Stereo reciever purchase considerations....

[The Rogue]

Hi Guys

I have a pair of Yamaha HS7 active monitors, plus the HS8S sub. The speakers each are rated at 95W. The sub is 150W - So I'm assuming that to get a receiver/amp rated at 160 RMS per channel is risking...... what? I have no wish to play music for hours and hours at full peak but at the same time I don't want to get new speakers if i don't have to. I'm pretty useless when it comes to these things. I know what I want but not how to get there, if you follow me.

[struth]

very much doubt you will have a problem in a livingroom. to an extent it depends on the sensitivity of speakers but I doubt you will get past halveway

[struth]

also you say they are active, so why do you want an amp?

[The Rogue]

very much doubt you will have a problem in a livingroom. to an extent it depends on the sensitivity of speakers but I doubt you will get past halveway

Hi and thanks! Sensitivity is -10 dBu/10k ohms according to Yamaha website. So its worth it then cause I really don't max out anything. Being powered speakers, they have individual volume as well. Not sure what that does, if anything.

[The Rogue]

also you say they are active, so why do you want an amp?

Oh, well, I want to get another fuller size streaming amp/receiver and rather than go down the range, I want to go up. I wouldn't buy powered speaker if I was starting from scratch.

[struth]

trouble is actives have amplification in them so you dont need any more. you could put a line level into them from something, but if you want to use a amp, you will need passive speakers...unless of course your speakers can be run from an external amp, bypassing their own amp. if so, then fine, as long as you dont turn it up high. after saying all that, ive not seen any that do, personally, but doesnt mean they dont exist. just remember a external amp outputs go to speaker binding posts on passive speakers, and line level outputs go into active speaker rca's etc.

[The Rogue]

trouble is actives have amplification in them so you dont need any more. you could put a line level into them from something, but if you want to use a amp, you will need passive speakers...unless of course your speakers can be run from an external amp, bypassing their own amp. if so, then fine, as long as you dont turn it up high. after saying all that, ive not seen any that do, personally, but doesnt mean they dont exist. just remember a external amp outputs go to speaker binding posts on passive speakers, and line level outputs go into active speaker rca's etc.

Yeah struth I think I am going to have to reconsider all this. I may well come back at ya!

[hifi_dave]

If you have active speakers, you just need a pre-amp to drive them and not a whole amp.

[walpurgis]

If you have active speakers, you just need a pre-amp to drive them and not a whole amp.

I think Steve wants a streaming tuner/pre-amp by the sound of it to drive the active speaker power-amps.

[Pieoftheday]

I think Steve wants a streaming tuner/pre-amp by the sound of it to drive the active speaker power-amps.

It looks like the OP has one?,see his signature

[Macca]

Oh, well, I want to get another fuller size streaming amp/receiver and rather than go down the range, I want to go up. I wouldn't buy powered speaker if I was starting from scratch.

If you want to get a receiver then you are going to have to get passive speakers. You could use the pre out from the receiver into your Yamahas but that means you just paid for a power amp you don't need. There's nothing wrong with powered speakers in principle. If you want to improve sound quality from them then look at improving the source and pre-amplifier.

[The Rogue]

If you have active speakers, you just need a pre-amp to drive them and not a whole amp.


I think Steve wants a streaming tuner/pre-amp by the sound of it to drive the active speaker power-amps.


It looks like the OP has one?,see his signature


Yeah guys. I do have the Yamaha pre-amp but if I'm honest, there's not much 'beef' there with the speaker on 3/4 volume and the pre-amp pretty much the same to get anything like decent volume. Although the sub does add a lot. So I was going to go the full receiver amp route. I've been looking at the Yamaha R-N830D and maybe some floor standing KEF speakers. Peter Tyson do some good deals on packages. The Yamaha has 2 optical inputs which would solve my original problem detailed elsewhere on the forum - and there's room for expansion if and when needed. I'm not interested in full blown AV - although I would hope the speakers are shielded in case they end up near a TV. Unless that isn't a problem these days, like it used to be?

[walpurgis]

You won't get huge 'clout' with 6.5 inch bass units. The sub will extend the bass and give it more solidity, but basically, you need cone area to get wallop!

We've just been having a big debate about this very topic. If you have the patience, read through this and you'll see: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?57919-Cheapest-speaker-options-for-BIG-sound

[The Rogue]

If you want to get a receiver then you are going to have to get passive speakers. You could use the pre out from the receiver into your Yamahas but that means you just paid for a power amp you don't need. There's nothing wrong with powered speakers in principle. If you want to improve sound quality from them then look at improving the source and pre-amplifier.

The more I look at the set ups available to more I think I will get a whole new system, receiver, passive speakers etc - see my reply to above posts! I'll transfer the small system to the bedroom or something.

[walpurgis]

HaHa. Being here will be the ruin of you! ;)

[struth]

Shielding isnt an issue unless you still use an old crt tv. I would think what you have should sound louder than you say, so might be an impedance mismatch or something is wrong.

[The Rogue]

HaHa. Being here will be the ruin of you! ;)

Cheers mate but what a way to be ruined!

[The Rogue]

Shielding isnt an issue unless you still use an old crt tv. I would think what you have should sound louder than you say, so might be an impedance mismatch or something is wrong.

Ah, that's what I wanted to read - shielding no issue! Well the system I have behaves much like I was told and expected it would - I mean it sounds flawless, but volume is an issue. I'd rather have it loud enough and still see plenty left on the volume dial. any thoughts on this, and would adding a sub be a good thing?

https://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/yamaha-r-n803d-network-amplifier-with-kef-q550-speakers

Bare in mind guys I'm in a basement flat in central London so a 'little' consideration for the neighbours is a must. Although I'm in an old mansion block that has like 2' thick walls.

[struth]

not a lot but a small one wight give a bit more bass.. remember bass travels a long way and is omnidirectional.. so will go through your ceiling into flats above more than normal music without heavy bass.

[The Rogue]

You won't get huge 'clout' with 6.5 inch bass units. The sub will extend the bass and give it more solidity, but basically, you need cone area to get wallop!

We've just been having a big debate about this very topic. If you have the patience, read through this and you'll see: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?57919-Cheapest-speaker-options-for-BIG-sound

I did read through this. Given my environment I suspect that 'gigantic' sound such as this kind of equipment produces would see me inflicted with some kind of noise pollution order or something!

[The Rogue]

not a lot but a small one wight give a bit more bass.. remember bass travels a long way and is omnidirectional.. so will go through your ceiling into flats above more than normal music without heavy bass.

This is true, I did know about the omnidirectional thing with bass. But I'm gonna burn the midnight oil and kill this tonight. Credit card ready for the morning!

[struth]

Maybe a headphone rig for night time would be better

[The Rogue]

Maybe a headphone rig for night time would be better

Oh man, that's a whole new thread that simply must be discussed once this one is done and dusted.

[struth]

Love my cans. Lots of threads here to find on them

[alphaGT]

If you buy a par of KEF floor standing speakers and a fitting receiver to drive them I think you’ll be blown away at the difference over what you’ve been hearing! A great starting point to a respectable system, I think you would be very pleased to move in this direction. Add a record player, or CD player, or streaming setup, and you’ll be cooking with gas!

Russell

[The Rogue]

Russell, funny you should say that. This is what I've ordered;

https://petertyson.co.uk/index.php/yamaha-r-n803d-network-amplifier-with-q-acoustics-concept-40-speakers

The speakers are not KEF, but this deal was pretty good and I have always liked the Yamaha stuff. I'm going to wait until I hear it in situ, before I decide if I get a sub or not.

[Sherwood]

Steve,

I think you need to be precise about why you feel the need to change your system. As already noted, active speakers are self powered and will not work with other amplifiers, unless there is specific provision to bypass the internal amplification. Your front end components (Brennan and Yamaha streamer) seem fine, so the question is can you live with the active speakers? I have not heard them but Yamaha make some decent speakers. Since you are in London, it should be pretty easy to get a home demo of a pair of passive speakers and a decent receiver or amp. I would not consider spending more money on your system until you have a sense of what type of sound you aspire to. BTW, powerful amplification is not only about high sound levels, it is about control of the speaker and dynamics too.

Geoff

[The Rogue]

Steve,

I think you need to be precise about why you feel the need to change your system. As already noted, active speakers are self powered and will not work with other amplifiers, unless there is specific provision to bypass the internal amplification. Your front end components (Brennan and Yamaha streamer) seem fine, so the question is can you live with the active speakers? I have not heard them but Yamaha make some decent speakers. Since you are in London, it should be pretty easy to get a home demo of a pair of passive speakers and a decent receiver or amp. I would not consider spending more money on your system until you have a sense of what type of sound you aspire to. BTW, powerful amplification is not only about high sound levels, it is about control of the speaker and dynamics too.

Geoff

Hi Geoff. Yeah I think if I am completely honest, I bought the system, as it stands now, on a whim in the first place. As I've said elsewhere, there is nothing wrong with the sound, and the speakers are to my mind flawless. The limitations of the set up comes with the urge to expand. In my case it was (what I thought) a simple need to connect a Sky box. From that it was clear that 1 TosLink socket wasn't enough. it was natural for me to start eyeing up receivers/amps. Fact is I have bought and sold tech for the last 40 odd years - audio equipment, photography equipment. I doubt I'm much different to anyone else here. Originally I didn't want to do away with the Yamaha speakers and was just looking at amps - but therein lies the shortcomings of powered speakers. I'm not interested in a full AV set up, stereo is fine by me which is why I have concluded, at least for now that the Yamaha R-N803D receiver amp in the packages I have included in the post above. This package is pretty good VFM by the way. I haven't committed to a sub until I hear this in situ. I may even add a turntable and CD player at a later date. Such expansion is not possible with the small, but cute Yamaha pre-amp. And I am not doing away with this system, I am going to put it into my bedroom. And since this pre-amp and the R-N803D both support Yamaha's Musicast, its kind of keeping it all under the same umbrella. So I hear what you're saying, and yes I am buying a whole new system from scratch - but this is part of the fun, surely? YOLO, right?

[The Rogue]

Well, an update, I have received the Yamaha R-N803D plus the Q Acoustics concept 40 speakers. Set up was easy. The speakers sound as good as I expected them to - i'm not sure they are better than the powered Yamaha's they replace, but I need longer with them before I decide. Likewise, can't decide on a sub yet. Maybe the Yamaha's because they had a sub, compared to the Concept 40's, I don't know. The Yamaha receiver is a brick of a machine, its huge, and a solid build - and the expandable options are pretty much infinite, which is what I wanted in in the first place. Next up, or in the queue are possibly a sub, a CD player and I am toying with the idea of a turntable to revisit vinyl. This receiver is equipped to take all options. Let the fun begin.

[Macca]

Welcome to the wonderful world of spending shedloads on hi-fi :)

[walpurgis]

can't decide on a sub yet

Personally, I think it's best to pick speakers that don't need a subwoofer. Subs just never quite sound right to me.

[The Rogue]

Personally, I think it's best to pick speakers that don't need a subwoofer. Subs just never quite sound right to me.

Yeah, I mostly agree with you, that's why I haven't bought a sub yet. The C40s are matching the Yamaha's that were marched with sub. Plenty of base!. I'll probably get a CD player first and then take a view in a few months.

[The Rogue]

Don't need a sub with this set-up! Base is good! Ima thinking about a CD player though.