Subwoofer next to audio equipment?
November 16, 2004
My subwoofer is not shielded, and I realize I cannot set it
close to the TV. I was wondering, though, if it can be placed near my audio equipment
without damaging it? I have a pretty high-end system, and still listen to vinyl. I have
already "placed" the subwoofer next to my equipment rack and that is where it
sounds the best. If I cannot place the subwoofer here, is there anything I can place
between the subwoofer and my equipment (like a sheet of metal) to eliminate the
electromagnetic field?
Ken Keck
You should be fine placing your subwoofer next to your
electronics. The electronics inside your powered subwoofer survive in very close proximity
to the driver, and most plate-type amps have very little shielding to speak of. Unless you
experience some adverse effects from your current placement, and I don't think you will,
I'd not give it another thought.
Vintage amps
November 15, 2004
I'd be interested in your recommendations and comments on
affordable two-channel power amps, at least 60Wpc into 8 ohms. I'm looking in the used
market for a mate for an old Luxman CL-350 preamp and Sansui SP-5500 speakers, rounding
out a system for my vinyl collection. My musical taste is mainly rock, jazz, and blues,
and my budget is probably up to $300 or so. Late '70s vintage to match the other gear
would be nice, aesthetically. But I suspect there will be more recent amps into the late
1980s that will offer better technology and reliability for my buck, and availability on
the used market has to be considered also. Thanks!
Steve
The older Luxman amps, while very good, seem difficult
to have repaired. I have fielded a number of requests by readers looking for repair
technicians for older Luxman gear. As an alternative, I'd look for a classic Onkyo power
amplifier. The green meters on these beasts are as vintage as they come. I recently found
one on eBay for a friend looking to drive a pair of 4-ohm (nominal) Alons. It drove that
speaker like a charm, no easy feat considering the impedance actually drops into 2 ohms!
There's a 165Wpc M-504 on eBay right now and it looks like it'll go pretty cheap. These
things are built like tanks (fully dual mono!) and seem to be very reliable. Plus the
company is still around if service is ever needed.
Older TEAC or something newer?
November 12, 2004
I'm looking to upgrade my receiver on the cheap. I'm
currently using a TEAC AG-75 (approximately 14 years old). I don't need surround and do
want a phono stage, so I am looking at a Yamaha RX-596. What is the sonic rep of the
AG-75? Features are very similar -- motorized volume knobs, CD direct, loudness knob (not
button). I'm driving Energy C-9 four-way ported floorstanders and want to bring out
warmth, detail, and tighter bass. Is the TEAC an old gem or a substandard wall in my path
to tunes?
Brad
If the TEAC isn't floating your boat any longer I'd sure
not tell you not to upgrade to something newer. Picking a stereo receiver is smart, as
well, as you'd be wasting the extra channels in a surround-sound model. I wasn't able to
find any info on your TEAC AG-75, so I can't give you any opinion on it, but the fact that
it is 14 years old means that some of the internal parts are probably nearing the end of
their natural lives, namely the power-supply components. Without an overhaul from a good
technician, I'd not expect that it would operate at peak performance much longer (if it is
even now). With the price the of the Yamaha so reasonable, you're likely to get it for
less than it would take to refurbish the TEAC. Get the Yamaha and don't look back.
Connecting a subwoofer for two-channel listening
November 9, 2004
I have a HSU VTF-2 subwoofer, and I'd like to incorporate
it into my two-channel setup, which is an NAD C370 integrated amp, NAD C542 CD player and
the Spendor S 3/5 speakers. I've had the sub for a couple of years, and it's been used in
a surround setup up until now. The A/V receiver had a sub output, and that's what I used
to connect the sub.
What is the best method of connecting it to my C370? If you
could be really specific it would be much appreciated. What kind of cables should I use?
Scott
I'd connect the subwoofer to the preamp outputs of your
NAD, cross it over fairly low (say, 50Hz), and let the Spendors run full range. That is
the most purist approach to running a subwoofer in a two-channel system. Most audiophiles
use this arrangement as it avoids the possible degradation of using the high-pass output
on the sub run back in to the power amp. You'll also find that the lower the crossover
point you can effectively use, the more transparent the sub's effect on your system will
be. As for cables, a decent set of RCA interconnects would do the trick.
|
