Receiver for KEF 205/1

[deppdudepp]

Hi all,

I was lucky enough to get a nice set of KEF speakers: 2x Reference 205/1, 1x Ref 202 Center, 1x PSW4000 Sub, 4x Q2DS.
Honestly, I plan to hook up only the 205s (plus eventually the subwoofer) and store the rest for the moment.

Somebody offered me an used Yamaha RX-Z9 for a reasonable price.
My focus is more on stereo music than on movies. However I feel it could make sense to invest into HDMI capability... Still, TV+speakers should also be operated with AppleTV. I had the Marantz SR6008 in mind.

Any thoughts on this? Would the Marantz drive the 205s at all? Discontinued flagship vs. new mid-range?

Thank you for suggestions and explanations.
Best,
Lukas

 

[deppdudepp]

No opinions? Old vs. new

Do I need HDMI?! Is HDMI a must?! As stated before: Main operation is music. However if I want to use an HDMI signal (let's say AppleTV), can I pass the HDMI to the screen and the audio via optical to the receiver?! What is the benefit of a HDMI receiver?

Thanks!

 

[Adam]

Hi, Lukas, and welcome to the forum! Sorry that it took so long to get a response.

Most TVs will downconvert audio from an HDMI input into two-channel stereo for output through the optical audio output (not all TVs, but most). Which TV do you have? Now, an Apple TV also has an optical audio output for a direct connection to a receiver, so you wouldn't have that problem if using an Apple TV.

HDMI can also carry the newer audio codecs that an optical connection can't (such as DTS-HD MA), but your focus seems much more on stereo than on the newer home theater audio systems.

 

[PENG]

No opinions? Old vs. new

Do I need HDMI?! Is HDMI a must?! As stated before: Main operation is music. However if I want to use an HDMI signal (let's say AppleTV), can I pass the HDMI to the screen and the audio via optical to the receiver?! What is the benefit of a HDMI receiver?

Thanks!

The RX-Z9 is dated so you will be buying it mainly for the amps. The 6008 seems a little weak for the 205, I would suggest the Denon AVR-4311 that is 4 ohm capable and you should be able to get it for around 1200 or less now.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yamaha Z9: 224 WPC x 2CH 8 ohm/382 WPC x 2CH 4 ohms.

Marantz 6006: 153.2 WPC x 2CH 8 ohms/195.8 WPC x 2CH 4 ohms.

Denon 4310: 179.3 WPC x 2CH 8 ohms/258.5 WPC x 2CH 4 ohms.

Denon 3312: 143.3 WPC x 2CH 8 ohms/225 WPC x 2CH 4 ohms.

Yeah, I think 196WPC into 4 ohms is plenty of power for most people like me who average about 80dBC and peak @ 105dBC w/ both speakers + all subs playing. Doubling the power to about 400 WPC would give you another 3dBC.

So Z9 is 382 watts vs 259 Watts Denon 4300s vs 196 watts on Marantz 6000s vs 225 watts Denon 3300s/X4000.

Yeah, I think 196WPC into 4 ohms is plenty of power for most people like me who average about 80dBC and peak @ 105dBC w/ both speakers + all subs playing. Doubling the power to about 400 WPC would give you another 3dBC.

Again, it would take 450 watts to increase by 3dB from the Denon X4000's 225 watts.

From 3m, assuming sensitivity of 90dB, to produce 90dB from one speaker would require 9 watts.

93dB from 1 speaker would require 18 watts.

96dB would require 36 watts.

99dB requires 71 watts.

102dB requires 143 watts.

103dB requires 180 watts.

2 speakers playing simultaneously would increase SPL by 3dB from 103dB to 106dB.

If you use subs like me, the speakers will require A LOT LESS power.

Just did another SPL check. I sit 12ft or 3.66m from my speakers. Song was "6ft under" by The Woods. Max SPL I got w/ 2 speakers + 7 subs was 102dBC. And this peak was actually constant - practically average SPL of 102dBC, which is pretty loud to me.

Just for fun I turned off all 7 subs and just listened to 2 KEF speakers and got a max of 87dBC. So the subs added 15dBC.

A single speaker would be ~ 84dBC (-3dB).

So in my case, to get a loud overall CONSTANT/ continuous peak (not short quick peak) of 102dBC from 3.7m, assuming 86dB sensitivity per spec, it requires only 9 watts per speaker to produce 87dBC from both speakers + another 15dBC from the subs.

I listened to "Way Down Deep" by Jennifer Warnes and the max SPL was 105dBC. Turned off all subs and the max SPL was 87dBC. So here the subs added 18dBC. In this example, it requires 9 watts per speaker to produce an overall SPL of 105dBC.

Of course, the subs probably require a lot more power.

I played "Crystallize" by Lindsey Stirling and the max SPL was 107.5dBC. All subs off produced a max SPL of 86.5dBC. So here the subs added 21dBC.

Who says I don't listen to loud music?