pre-amp or receiver?

[dloweman]

I currently have paradigm monitor 7, cc370, titans, hsu vtf2-mk2 with a kenwood vr705 receiver and was wondering if I should get a new receiver such as yamaha 1500, or whether a preamp would be better? I really know very little about preamps and how to set them up, but would be willing to get one instead of a new receiver if that is a better option! Thanks for any information you have
Derek

 

[Mr.T]

Change the receiver.
http://www.shopping.com/xPO-RX_V1500

 

[zumbo]

A pre-amp would also require an amp. You are talking about alot of money. I added an amp to my rx-v1400.

 

[RLA]

It should be noted that you better take care buying the RXV line
online as you will get no warranty from Yamaha
If you are considering Yamaha,Denon,Pioneer Elite or Marantz
this should be a consideration before buying there are clear warnings posted on there perspective sites

 

[mtrycrafts]

I currently have paradigm monitor 7, cc370, titans, hsu vtf2-mk2 with a kenwood vr705 receiver and was wondering if I should get a new receiver such as yamaha 1500, or whether a preamp would be better? I really know very little about preamps and how to set them up, but would be willing to get one instead of a new receiver if that is a better option! Thanks for any information you have
Derek

What are the Kenwood's shortcomings?

 

[dloweman]

trycraft,
the kenwood lacks the power to really push these speakers. It only produces 40hz on up, doesn't produce down to 20 hz. It is a fairly warm receiver which doesn't match well with my paradigms, i think i would get much more detail with something different powering it! It seems like i have to have it turned up to its max to get the listening volume i want and excess static comes with cranking it this loud. too small of power supply.
derek

 

[zumbo]

If you are cranking it past half way, you may be causing some serious damage to your speakers.

 

[dloweman]

zumbo,
half way? that would only be to like -35db which isn't even pushing the amp is it? how does this damage the speakers?
derek

 

[gene]

the kenwood lacks the power to really push these speakers. It only produces 40hz on up, doesn't produce down to 20 hz.

Your receiver most likely does go down to 20Hz. The manufacturer rated 40Hz to 20kHz to give the illusion of more power since the power supply is a bit small to get that power rating at full bandwidth.

 

[mtrycrafts]

trycraft,
the kenwood lacks the power to really push these speakers. It only produces 40hz on up, doesn't produce down to 20 hz. It is a fairly warm receiver which doesn't match well with my paradigms, i think i would get much more detail with something different powering it! It seems like i have to have it turned up to its max to get the listening volume i want and excess static comes with cranking it this loud. too small of power supply.
derek

You have a sub, right? So why would it matter that the receiver is only speced to 40Hz? By the way, it doesn't stop sending signals below 40 Hz.
How much power yours have? I saw one at their web site, an 806 has 100 watts, certainly plenty for those speakers. I didn't see a freqiency response spec but why would it not be flat? Not rocket science today.

 

[dloweman]

the kenwood is 100W X 5 channels from 40-20 000hz at .07%thd

 

[dloweman]

also, i only go louder than -20db for dvd music...usually up to -10db...it goes to -4db max though

 

[bobman1235]

You have a sub, right? So why would it matter that the receiver is only speced to 40Hz? By the way, it doesn't stop sending signals below 40 Hz.
How much power yours have? I saw one at their web site, an 806 has 100 watts, certainly plenty for those speakers. I didn't see a freqiency response spec but why would it not be flat? Not rocket science today.

Those wattage ratings are meaningless. Most of those lower-end receivers rate their power with one channel driven, so a 100W receiver is more like 25 when you're driving 5 channels. This is also why if you crank it up too high volume-wise, you're going to have serious clipping and risk damaging your speakers.

 

[zumbo]

dlowman, you said you had it cranked up to it's "max". This is what I meant about damage to the speakers. If half volume is not enough to satisfy your needs, you need more power! Half way, on a scale from 0-100, would be 50.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Those wattage ratings are meaningless. Most of those lower-end receivers rate their power with one channel driven, so a 100W receiver is more like 25 when you're driving 5 channels. This is also why if you crank it up too high volume-wise, you're going to have serious clipping and risk damaging your speakers.

Irrelevant. You will never drive all 5 channels exactely at the same time to full power, so your assertion has no real value, right?
So, you will have plenty of power when needed. It might also have a dynamic headroom as well, right?

 

[mtrycrafts]

dlowman, you said you had it cranked up to it's "max". This is what I meant about damage to the speakers. If half volume is not enough to satisfy your needs, you need more power! Half way, on a scale from 0-100, would be 50.

Well, his estimation is very subjective to begin with. Second, you assume that your scale is linear from 0 - 100. A volume control rarely is.
Who knows what he did, what he really lacks, what he really perceived without careful analysis and if necessary, bias controls implemented when needed.