"MINe 109" wrote in message

In article
.com,
"EB" wrote:

I currently have a Marantz 4320 receiver connected to
CSW Tower II's. I am happy with this set up for the most
part (my listening room is not ideal, but not bad),
especially the speakers. But I am curious to see if
getting a better amp will improve the sound noticeably,
but I want to keep the experimenting to around $1,000.

The Odyssey brand looks interesting, will have to
contact them as the website doesn't list all their
product.

Looks like a lot of hype to me. 4 period break-in - give me a break!

http://www.odysseyaudio.com/setup_tweak.html

I see that your receiver has preamp outputs, a 'direct
mode,' and is rated at 80 watts. Although I've never
heard a Marantz receiver, it would take a big jump in
amplifier power to make a noticeable difference, assuming
a reasonably small room and competent amps. Similarly, it
would take a good preamp to improve on a 'direct mode.'
You can try engaging and disengaging the 'direct' to see
if it makes much of a difference to you.

There's a Marantz integrated in your price range that
might be an improvement if the advertised '25 watts in
Class A' means anything.

It probably doesn't.

I'd guess integrated amps from NAD, Rotel, Arcam, etc
might be more refined and used high-end (Bryston, for
one) can be a good value, but maybe you should be looking
at better speakers: Paradigm, B&W, PSB, etc.

Stephen, I guess you've never looked at current Bryston prices - they
completely blow his $1k budget, at least for new equipment. There's Bryston
4B on eBay with a reserve in the $700 range. It would take an amp in that
power range to be appreciably louder than what he's got.

His CSW speakers have a lot of potential - they aren't cheapie computer
speakers and CSW has a good rep for delivering value within the obvious
limits of 8" woofers.

The receiver itself doesseem to have a lot of potential as a springboard for
a number of different kinds of upgrades. The preamp outputs and power amp
inputs mean that bumping up amplifier power or adding a subwoofer is a
cakewalk.

His speakers are floor-standing but the woofers are only 8". They are
probably very robust down to about 40 Hz, but there is a lot of music below
that if his neighbors are far enough away (i.e., not an apartment).

On balance the receiver does make me kinda smile. The tip-off is its
weight - 18 pounds or about the same as anybody's classic 100 wpc low cost
receiver. By derating it to 80 wpc Marantz made the receiver's amplifer
specs look heads-and-shoulders better than say a competitive 100 wpc
Pioneer. Odds are that under the cover the electronics are pretty much the
same, just more conservatively rated.