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3 receivers, 3 pairs of speakers, how to pair them?

secondmouse

secondmouse

New Member
This is a specific question about the following 3 vintage receivers and speaker sets I own. If you were hooking up three systems, which speakers would you pair with the receivers, and why?

Receivers: Marantz 2220B, Pioneer SX-737, Sansui 4000
Speakers: KLH 17, Dynaco A25, AR-2ax

Please avoid responding such as "get rid of the xxx and get yyy instead". I like the gear I have, but there are lots of combinations and AK members usually have keen insight. Thanks for considering.
 
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Interesting pairings, my experience with these limited to the Marantz House sound (2230) so I'd pair the AR2ax with that to start with. I suppose I pair the Dynacos with the brightest of the two amps left, and the KLHs with the last amp left to begin with. That is assuming all three are running well and up to or close to specs. YMMV.

Interested to see what others have to say. Memory is a funny thing, many many years since I've hear any of there so my input os a guess and worth exactly what you paid for it.

Cheers
 
I'd try them all and listen for a few days. Amp and speaker pairings can be weird. Maybe start with the highest efficiency speakers and lowest powered amps first. I had a pair of Dahlquist DQM-9's that I'd hoped to use with one of my lower powered tube amps due to their 95dB efficiency. They did not sound good with any of my tube amps or my SS integrated amps. Finally, I tried them on an old Sony STR-7025, an 18-watt receiver from the early-mid 70's. That combo turned out to be quite good, and I sold them as a set.
 
For more than a few here, part of the fun of this hobby is experimenting.

Were it me, I'd line everything up, have a pair of long enough cables to reach everything, and start swapping. Take notes on what you hear from each pairing. Of course, the room they will be in is going to make a somewhat difference in how they sound. Only you can determine what sounds best, to you.

That said, I'd probably, initially, pair the highest power amp with the lowest sensitive speakers. Just as a starting point.
 
Excellent comments. Thank you! These machines came to me a various points in my life and I don't have the heart to part with any of them. Some but not all of this gear has been re-conditioned and all sounds good to my old ears. I have done some investigating using speaker routing switches and source A-B switches (but just two at a time). The Sansui could handle three sets of speakers, but haven't done it yet. This stuff is heavy to move around! All subjective, of course: brighter, darker, wider, deeper, colored, flat, crisp, muddy, or punchy on one receiver sounds different on another. The power vs efficiency angle is very interesting - still learning after all these years.
 
David_NC said:
I'd try them all and listen for a few days. Amp and speaker pairings can be weird. Maybe start with the highest efficiency speakers and lowest powered amps first. I had a pair of Dahlquist DQM-9's that I'd hoped to use with one of my lower powered tube amps due to their 95dB efficiency. They did not sound good with any of my tube amps or my SS integrated amps. Finally, I tried them on an old Sony STR-7025, an 18-watt receiver from the early-mid 70's. That combo turned out to be quite good, and I sold them as a set.
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As suggested here. Try them out. Its more fun that way anyway.
 
It certainly takes time, but you may find a pairing that really sets itself apart from the others. Best if you can do them all in one sitting to best recall what you have heard. Use the same song/music for your reference. It will all be fun.
 
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