a_bjerager
New Member
Greetings. Being a newbie here, I've read a lot of interesting post regarding mainly vintage stuff over the years. And thanks a lot to all the contributors here.
Now, I have two set of amplifiers here at my humble home:
- A Onkyo P-303/M-505 combo.
- A Yamaha C-2x/M-85 combo.
I'm using it to power up a set of Sony AMP-66ES MK II. My main source is a Sony PS-X75 with either a Ortofon MC-5000 or a Audio Technica ART-11Xi. I've also got a Ortofon T-30 lying around that I have sometimes used with the MC-5000. And sometimes I'm also using a Shure V-15III with a JICO SAS stylus.
The thing is - I can't quite decide on wich combo to use and keep. And I'm also thinking about replacing the Yamaha M-85 with either a M-2 or a B-2x. Or maybe I should split the two combos up? Or maybe I should try to get an all Sony system and find a TA-E86/TA-N86 combo.
Well, in my room both of the power amps deliver enough power to play loud enough. But it seems to me like the M-85 have the edge over the Onkyo. It delivers ar more tight and accurate bass and is clearly far more dynamic and is able to handle transients better. Don't get me wrong - the Onkyo is a really nice sounding amp, but the Yamaha is able to deliver so much more power.
But then - the Yamaha is just so...so big. Even though i'm able to make room for it on my shelve, it is to deep, and the front feets can just barely stand on the shelve. And its just plain ugly if you ask me with is red power meters and buttons thrown in randomly all over the front. The Onkyo fits much more nicely in my room, and the design is much more appealing and discrete. I can see that the Yamaha M-2 isn't quite as deep as the M-85, so maybe if I can find one. But would it be a step up or down sonically? Or maybe I should find a B-2x because it is the natural mate for the C-2x
And then there is the preamps. They are both magnificent. The C-2x sounds a bit more natural, cool and accurate. And I like that you can trim and adjust especially the phono settings on it. But the Onkyo P-303 is just soo beautifull and simple looking. Very appealing. And the sound, oh the sound. Not as neutral as the C-2x. A bit more sparkling, more "musical". Just so damn nice. I remember how I really fell in love with it when I bought it. And even though I think the C-2x maybe - and just maybe - have the slightest edge over it because it is more versatile, it really hurts letting it go. I know that it is pretty rare, and it rarely comes up for sale in my homecountry.
So what should I do? I guess my main complaint is that I'm not satisfied with my two power amps because they are either a bit underpowered or big and ugly. And on the other hand I for some odd reason prefer not to split the Onkyo combo apart. Should I go and find a Yamaha M-2? Should I go looking for the Sony Ta-E86/N86 combo or would they not soundwise be up for the task?
Now, I have two set of amplifiers here at my humble home:
- A Onkyo P-303/M-505 combo.
- A Yamaha C-2x/M-85 combo.
I'm using it to power up a set of Sony AMP-66ES MK II. My main source is a Sony PS-X75 with either a Ortofon MC-5000 or a Audio Technica ART-11Xi. I've also got a Ortofon T-30 lying around that I have sometimes used with the MC-5000. And sometimes I'm also using a Shure V-15III with a JICO SAS stylus.
The thing is - I can't quite decide on wich combo to use and keep. And I'm also thinking about replacing the Yamaha M-85 with either a M-2 or a B-2x. Or maybe I should split the two combos up? Or maybe I should try to get an all Sony system and find a TA-E86/TA-N86 combo.
Well, in my room both of the power amps deliver enough power to play loud enough. But it seems to me like the M-85 have the edge over the Onkyo. It delivers ar more tight and accurate bass and is clearly far more dynamic and is able to handle transients better. Don't get me wrong - the Onkyo is a really nice sounding amp, but the Yamaha is able to deliver so much more power.
But then - the Yamaha is just so...so big. Even though i'm able to make room for it on my shelve, it is to deep, and the front feets can just barely stand on the shelve. And its just plain ugly if you ask me with is red power meters and buttons thrown in randomly all over the front. The Onkyo fits much more nicely in my room, and the design is much more appealing and discrete. I can see that the Yamaha M-2 isn't quite as deep as the M-85, so maybe if I can find one. But would it be a step up or down sonically? Or maybe I should find a B-2x because it is the natural mate for the C-2x
And then there is the preamps. They are both magnificent. The C-2x sounds a bit more natural, cool and accurate. And I like that you can trim and adjust especially the phono settings on it. But the Onkyo P-303 is just soo beautifull and simple looking. Very appealing. And the sound, oh the sound. Not as neutral as the C-2x. A bit more sparkling, more "musical". Just so damn nice. I remember how I really fell in love with it when I bought it. And even though I think the C-2x maybe - and just maybe - have the slightest edge over it because it is more versatile, it really hurts letting it go. I know that it is pretty rare, and it rarely comes up for sale in my homecountry.
So what should I do? I guess my main complaint is that I'm not satisfied with my two power amps because they are either a bit underpowered or big and ugly. And on the other hand I for some odd reason prefer not to split the Onkyo combo apart. Should I go and find a Yamaha M-2? Should I go looking for the Sony Ta-E86/N86 combo or would they not soundwise be up for the task?
