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#1
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Do I need a new amp?
Hi,
I'm trying to build a midto high-fi audio system on a reasonable budget for 80% audio and 20% movies. Right now I'm sticking to 2 channel but would like the option to upgrade in time. I'm worried my amp is lower in quality then my speakers and subwoofer and was hoping to get some advice as to whether I should return the amp/receiver in favor of higher quality. Are my strong speakers and sub being wasted with my mediocre receiver? - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K (http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_....html?tag=spec) - Main speakers - Soliloquy 5.0s (http://www.solspeak.com/sol_products/i_monitors.php) - Subwoofer - Audio Physic Luna (http://www.aanvilaudio.u-net.com/ap_luna_1.htm) My speaker cables are decent 12AWG and I will have qulity RCA interconnects. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. -Dave |
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#2
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"Dave" wrote in message
... Hi, I'm trying to build a midto high-fi audio system on a reasonable budget for 80% audio and 20% movies. Right now I'm sticking to 2 channel but would like the option to upgrade in time. I'm worried my amp is lower in quality then my speakers and subwoofer and was hoping to get some advice as to whether I should return the amp/receiver in favor of higher quality. Are my strong speakers and sub being wasted with my mediocre receiver? - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K (http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_...0741.html?tag= spec) - Main speakers - Soliloquy 5.0s (http://www.solspeak.com/sol_products/i_monitors.php) - Subwoofer - Audio Physic Luna (http://www.aanvilaudio.u-net.com/ap_luna_1.htm) My speaker cables are decent 12AWG and I will have qulity RCA interconnects. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. You don't mention your sources (CD, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD, turntable?) which may have to do more with sound quality than your receiver. I suspect your receiver is okay, unless your speakers are particularly low in impedance. Since you are only interested in stereo at the moment, you might wish to consider investing in a really good integrated or preamp-amp combination, and feeding the output of your DVD player directly into the TV (video) or if it doesn't have switched inputs, through an auto-switch box (Radio Shack) and run the audio into the amp. Then later when you are ready to go surround, buy the best surround preamp-processor you can afford and use the power amp (or power section of the integrated) as a basic power amp in the system. But on balance I would probably leave the system as is, unless you got a full refund from the dealer and he had an amplifier that really floated your boat. |
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#3
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Dave wrote:
Hi, I'm trying to build a midto high-fi audio system on a reasonable budget for 80% audio and 20% movies. Right now I'm sticking to 2 channel but would like the option to upgrade in time. I'm worried my amp is lower in quality then my speakers and subwoofer and was hoping to get some advice as to whether I should return the amp/receiver in favor of higher quality. - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K (http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_....html?tag=spec) http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...onomy_id=62-98 http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeservice/instrmanuals.nsf/0/AC58EBDAF191BABDC1256EEE00294E83/$File/ARB7311_VSX-1014.pdf What do you think is the problem with this receiver ? Maybe it is not expensive enough ? In fact I am impressed with its price and features. It has i.Link, Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuit (MCACC) and is sold online for less than $400: http://shopper.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_...-31000741.html Thta is probably the cheapest receiver with i.Link yet ? Are my strong speakers and sub being wasted with my mediocre receiver? Continuous Power Output (Stereo or Multichannel) 120 W + 120 W (DIN 1kHz, THD 1%, 8 ohms Rated Power Output . . . . . . . . . 110W+110W (20Hz 20kHz, 0.09%, 8 ohms) Frequency Response . . .5 Hz to 100,000 Hz dB (+0/-3 dB) Not sure what is mediocre about it. Ok, the distorsion seem a bit high at 0.09%. A comparable Yamaha receiver is specced at 0.06% (at 50 W), but the Pioneer VSX-AX5i-s has similar specs and it was _measured_ by hifiworld (March 2004) at 0.007% distorsion. So I think the 0.09% is because Pioneer wants to show lots of watts on their spec sheets even at the cost of showing some distorsion. But anyway 0.09% is still below 0.1% which is the limit of audibility. Looking to the hifiworld test, the -3dB on the frequency response is above 40Khz. Below it is very nearly flat. - Main speakers - Soliloquy 5.0s (http://www.solspeak.com/sol_products/i_monitors.php) # Freq. Response: 45Hz - 20kHz # Sensitivity: 88db # Nominal Impedance: 10 ohms Compatible: 8 ohms # Power Handling: 15-200 watts - Subwoofer - Audio Physic Luna (http://www.aanvilaudio.u-net.com/ap_luna_1.htm) My speaker cables are decent 12AWG and I will have qulity RCA interconnects. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. -Dave -- http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/ ..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC) Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94 |
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#4
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FWIW. I just replaced a Sony DA2ES receiver with the 1014TX-K. The
receiver you have has plenty of clean power. It 's great on everything from cannons to violin and piano. The only thing I've found to improve it is to turn off the dialogue enhance feature. Dialogue enhance seems to add an objectionable unnatural quality to everything. If you use the automatic room equalizer setting it up, it makes a great receiver/amplifier. I had to get a mono extender cable for the microphone from Radio Shack. My listening position is about 19 ft from the front main speakers. I use mine for HT and mostly classical music. It sounds too good to spend money on a higher end unit. I find that in stereo mode, this receiver is remarkably good ... better than in direct mode ... which disables the equalizer setup. On 5 Oct 2004 03:05:53 GMT, "Harry Lavo" wrote: "Dave" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm trying to build a midto high-fi audio system on a reasonable budget for 80% audio and 20% movies. Right now I'm sticking to 2 channel but would like the option to upgrade in time. I'm worried my amp is lower in quality then my speakers and subwoofer and was hoping to get some advice as to whether I should return the amp/receiver in favor of higher quality. Are my strong speakers and sub being wasted with my mediocre receiver? - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K (http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_...0741.html?tag= spec) - Main speakers - Soliloquy 5.0s (http://www.solspeak.com/sol_products/i_monitors.php) - Subwoofer - Audio Physic Luna (http://www.aanvilaudio.u-net.com/ap_luna_1.htm) My speaker cables are decent 12AWG and I will have qulity RCA interconnects. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. You don't mention your sources (CD, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD, turntable?) which may have to do more with sound quality than your receiver. I suspect your receiver is okay, unless your speakers are particularly low in impedance. Since you are only interested in stereo at the moment, you might wish to consider investing in a really good integrated or preamp-amp combination, and feeding the output of your DVD player directly into the TV (video) or if it doesn't have switched inputs, through an auto-switch box (Radio Shack) and run the audio into the amp. Then later when you are ready to go surround, buy the best surround preamp-processor you can afford and use the power amp (or power section of the integrated) as a basic power amp in the system. But on balance I would probably leave the system as is, unless you got a full refund from the dealer and he had an amplifier that really floated your boat. |
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#5
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Rui Pedro Mendes Salgueiro wrote:
Dave wrote: Hi, I'm trying to build a midto high-fi audio system on a reasonable budget for 80% audio and 20% movies. Right now I'm sticking to 2 channel but would like the option to upgrade in time. I'm worried my amp is lower in quality then my speakers and subwoofer and was hoping to get some advice as to whether I should return the amp/receiver in favor of higher quality. - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K (http://reviews.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_....html?tag=spec) http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...onomy_id=62-98 http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeservice/instrmanuals.nsf/0/AC58EBDAF191BABDC1256EEE00294E83/$File/ARB7311_VSX-1014.pdf What do you think is the problem with this receiver ? Maybe it is not expensive enough ? In fact I am impressed with its price and features. It has i.Link, Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuit (MCACC) and is sold online for less than $400: http://shopper.cnet.com/Pioneer_VSX_...-31000741.html Thta is probably the cheapest receiver with i.Link yet ? I think i-link is found only on the 55, 56, and 59Txi models currently, not this one. -- -S Your a boring little troll. How does it feel? Go blow your bad breath elsewhere. |
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#6
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You don't mention your sources (CD, DVD-V, DVD-A, SACD, turntable?) which
may have to do more with sound quality than your receiver. I suspect your receiver is okay, unless your speakers are particularly low in impedance. Sources will be CD/SACD and a digital media player for internet radio and mp3 playlists. Since you are only interested in stereo at the moment, you might wish to consider investing in a really good integrated or preamp-amp combination, and feeding the output of your DVD player directly into the TV (video) or if it doesn't have switched inputs, through an auto-switch box (Radio Shack) and run the audio into the amp. Then later when you are ready to go surround, buy the best surround preamp-processor you can afford and use the power amp (or power section of the integrated) as a basic power amp in the system. Ok, I threw the Pioneer on eBay and I think I'm going with a Xindak XA-6900SE with a Xindak SACD. My concern now is that I'll have to turn this thing on hours in advance before it reaches its sound potential. I would also like to leave it on all the time, but I doubt that's smart since the amp and CD have some tubes running inside. Can I leave on all the time? But on balance I would probably leave the system as is, unless you got a full refund from the dealer and he had an amplifier that really floated your boat. Thanks for the comments. |
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#7
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#8
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Steven Sullivan wrote:
Rui Pedro Mendes Salgueiro wrote: - Receiver - Pioneer VSX-1014TX-K http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...onomy_id=62-98 http://www.service.pioneer-eur.com/peeservice/instrmanuals.nsf/0/AC58EBDAF191BABDC1256EEE00294E83/$File/ARB7311_VSX-1014.pdf What do you think is the problem with this receiver ? Maybe it is not expensive enough ? In fact I am impressed with its price and features. It has i.Link, Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuit (MCACC) and is sold online for less than $400: That is probably the cheapest receiver with i.Link yet ? I think i-link is found only on the 55, 56, and 59Txi models currently, not this one. The VSX-1014 and VSX-2014 are new models: http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...omy_id=6 2-98 On the page of the VSX-1014: http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...onomy_id=62-98 it says: "This model also includes the i.LINK interface, the industry standard for the secure transmission of high resolution audio." But I have now found that this is wrong. The manual mentions the i.LINK interface but it says "VSX-2014i model only." And looking at the back panels: http://www.pioneer-eur.com/images/pr...47vsa_1014.pdf http://www.pioneer-eur.com/images/pr...sx2014rear.pdf one sees that the VSX-2014i does have i.LINK but the VSX-1014 does not. -- http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/ ..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC) Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94 |
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#9
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I wrote:
On the page of the VSX-1014: http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/produ...onomy_id=62-98 it says: "This model also includes the i.LINK interface, the industry standard for the secure transmission of high resolution audio." But I have now found that this is wrong. The manual mentions the i.LINK interface but it says "VSX-2014i model only." And looking at the back panels: http://www.pioneer-eur.com/images/pr...47vsa_1014.pdf http://www.pioneer-eur.com/images/pr...sx2014rear.pdf one sees that the VSX-2014i does have i.LINK but the VSX-1014 does not. I also mailed the above to the Pioneer webmaster and less than 45 minutes later she replied that the errors on the web pages were corrected. You can still find the old versions in the Google cache: http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_...onomy_id=62-98 http://www.google.pt/search?q=cache:...link+OR+i-link http://www.pioneer.es/es/product_det...omy_id=137-174 http://www.google.pt/search?q=cache:...link+OR+i-link -- http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/ ..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC) Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94 |
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#10
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Stewart Pinkerton wrote in message ...
On 6 Oct 2004 23:48:00 GMT, (Dave) wrote: Ok, I threw the Pioneer on eBay and I think I'm going with a Xindak XA-6900SE with a Xindak SACD. Fascinating choice! Can't see how it's going to approach say a Pioneer 868 and any decent SS amp, but there y'go. Bang for the buck and that's all. I found an outstanding deal (25% of list price) on slightly used (9/10) components for which I've read several outstanding reviews. The reviewers praise Xindak and put overall sound and quality on par with much more expensive Linn and Arcam equipment. Better still, don't use tubed components.................... I'm new to tubes, but one purist after another has a completely different message so I decided to find out for myself. I think you're in the minority on this one. |
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#11
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What do you think is the problem with this receiver ? Maybe it is not expensive enough ? I'm paying the same for the upgraded equipment (although I am buying used.) In fact I am impressed with its price and features. It does have impressive features- most of which I don't need which is one of the reasons I'm replacing. It has i.Link, Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuit (MCACC) and is sold online for less than $400: But anyway 0.09% is still below 0.1% which is the limit of audibility. Actually human audibility limit is about 1%, 10x your figure. Nonethelss, this wasn't a concern of mine. My concern was overall sound quality. I read enough negative reviews about Pioneer to reinforce this decision. |
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#13
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On 8 Oct 2004 15:20:33 GMT, (Dave) wrote:
Stewart Pinkerton wrote in message ... On 6 Oct 2004 23:48:00 GMT, (Dave) wrote: Ok, I threw the Pioneer on eBay and I think I'm going with a Xindak XA-6900SE with a Xindak SACD. Fascinating choice! Can't see how it's going to approach say a Pioneer 868 and any decent SS amp, but there y'go. Bang for the buck and that's all. I found an outstanding deal (25% of list price) on slightly used (9/10) components for which I've read several outstanding reviews. The reviewers praise Xindak and put overall sound and quality on par with much more expensive Linn and Arcam equipment. Ah well, you'll soon be able to find out if you agree with them! :-) Better still, don't use tubed components.................... I'm new to tubes, but one purist after another has a completely different message so I decided to find out for myself. Finding out for yourself is always a good idea, but no true purist would choose a tube amp. They may *call* themselves 'purists', but that would imply a preference for pure uncoloured sound, and that is certainly *not* why people choose tube amps! If you want a 'straight wire with gain', then you choose a solid-state amp, period. I think you're in the minority on this one. Since it's a plain fact that tube amps account for a very small minority of sales to 'high-end' audiophiles - 'purists' if you will, I really have no idea from where you get such an opinion. -- Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering |
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#14
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"Dave" wrote in message
... Stewart Pinkerton wrote in message ... On 6 Oct 2004 23:48:00 GMT, (Dave) wrote: Ok, I threw the Pioneer on eBay and I think I'm going with a Xindak XA-6900SE with a Xindak SACD. Fascinating choice! Can't see how it's going to approach say a Pioneer 868 and any decent SS amp, but there y'go. Bang for the buck and that's all. I found an outstanding deal (25% of list price) on slightly used (9/10) components for which I've read several outstanding reviews. The reviewers praise Xindak and put overall sound and quality on par with much more expensive Linn and Arcam equipment. I would only point out that there is no list price on used equipment, and a 25% discount is not unusual for brand new waranteed equipment. Norm Strong |
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