I want to confirm if my thoughts about audio receiver

[marius_ss]

I have 2.1 audio configuration in my room and my AV receiver its very old (i hope is going to last more years )))) and thinking to buy an stereo receiver! below is my 2.1 config=

PC===========>100W-AV-receiver=======>Active SUB with 100w AMP ==========>L,R 40W Yamaha bookshelf's

But I'm little bit unsure about it ! Can someone with more knowledge confirm if my statement is correct ?! From my knowledge if SUB has 100W integrated AMP then I assume that I can use instead of AV receiver with 100w any other receiver even with lets say 15W AMP !!??? or there are some limitation ?!

 

[marius_ss]

If you change from a avr to a stereo amplifier you need to make sure the amp and sub have suitable connections

Avr Amps will have single sub out,

Stereo amps could have left and right pre out
Or possibly a subwoofer pre out
And high level outputs


Subs may have low level and or high level
Or possibly just low level

So if you had a amp with high level out only, and a subwoofer with low level input only, you won't have a way to connect the two.

I use high level in/out for my configuration nothing else !! my AVr its 1993 doesn't have SUB out connector !!
I assume even to connect from PC directly to SUB, it should do the job, correct me please if I'm wrong ?!

 

[marius_ss]

ETA, the Watts of the subwoofer only goes to power the bass speaker in the sub. It doesn't power the Yamaha speakers. They get their power from tge receiver. This is part of the reason why connecting tge sub and speakers to your PC won't work as you expect.

OMG .. how I missed this point!! that make sense absolutely, now i feel like a moron totally forgot about sub itself!!! so then turn out that I definitly need powerful enough AMP for bookshelf Yamaha !!

 

[marius_ss]

Is your old AV receiver not working properly, .....What is your reason ..

There are 2 reasons why I have such plans !
1. Yes my old Technics SA-GX505 sometimes loosing one channel when starting PC and just increasing the volume little and its working OK, from my knowledge this should be easy to fix, however im a big fan of audio components from late 80s and 90s so I can't convince myself to throw it in the bin !
2. And here comes the 2nd reason; I'm just thinking to buy cheap device, possible from Cambridge Audio but not necessary. The reason behind this is that before I had my Infinity SUB + Technics AVR, just when i bought my cheap Yamaha i also get from eBay for literally £25 this device Cambridge Audio A1 and the music from this was way different ! I don't know how to describe but I noticed this as soon I changed it. I don't want say Technics is bad, its sounds ok but just doesn't have same music as that CA. Maybe because that was just Stereo AMP and Technics is all in one ?!? but I never believed that this its a easy thing to hear.

 

[marius_ss]

(stops to take big breath)

.... Yes this is what I like in those devices but apparently Ill add on top of it just a stereo AMP for music only ...

The CA A1 was available in two versions when first launched.

my was mk3..

 

[marius_ss]

Well I realized that Ill go with the easy way, I'll buy stereo receiver or integrated amp, from the perspective of money-space-productivity its the best way !! I wish to go "quality" way with > DAC+PreAMP+AMP but this is over my budget ... and for my cheap Yamaha I don't see big logic !! Also still have in my head Class D device because of electricity but again I heard about they sound different than AB !!...

front display panel are a thing of the past.

well maybe it is for many but im from that generation so I rather have one of that instead of brand new ugly Marantz made in china ..
Anyway thanks for help !!

 

[marius_ss]

Don't take my words too serious lucid, the only concerns I had if technically I'm doing right, but regarding of EQ and display its something which i do like and I bough it because it is present on the market... so at the moment I'm aiming for integrated amp to see one more time if Ill see that difference!!... If I will, then I'll keep it.... as i said my Technics still has a good sound for me, yes I am trying to keep my music collection in flac/ape/wv but no more than that ! I'm not the person who will spend 100 units for a audio cable because I don't plan to buy Sonus faber speakers or Naim AMP... so I guess yo understand my level of audio..

 

[marius_ss]

...a better amp.

after few days of research I found some decent devices for me (Yamaha A-U670/A-U671 and Cambridge Audio CXA80) unfortunately prices are at serious level for me !! but the idea to connect PC > USB > AMP> SUB> Bookshelf's impressing me !!

 

[marius_ss]

Arcam SR250

.. this monster looks nice but in my case doesn't fit in my standards !! I wish something below 12cm tall and another main point is that I need USB digital input otherwise I have to buy additionally a sound-card to insert in the only pci slot in my PC with other digital outputs !! thanks for recommendation, Arcam sr250 looks very nice for TV installation system but not in my case for PC sound!!

 

[marius_ss]

I definitely wouldn't have put the Yamaha A-U670 and the CXA80 together

I do agree with you her these are different devices but in my case I'll take a risk to buy class D !! however CXA80 is on top of my list at the moment but unfortunately very rare device !!