• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Asking the audio gods to help organize my setup

H

HugoHifi

New Member
I have recently acquired some new gear that I have been wanting to upgrade to for a few years now. I have been more than happy with my current setup, but when you want it, you want it. However, this many amps and a whole bunch of speakers are in front of me and I don't want to ruin some nice vintage audio gear with some dumb rookie mistake. My experience level reaches out only to a basic setup of a receiver, 50 watt amp hooked up to 3 pairs of speakers and a powered subwoofer. It can really move some air, but always looking to improve. My gear is mixed of late model and some older gear, only the subwoofer was purchased new. Thank you for helping!

-Speakers all 8 ohm and in pairs
1) Pioneer CS-630x 80watt
2) Pioneer CS-33 25watt
3) Bose 301 Series II
4) JBL 62T
5) JBL ES250P Powered Subwoofer

-Amps and Components
1) McIntosh MC7108 8ch amp
2) McIntosh MX130 A/V Receiver
3) McIntosh MSD4 Surround Decoder
4) McIntosh MCD 7008 CD Changer
5) 2x Marantz MA500u Mono block amp
6) Sansui FR-D40 Turntable
 
Register to hide this ad
Welcome to AK! :)

What are your goals? A home theater setup, a stereo setup, a mixed setup, or one or more of each? What do you have for room options? Is this for just yourself, or other's use as well?

I'm not familiar with any of the equipment, so won't have many answers, sorry. The McIntosh forum may yield more suggestions if this one doesn't - just a thought. Good luck!
 
Interesting collection of stuff. As noted above, you need a goal a little more specific than "improved" :)

I would dump the pioneer and bose speakers and for a single pair of something of higher quality. I'm a JBL fan so I would go that way and the choice of what to get would more driven by what you can locally at a reasonable price rather than a specific model.
 
Thanks for the help. The system is for listening to vinyl, MP3, and CD's when I get the changer working. It's a 10x10 room I use as an office/ music room. I guess the goal of the system is to implement the McIntosh components, using my current speaker selection. Do I leave everything at 8 ohm? Do I connect just a few speakers vs everything or with a pair in 2 rooms? What about left center right hookup?
 
The easiest way to get going would be to use the MX130 and the two Marantz mono blocks, each powering one speaker of your favorite pair. You would connect your turntable to the rightmost pair of AUDIO INPUTS, labeled PH, on the back of the MX130. Connect the ground wire to the GND lug next to the PH input pair, if your turntable has one. Other sources can be connected to the line-level audio inputs (everything but PH).

Connect each of the Marantz monoblocks to a speaker, with its input connected to one of the AUDIO OUTPUTS pair, labeled FRONT.

Getting fancier, and using more of your speakers will require studying up on the MC7108 amplifier. Going further, into more than two channels, is a whole 'nother proposition.
 
It appears your considering running more than one pair of speakers at a time. My experience on amps is pretty low but I'll give you my take on running multiple unmatched pairs of speakers. I've got a batch of capable speakers that I can run any combination of at any time so I've had the opportunity to go round and round with this part of the game.
With a single instrument or 3, 4 or 5 piece acoustic jazz band more than one unmatched pair at a time is about a total flop.
On the other hand I like two or more with big orchestra music that has multiples of many different instruments. I see zero logic in that and can draw no conclusions.
I do realize with a single pair you're up against the same challenge as everyone else. How to get one pair to do everything. I'm not getting into the chances of that happening.
 
right on! sqlsavior, that is what I was planning on doing for the time being. Running the MX130 to the two mono blocks to power the pair of large pioneer speakers. And like you said, I do have to study a bit more about the McIntosh gear to get the full use of it. I will try and hook up what you have suggested today and see how it sounds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom