Proper Speakers, how do I connect them up?

gradyhawks

gradyhawks

gradyhawks

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Hello!

My dad has just given me a pair of Celestion Ditton 22's that he got from an auction for a next to zero money. Apparently they work, but I am really unsure how to connect them up to my PC or TV or the misses record player... So I wonder if you chaps can help me at all.

They have a red and a black plug in the back and they need to either connect up to a PC or a TV or a record player, of which the record player has the red and white LINE IN plugs.

Thanks!
 
Trouble with the old Celestions is that they (IIRC...) are quite a nasty load for an amp- low, irregular impedance (they draw a lot of current). While this won't trouble most decent amps, it does rule out the real bargain-basement stuff.

My recommendation would be a secondhand NAD C-series amp, C320, 340 or 350 would be ideal. Not the highest rated amps in terms of Watts, but excellent current delivery. You can get a C350 for about £80-90.
Others would be Marantz PM66 series, Rotel 9xx series- usually go for reasonable money and well worth it.
 
was gonna say get on the bay or cash converters get an old av reciever with decent specs for half the price of a new amp with half decent specs.
 
dougal1331 said:
Or this- excellent amp. No remote control, but a turntable input...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROTEL-RA-..._HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item35d7941e3e
Click to expand...


How do these sound? Also any idea if old Technics and Sansui models are any good?

I recently picked up an Onkyo av receiver for £50 has 5.1, sub pre out, HDMI etc but no idea how it compares to old integrated amps or receivers there's so much choice. I think newer receivers are better due to features but if going with just an amp then some old models are probably better.

All I need now is some speakers bought some second hand mordaunt short but they were damged in transit

This is my first foray into hifi separates as until now I've been going with active speakers :p
 
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speakers are very subjective I would go to richer sounds and have a listen to the differences in price. You also have 14 day no quibble which is nice.
 
Don't forget Sevenoaks. Richer are great but their range can be limited to a handful of brands but between both stores you have a wide range of choice.
 
true true I was more just advising that with such a purchase it's better to go check things out.

I listened to my eltax's and for the price (59.99ish) I was happy I'm still happy today. Excellent purchase they will still be used in my house in say way for ever even if I invest myself a nice set up in the future. They are just a great sound for a pair of normal speakers.

http://www.eltax.com/en/model/201_Monitor-III.html

I'd struggle to match the quality without spending a lot more.
 
dacads said:
How do these sound? Also any idea if old Technics and Sansui models are any good?
Click to expand...

Rotel's 9xx-series were very highly regarded. From the entry-level 920AX up to the 990BX, and the 'tock' versions, 921, 931 etc were all great value for money.
Standout models were the 930AX (mk1 and 2), 931mk1/2, 935BX, 940BX, and the 971mk2.
The Rotel signature sound is upbeat and punchy- a trait that saw them often matched to Mission speakers. The 930AX/Mission 760i combination was legendary, becoming much more than the sum of its parts.
I've owned most of the series over the years- and still have a 930, 935 and more modern RA02/RB03 combo. They still sound good today- and they silly low prices they go for make them a real steal.
If you can find a 971mk2 in good nick for around a ton, then rip the guy's arm off.
But bear in mind that the 9xx series are minimalist hifi amps. They do not have remote control, and some don't even have tone controls.

As for Technics and Sansui, they made some great amps and some not-so-great. If there's any in particular you're looking at then run the model number by me...
 
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To add to the above- For my PC, I use a Rotel 935BX and Mission 780s (old style) fed through an Audio Alchemy DDEv1 DAC that I got for £30.
Blows any all-in-one PC speaker system out of the water. Total cost, about a ton...;)

Main rig has Arcam CD72, Rotel RA02/RB03 biamping Mission 780s (Aerogel models). No plans to 'upgrade' any time soon.

One thing to look out for with older amps- they can benefit from new power supply and output capacitors. If you think an old amp sounds a bit 'fuzzy', then this usually remedies that.
Another bonus with the Rotels is the circuit boards are very simple- upgrading caps is fairly easy as a DIY job. Took the lid off a sick Pioneer A400 once. Huffed a bit and it's been in a cupboard ever since...
 
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Thanks doug for your insightful post. Yeah I have heard of those Mission 760i speakers but from what I remember not the biggest of woofers and due to age most models are getting on a bit now so in need of renovation.

Yeah I don't mind a bit of DIY had an old Denon amp that only switched on when it felt like it so I popped the top off and had a look but couldn't find any blown capacitors, maybe this wasn't the issue and something else needed replacing. I'm sure an easy fix for someone in the know if they got hold of the retired amp (donated to charity shop)

And the models I've been eyeing are Technics SA 104L and Sansui R-303L. Also had a look at some cambridge audio models such as 340a.

Thanks
 
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Just Googled the amps you mention.
They're a bit vintage for my knowledge- but they both look good and would have been expensive in their day.
With really old stuff like that I'd be recapping as a matter of course. Worth a punt if the price is good, imho...

The Mission 760is were incredible- in fact my old-style 780s are the same drivers in a slightly deeper cabinet with uprated crossovers. You'd be surprised what a 130mm Plasiflex* bass unit can do with the right amp... But you are right- as they are budget speakers, many of them are a bit tatty now. M71/M71i would be my pick for a more recent equivalent.

*got some 753s in the cupboard- four of 'em per cabinet! (Drool....) But too much oomph for my lickle terraced house...
 
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