to know whether you think this should be a good solution. I do know from Jim Salk that he thinks that although 4 ohms and 88 sensitivity, he considers these speakers to be very easy to drive. All comments and suggestions are most welcome!

 

[Cristofori]

Hi,

Do you guys think that it would be okay to pair the Onkyo TX-SR707 with the Salk Songtowers with no other amp? Any other suggestion for a receiver that is in the 1k price range? (one feature that is mysteriously missing from so many other models that I have found was a headphones jack, which I find essential)

I am planning down the road to buy a dedicated amp if necessary, but wanted to know whether you think this should be a good solution. I do know from Jim Salk that he thinks that although 4 ohms and 88 sensitivity, he considers these speakers to be very easy to drive. All comments and suggestions are most welcome!

Many people here will tell you than any well built, name brand amp/receiver will do a satisfactory job in pairing with most speakers. But you must ultimately decide what you feel is the best sounding match.

I can personally vouch for the Marantz SR-4023 ($499) stereo receiver, as I've been running 4 ohm Behringer 2031P speakers through it for several hours without the Marantz even getting the slightest bit warm, much less hot. It has pre-out/main-in jacks, and a subwoofer output as well.

I don't know if your only talking HT receivers here, but if your concerned about a headphone jack, then Marantz is probably one of your best bets in here as well, as they claim to pay special attention to this area, although I haven't actually used mine yet.

 

[rd3482]

Thank you so much for your reply. I forgot to mention in the original post that although I will be starting with just the two speakers, I do intend to use this for HT as well in the near future, so I will have to have a setup that will suit HT. I was considering a 7.1 or 5.1 receiver and pairing it with something such as the XPA-2 just for the fronts. But I just wonder if it's needed...

 

[Cristofori]

Thank you so much for your reply. I forgot to mention in the original post that although I will be starting with just the two speakers, I do intend to use this for HT as well in the near future, so I will have to have a setup that will suit HT. I was considering a 7.1 or 5.1 receiver and pairing it with something such as the XPA-2 just for the fronts. But I just wonder if it's needed...

OK, you are talking HT here! Apparently from what you are saying, there must be a problem with a lack of headphone jacks with HT receivers. I've not noticed this with the stereo/integrated amps I've used.

I don't know your situation, but I don't think it's absolutely vital to have separate amps powering different speakers in an HT set up, but if you have the money to do so then more power to you!

 

[sholling]

I'm going to be powering mine (when they get here) with an Onkyo TX-NR906, at least initially. We'll see how that does. Jim Salk tells me that it should power the STs just fine. Refurb TX-SR707s are going for $450 and are rated for 4ohms, but if you want just a bit more power in reserve you might consider a refurbished TX-NR1007 for $900. As much as I'd love to have an Emotiva XPA-2 driving them but I'd have to spend a fortune running a new 20amp circuit and I just can't afford to do that.

 

[Swerd]

Both Jim Salk and Dennis Murphy agree that SongTowers are an easy load to drive, and that almost any HT receiver will drive a pair of them without problem. Dennis has said that any amp or receiver that can deliver an honest 50 wpc at 8 ohms will get the job done.

I have heard SongTowers (my own or another pair) driven by a variety of receivers or separate amps. All of them do very well:

• Older Denon HT receiver (70 wpc at 8 ohms)
• Outlaw RR-2150 stereo receiver (100 wpc at 8 ohms, 160 wpc at 4 ohms)
• Audio by Van Alstine Insight 250 amp (125 wpc at 8 ohms)
• Audio by Van Alstine Ultimate 70 tube amp (35 wpc at 8 ohms)
• B&K EX4420 amp (200 wpc at 8 ohms, 350 wpc at 4 ohms)

SongTowers can easily handle high power, but they do not require it to sound good.

Have you already ordered STs? If so, congrats .

If you haven't yet and are on the fence, I feel very confident in saying you're gonna love them.