Amp & Speakers (5.1)

[Steves_pc]

Yes another of those threads, but not starting from nowt.

Currently have 4 month old AVR-X2300W running MA Vector 10's but wanting something prettier and bigger up front for a bit more music listening duty, also have Arcam/TDL/Pro-ject elsewhere for only music duty.

Done a bit of review reading and what not, whilst i'm kind of inclined to stick with Denon give some of the recent reviews i've often wanted to try a Yamaha but never quite took the plunge, so if anyone can persuade me to one side or t'other it'll be you bunch here

Anyways Looking at something along the lines of the Yamaha RX-A2070 with MA Bronze 5
will look at adding ceiling speakers for height/other channels in due course but just wondering what you're thoughts were towards this combo.

TIA.

 

[Steves_pc]

Hi Guys,

Saw the silver 10's at tysons but dont want black at all unfortunately otherwise i'd have snapped them up, need to be white.

Oh and i should have said i was wanting a whole new set of speakers not just something bigger up front wanting a set with floor standers up front but not massive ones, and like the look of the rears in MA's av kits, otherwise i've been quite happy the Vectors.

 

[Steves_pc]

I think i know what your trying to say about white, reflection from the tv? shouldnt be a problem as the wall the tv will be on is 18ft (room is 18x22 ish) so can keep the speakers far enough away.

Hell no, not forgetting a sub thats why i've been kinda lazy in looking at the AV speaker packages so at least the sound will be more cohesive.

As for budget, i was looking at 2k ish but for speakers and amp, happy enough with the 2300 but didnt want to spend a good amount on speakers and use with an amp that didnt do them justice (just read whathifi's review of the amp to see what speakers they used - think i may have been over concerned then!), although obviously i dont have to buy both at once - on the flipside while the wifes away

Thanks for the input

 

[Steves_pc]

I realise 2k isnt a great amount but it's a good jump up the scale from what i've got currently, I'm just not keen on spending 10k to listen to coronation street but will use it for music as well so wanting a fair price/quality balance, i'd love to play with the likes of arcam/cyrus/naim/nad etc and go pre/power but i cant justify it to myself let alone the mrs.

anyways, of the above i had Celestion/Kef/Wharfdales but many years ago, i also appreciate what your saying about one company doesnt always do the best of all, hence going separates all those years ago, havent looked recently at Rel but remeber they used to do pretty good subs, guess i'm getting lazy in my old age and was banking on it being easier to keep the cohesion going as the manufacturer has done the hardest work for me, only got two choices for a look & listen, Richer sounds & Sevenoaks so i'll see what's what with them, only a few door apart too.

 

[Steves_pc]

Hi,

so seen and had a look and listen and now the goal posts have shifted somewhat!
and they have approval of swmbo

I nearly bought the MA Silver 200's, all that stopped me was they'd need to order them in
anyways was thinking back to the suggestion of BK subs and both stores thought the BK's were a bit slow for music -
i did take that with a pinch of salt at the time as obviously neither could sell me a BK sub so maybe they would knock them,
they did agree though they were a lot of sub for the money and i could easily do worse, given the sub with the MA's would be the Silver W12 (V2)
which is about a grand i wondered if a rel t9i or SVS SB2000 would be a better option or again would you guys still say BK or stick with the MA sub?

 

[Steves_pc]

tbh I'd ignore anything a sales monkey has to say. You'll NEVER get an unbiased view from any of them. Do your research, decided what you want, then buy it.

BK subs are best bough directly from BK. This nonsense of them "being too slow" is BS. They just wanted you to buy their stock.

Lol, that's an insult to monkeys, theyr'e way too smart to do retail work

just gave them a chance to have their say, just so happens theres a few xxls400's on the bay, cosmetic seconds but am i really going to sit and look at it??

 

[Steves_pc]

I dont want too much sub, want to keep the house intact ish

As for the BK's their comment are

“This is a grade "B" subwoofer which means it will have a small blemish which will not spoil the appearance”

and

“There's will be a very small tiny mark on the cabinet which will be difficult to see”

 

[Steves_pc]

That Rel is £750, and only 10", with 10" radiator and 325W.
You can buy a better sub, a BK Monolith + would wipe the floor of it, and you'll have money left for a Anti-Mode
And that MA sub is £1000, 12" 500W. Again overpriced.

That's the price we pay with brands, i'd like the monolith+ but the size is a no go at just over 600 high, not a good WAF.
the ma sub being physically small is great for WAF, while the BK xxls400 may not be the best option, at the moment it seems to be the best balance of WAF/bottom end/price
but it aint over yet as there may be something i've not looked at yet, preference wise i'm leaning towards a DF sealed variety upto 12"

 

[Steves_pc]

That's another catch 22, bang for music boom for movies, i prefer the tighter bass hence the sealed option, one of each would be good but that scores a big fat 0 on the WAF scale.

Which did you opt for?

 

[Steves_pc]

Been looking at XTZ but looks to be a tad too tall, so that leaves the likes of the BK XXLS400 ond the SVS SB2000, your ultra certainly looks like it can kick butt - literally!
but that's more than i want to spend on a sub, already wondering if the MA sliver 200's will be enough as they seem quite small physically compared to my old RTL 3's
these 2 subs look about right size wise and also ok output wise for the size of room (18x22ft ish) but now thinking i maybe need to go with the silver 300's for the fronts
and also up the centre to the C350...

It's hard work deciding which to get, mind you the RTL's i've had since new so the next speakers i buy could well be my last!

 

[Steves_pc]

Upping the fronts was more to do with size of my existing speakers and how small the 200's are in comparison, the change of centre is more to do with keeping the dialog levels up with the fronts or at least in principle.

 

[Steves_pc]

Like the look of the sb ultra13 spec especially for it's size, wasnt sure i needed a £1700 quid sub but was still thinking when a sb2000 popped up on the bay 8mth old thought i'd try my luck and got it for just over £500 so can at least have a play and see if i like what it produces, hopefully turns up tomorrow so it's likely to be a noisy weekend

 

[Steves_pc]

So long as it's half as good as the reviews then it 's a winner, especially at the price.

i guess the amp on the ultra13 makes quite a bit of difference with regards to it's agility as well as spl.

 

[Steves_pc]

That is a HUGE magnet, also helps understand why the whole thing weighs more than the rest of the speakers put together, the cone has quite a range of travel too, so its not just the extra 1.5"

 

[Steves_pc]

Well so far so good, in fact i had to to reduce the levels for the sub, and after much contemplation went with my original plan and got the Silver 200's.
Size wise they're the better option, liking the sound, clearer and larger soundstage, even though i'm still running the old vectors for surround\centre duties i'm fairly happy with the sound so far, still intend to update the centre and surrounds.