New receiver, older speakers
January 31, 2003
I am looking at upgrading my stereo system. I currently
have a Kenwood receiver that has Dolby Pro Logic surround sound. I operate it with just my
two front speakers and two rear speakers. I am considering upgrading to a true digital
receiver (Yamaha, Pioneer, or Kenwood) and adding a subwoofer and center-channel speaker.
Now my problem. My front speakers are 25-year-old ESS
Tempest towers. They were expensive, high-quality speakers in their day, but I'm not sure
if I will be losing the impact of upgrading my receiver by using the old speakers. They
sound good when running DVDs, but CD sound is only so-so. My primary interest is music
CDs. Also, these speakers are 4 ohm. Will I have to stick with 4-ohm speakers for my
center-channel? I don't crank up the volume much. I am after good, crisp sound at lower
volumes. Your site is very helpful. Thanks for the feedback.
Jerry
You certainly can use your older speakers in a
home-theater configuration with a new receiver, but it may not be ideal and here's why:
You need a center-channel that matches, tonally, your main left and right speakers.
Finding a center-channel speaker that works with the ESS speakers you have will likely be
a challenge. That's not to say it can't be done, but it will require some patience and
experimentation on your part.
If funds allow, you may wish to upgrade to a matched 5.1
speaker array from a single manufacturer. This, of course, would give you new stereo
speakers as well. You've stated that your current system only sounds "so-so"
with CDs, and if your primary concern is music, it doesn't sound as if you're getting the
enjoyment you crave.
The speaker impedance does not need to match from
speaker to speaker, but you do need to make sure the receiver you're looking at buying can
handle the load presented to it by the speakers. This is imperative for safe, reliable
operation, as well as good sound.
Older Heybrook
January 28, 2003
I bought a pair of the first Heybrook HB2s in the '80s
(rear ported, rectangular tweeter plate), and love their sound and their amazing imaging.
Are the new series good enough to replace my old pair (I've had the drivers replaced) and
not notice they're gone?
Scott Cooter
"If it ain't broke don't fix it!" It sounds as
if you're very happy with the speakers you have. If you've replaced the drivers, you
likely won't have any reliability issues. If you're looking for more of what you have, the
only way to know if the new Heybrooks are as good or better than what you have is to
listen to them in your home. One more piece of advice: Don't sell the older Heybrooks
until you know for sure you like the newer ones better. Better yet -- keep the classics
around either way. Good luck, and let us know what you do.
Subwoofer not woofing
January 27, 2003
I recently purchased a used NHT powered subwoofer system. I
brought it home and hooked it up to my DVD player, but I cannot get it to work. I have the
sub output from the DVD running to the input on the sub. There is only one RCA output
cable, but two inputs. I cannot figure out the problem. Any help that you can lend would
be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Mike
The subwoofer needs to be connected to your A/V
receiver's subwoofer output, not the DVD player. Assuming you're using the DVD player's
Dolby Digital processing and running it into a receiver via RCA cables, this is the only
connection method possible. The DVD player will not provide the output-level adjustment
needed to operate the subwoofer. If you don't have a receiver and other speakers, but just
a DVD player and a subwoofer, I'm afraid you'll have to spend some more money to make it
all work. Check the archived articles on Home Theater & Sound for the basic connection articles.
"Cinema Cynergy," in particular, will give you some good, basic information.
Taking the high pass
January 23, 2003
I'm looking at changing the speakers that I have hooked up
to my Harmon/Kardon AVR-510. This will be for stereo only, and keeping the speakers small
and unobtrusive is a big consideration. I'm thinking about a pair of Paradigm Atoms and a
Paradigm PDR-10 subwoofer. Would using something like the Paradigm X-30 be worth the
money? It seems like a high-pass filter would be a good idea, but I haven't had a chance
to listen to it yet and was wondering what you guys think of them. Also, are there any
other subwoofers that you would recommend listening to that are in the same price range as
the PDR-10? Thanks for the advice and the great website.
Lee
If you're thinking of going with Paradigm speakers -- a
great choice -- then I would strongly recommend using a Paradigm subwoofer as well. One of
the biggest obstacles to good subwoofer-satellite systems is the blending of the two
elements. If you get that right, you're much more likely to achieve great sound. When you
buy both from the same manufacturer, you have a much better chance of compatibility.
Regarding the X-30, it's made to mate Paradigm speakers with their subwoofers and gives
you comprehensive control over the system. There's no reason I can think of not to
recommend it. I think you're on the right track to great sound!
Vintage gear
January 20, 2003
I have a working Harman/Kardon A300 amp that my father
bought in the late 1950s. Where can I find out what it is worth?
Don Graves
Like the old saying goes, "It's worth what someone
is willing to pay for it." And I can think of no better place to determine the market
value of vintage audio gear than eBay. There's no shortage of auctions for all types of
classic audio equipment. One more hint: You can also search the "Completed
Auctions" section of eBay to see what the ending bids were for the model you're
looking up. This will tell you what the item actually sold for and not just the current
bid. Good luck.
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