Advent 300 Receiver

[Brian]

Oh HECK! Just when I have my mind made up. A Yamaha CR-1020 pops up locally supposely in very god condition with only a rebulb needed for the same price as the Advent. As I've not closed on the Advent; looking at it tomorrow what should I do. I was looking at the Advent since it is small but a local 1020 after all the comments. Maybe could move out the CA610II (2 of them) and the CT610II as an excuse for the 1020. Really do not NEED another large receiver. DARN!

 

[b-lilja]

I just picked up a silver faced 300 and it is terrific for what it is. How do you know if it is Cambridge vs. Mexican made? Mine does not list as Mexican made, does that mean it's Cambridge?

 

[Montycat]

Wow, holy old thread Batman!

I just bought one myself, and will be picking it up at the Post Office tomorrow. Not sure how to tell country of origin, but all the ones I have heard about are black face and I think are Cambridge built so maybe silver are Mexican? Just a guess though.

 

[sregor]

As far as I can remember - they originally were silver, then went to black. Don't believe that color is tied to origin. I would think it should say either made in mexico or made in USA somewhere on the back. Just my 2 cents.

 

[b-lilja]

I've seen lots of pictures of black ones that were stamped "Made in Mexico" on the back. Mine doesn't say anything on the back, but is also missing its serial number so there may have been a sticker with supplemental information...

Listened to it last night some more, and it really sounds great - and I'm not even using the phono. It is better than the Marantz 2215 it is replacing.

A very unique and cool unit.

 

[Montycat]

Mine just arrived. No sticker, no "made in xxx" designation that I can see. It looks all original except for stickers and scratches and so far (2 minutes testing!) seems fine.

 

[alphonsus]

Do they have a pre-out connections?

yes they do, but could someone tell me (or draw a picture...) of how exactly these are hooked up to be used as a preamp. i assume it's first in line after your source, but then what ? i've got an H/K 730 that should match up nicely with the 300, but i don't want to blow anything either... if anyone can make a jacked up connection... it's my punk-ass

i'm always the one that has to ask the dumb questions, but that's ok. i've learned lots of stuff that way... thanks in advance!

 

[Montycat]

Ok, here's the pic:

Pull out the jumpers, marked by Red arrows. Run cables from the jacks marked "preamp out", marked in Green, to your power amp (or other higher power receiver, or equalizer) to it's input, whatever it has for labelling.

If you just want to use an equalizer with the Advent and have no other amplifier, run the output of it back to the Power Amp in jacks (Yellow arrows). You can also use the Advent as a Power amp only but that's obviously not its strong suit.

 

[Ballylongford]

As far as I can remember - they originally were silver, then went to black. Don't believe that color is tied to origin. .

I have always understood the original units were silver-face & Mfd in USA, while the black-face units were of later manufacture & Mfd. in Mexico;
pretty sure there were a LOT more black-face units sold than silver; you certainly see a lot more black-face units.

 

[sregor]

To make it more confusing dealers and service departments used to stock black and white (silver) front pieces, so customers could have it changed if they wanted.

 

[alphonsus]

Ok, here's the pic:

Pull out the jumpers, marked by Red arrows. Run cables from the jacks marked "preamp out", marked in Green, to your power amp (or other higher power receiver, or equalizer) to it's input, whatever it has for labelling.

If you just want to use an equalizer with the Advent and have no other amplifier, run the output of it back to the Power Amp in jacks (Yellow arrows). You can also use the Advent as a Power amp only but that's obviously not its strong suit.

thanks Montycat... i printed that nice detailed picture and will have it in hand next time i go visit my "stuff". i've always been one for that integrated amp motif, so this will be my first foray into the "pre-amp" world. i guess my garage jam box headphone out going to a stereo RCA line in on my old sansui amp would kinda' be in that direction, but now this'll be the real deal. thanks again. -al

 

[Montycat]

No problem.

Just remember to note how things are labelled, not the layout. More often than not, the 2 pairs of jacks are beside each other either vertically or horizontally. On the 300 they are all in one line which can confuse things.

FYI, I saw an Advent 300 sell at auction recently quite cheaply, "as-is, for parts". With a good look at the back you could see that the jumpers were missing, which probably means that the seller may have had a perfectly good unit but heard nothing from the speakers so thought it was toast. Just sayin...

 

[alphonsus]

ok MontyCat... now that i have it hooked up (or soon will have it hooked up) do i jack the volume on the ADVENT up to about one quarter and then let the "post amp" do the rest ?? seems logical but i just wanted to double check. that is my "i-prod" line in mechanism of action so i assume the pre and post amp arrangement would be similar. taking this line of questioning a bit further.. to increase volume to the speaks, should one use the pre or the post amp ?? again, i just don't want to fry anything..
thanks man..

 

[Montycat]

I think the general wisdom is to do all the level controlling from the preamp, sometimes known as a control amp. The power amp controls should be up all the way but it won't push out it's maximum if the level of input is reduced, such as the quarter level you mention for the preamp. Some power amps have no controls at all.

I have a Marantz pre & power combo and run it that way. It seems almost counter intuitive but the power amp is happier wide open.