Trying to combine old and new -- looking for advice

[lovinthehd]

If I'm used to 901s, will they sound like pipsqueaks to me?

Well it's been about 40 years since I heard 901s....a fun party speaker at the time if well set-up. The 530 is quite a bit different and yes perhaps not quite up to the spl of the 901 with the right amp....but not a contest I'm particularly interested in either. In a larger room I do tend to like larger speakers vs smaller ones but smaller ones in my smaller bedrooms are quite nice. Depends.

 

[Mike S.]

Well it's been about 40 years since I heard 901s....a fun party speaker at the time if well set-up. The 530 is quite a bit different and yes perhaps not quite up to the spl of the 901 with the right amp....but not a contest I'm particularly interested in either. In a larger room I do tend to like larger speakers vs smaller ones but smaller ones in my smaller bedrooms are quite nice. Depends.

I just ordered a Marantz NR-1200. My bride is concerned that bookshelf speakers won't bring down the thunder. KEF 150s with stands would be $700 and would probably lead to a subwoofer purchase. I wonder if floorstanders might serve me better.

 

[lovinthehd]

I just ordered a Marantz NR-1200. My bride is concerned that bookshelf speakers won't bring down the thunder. KEF 150s with stands would be $700 and would probably lead to a subwoofer purchase. I wonder if floorstanders might serve me better.

Oh I'd definitely want a sub with the JBL530s or KEF150s in any case....and even with most floorstanders except the very most capable. I have pretty decent ones but still prefer use of subs myself.

 

[sterling shoote]

I just ordered a Marantz NR-1200. My bride is concerned that bookshelf speakers won't bring down the thunder. KEF 150s with stands would be $700 and would probably lead to a subwoofer purchase. I wonder if floorstanders might serve me better.

JBL Stage A170's are your route to nirvana from floor standing speakers, for little money. These will pair nicely with the Marantz. https://www.jbl.com/loudspeakers/STAGE+A170.html Still, the Studio 530's are pretty awesome. Studio 530 | Professional-quality 125-watt Bookshelf Speakers (harmanaudio.com) BTW, Steve Gutenberg, a highly qualified professional audio reviewer, highly rated the JBL Stage A170's, His review is on YouTube. Review: JBL’s mighty $500/pair tower wows the Audiophiliac - Bing video

 

[Mike S.]

JBL Stage A170's are your route to nirvana from floor standing speakers, for little money. These will pair nicely with the Marantz. https://www.jbl.com/loudspeakers/STAGE+A170.html Still, the Studio 530's are pretty awesome. Studio 530 | Professional-quality 125-watt Bookshelf Speakers (harmanaudio.com) BTW, Steve Gutenberg, a highly qualified professional audio reviewer, highly rated the JBL Stage A170's, His review is on YouTube. Review: JBL’s mighty $500/pair tower wows the Audiophiliac - Bing video

 

[Mike S.]

We can call in the dogs and piss on the fire -- the hunt is over. I've ordered a Marantz NR1200 and a pair of JBL A170s. I went with floorstanders to save the cost of stands and, possibly, the cost of a sub. I want to thank all you stereo savages for your help.

I talked to a tech at JBL about speaker wire. He suggested 12 or 14 gauge regular old wire. He didn't know anything about fancy-shmancy wire that I've seen advertised. I currently have a 30-year-old product called Monster wire. If anyone here has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

 

[Eppie]

We can call in the dogs and piss on the fire -- the hunt is over. I've ordered a Marantz NR1200 and a pair of JBL A170s. I went with floorstanders to save the cost of stands and, possibly, the cost of a sub. I want to thank all you stereo savages for your help.

I talked to a tech at JBL about speaker wire. He suggested 12 or 14 gauge regular old wire. He didn't know anything about fancy-shmancy wire that I've seen advertised. I currently have a 30-year-old product called Monster wire. If anyone here has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

I think you'll be pretty happy with those. Yes, regular 12 or 14 gauge is all you need. Expensive speaker cables are just snake oil. If your Monster wire is a heavy enough gauge you can use that but "lamp cord" or stranded copper wire is fine for speakers.

 

[Mike S.]

I think you'll be pretty happy with those. Yes, regular 12 or 14 gauge is all you need. Expensive speaker cables are just snake oil. If your Monster wire is a heavy enough gauge you can use that but "lamp cord" or stranded copper wire is fine for speakers.

Monster wire is suitable for tying your yacht to the dock, I think. It's massive.

 

[Eppie]

Monster wire is suitable for tying your yacht to the dock, I think. It's massive.

As long as it fits the speaker and amplifier terminals. Banana plugs make that easier and all modern gear accepts banana plugs.