Can't find that warm sound I want.
- Thread starter Vinyl infant
- Start date
onepixel
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Yep!
There is indeed a big difference between warm, and dull.
AC50
Active Member
With my vintage tubers the upper mids were beautiful; I didn't notice a lack of highs, but had nothing to AB them against. With a new class d amp I don't notice less of those mids, but perhaps a bit more sparkle and certainly more bass. It's been a while since reading that Stereophile article, but other recent reviews have found them bass challenged. On the other hand, I don't know if they reviewed them against the wall, and with the grills on. The unfinished back and baffle suggest that they are designed to be placed against the wall with the grills on. That runs counter to modern concepts, but it sure makes them easy to position without taking up a bunch of floor space.
The Marantz 1060 which has been mentioned a “couple” of times (heh-heh) is cap coupled.
Thinking that you might mean other than Marantz?
onepixel
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I A/B'd the Advents with 100+WPC SS receivers and amps. Only tubes I had at the time were on the Cary Audio pre-amp, which I didn't put in the mix. The highs were great, down to the middle mids. I tried everything to get more bass. Maybe it needed new caps?
there are a few references but thats out of 60 posts so thats not many .
i've had a few cap coupled units on my bench and while a marantz 2230 sounded ok, i was tired of the sound in a few hours. i did not get tired of listening to the cap coupled kenwoods or realistic.
i've heard vintage marantz. i own some "newer" marantz and i am not impressed by marantz. sound or styling
I think that warm hug you heard and felt was a combination of the Marantz amp and Advent speakers paired.
Before I owned a Marantz receiver,I heard many mention that warm Marantz sound,the first time I heard the Marantz 2238 receiver I bought I knew I finally experienced that warm Marantz sound. My 2275 carries the same warmth.
Find a Marantz 22xx series receiver,pair it with some Advents or Jensen Model 5 speakers,you will have the warm hug your looking for.
Before I owned a Marantz receiver,I heard many mention that warm Marantz sound,the first time I heard the Marantz 2238 receiver I bought I knew I finally experienced that warm Marantz sound. My 2275 carries the same warmth.
Find a Marantz 22xx series receiver,pair it with some Advents or Jensen Model 5 speakers,you will have the warm hug your looking for.
AC50
Active Member
I can only speak to my experience. They've been refoamed but not recapped. I've heard them extensively with the Dynaco MKIVs, which was a beautiful sound but a little bass shy, a borrowed Mac 1900, which seemed really bassy, and my newish Hypex, which I'm very happy with. They're crammed right up against the long wall, on a raised masonry hearth, about 5' apart with a 2" sound panel between them. Very little toe-in. They aren't the end-all, but I can live with them!
Marantz cap coupled is the answer, either a 1060 or a 2230, and acoustic suspension speakers, KLH, Advent, AR, or Boston Acoustic. Polk Monitor 7s will also work, not quite as well, but passive radiator design is still a sealed cabinet. The so-called "three martini" Marantz sound has been often imitated but seldom replicated. Accept no substitutes.
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JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
My first system was quite warm sounding. It was a Fisher KX-90 (all tube) integrated w/AR-4's and a Pickering cartridge on a Benjamin Miracord TT. Older Conrad Johnson gear has always been accused of being warm. I prefer to think of them as having a mellow sort of smooth golden tonality that matches the color of the faceplate.
The Luxman MB-3045 amplifier has a nice warm sound without rolling off the highs. Unfortunately, they us a power tube that's unobtainable. There are some that have been modified to use more conventional and available tubes such as KT-88's or 6550's. However, the modified ones don't have the same magic to my ears.
The Luxman MB-3045 amplifier has a nice warm sound without rolling off the highs. Unfortunately, they us a power tube that's unobtainable. There are some that have been modified to use more conventional and available tubes such as KT-88's or 6550's. However, the modified ones don't have the same magic to my ears.
charles 1973
Super Member
My Realistic STA 7 stereo receiver has a switchable EQ that is calibrated specifically for the tiny Minimus 7's. When engaged it makes them sound like much bigger speakers. But the room is too hard, so they still sound too bright.
So l'm using the 9 band graphic EQ on my Android 13 phone through bluetooth to feed a Logitech bt receiver connected to my stereo receiver. With a 1- 3 db increase in bass combined with reducing treble by about the same I've achieved some semblance of warmth from these tiny speakers.
Trust me, If I can get some warmth from a pair of Minimus 7 speakers in a hard room using an EQ, We can probably make 90% of the speakers ever made and still in service sound "Warm" with an EQ and careful adjustments. Don't be afraid of using the tone controls and/or the loudness function if you have them.
I would still start with speakers that are at least neutral, or on the warm side though.
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BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
I agree with Uncle Fester!
I had a Sherwood S-7200, which I found gave a nice warm sound to my music with most speakers I tried it with. I also really recommend the older Kenwoods. A nice amp is the Kenwood KA-8006 or that generation. Their older receivers are also nicely warm sounding. Harman Kardon HK-630 or 730 twin powered receivers are pretty nice for a warm sound as well. I have a 630 right now, and have found a home for it, once I find suitable speakers.
I also agree with the Marantz 22XX not being anything special long term. And avoid the 15XX series that followed it as well. I was not impressed with their phono preamp sections.
I would recommend McIntosh MAC1900, MAC4100, MC2505, 2100 or 2105, or the 2200 or 2205. The McIntosh will only keep increasing in value, as well.
Some of the Realistic Receivers and amps sound warm as well, but I couldn't tell you which. I also agree with the Pioneer XXX being nice.
Key though is getting the right synergy with the speakers and amp/receiver. The Advents are quite good sounding with enough power going through them. KLH 6 are also very nice. I really liked my ADS when I had them. 630s. Also really like Wharfedale Dovedale 3s.
Find out if you are near any AKers with any of the options you are interested in, and see if they will let you hear their setup.
