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Harman Kardon 330B Amplifier/Receiver - Is it safe for my KLH Model Sixes??

TheWolf82

TheWolf82

Active Member
I picked up an HK 330B that I LOVE. I'm running my KHL Model sixes thru it and it sounds great. After some different reading on the net here and their, I got worried thinking maybe that I'm underpowering the speakers and causing damage...

Anybody's thoughts on this? Is a Harmon Kardon 330 Transistor amp with roughly 20 watts per channel good enough to power my sixes safely?
 
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KLH states a "good" amplifier of at least 20 wpc is recommended for the Sixes.
You should be ok unless you go overboard with volume/bass/loudness settings.
If you start hearing odd noises or distortion then the speakers are telling you to back off.
If the HK gets noticeably hot that is another warning you may be pushing it too hard.
It's probably wise to not use more than one set of speakers with the HK/KLH combo.
That said, more "good" properly used power is almost never a bad thing in and of itself.
 
goodolpg said:
KLH states a "good" amplifier of at least 20 wpc is recommended for the Sixes.
You should be ok unless you go overboard with volume/bass/loudness settings.
If you start hearing odd noises or distortion then the speakers are telling you to back off.
If the HK gets noticeably hot that is another warning you may be pushing it too hard.
It's probably wise to not use more than one set of speakers with the HK/KLH combo.
That said, more "good" properly used power is almost never a bad thing in and of itself.
Click to expand...

Ok, gotcha. Do you think I'd benefit from a higher wattage amp? I had a 60w per channel yamaha amplifier/receiver hooked up to the model sixes previously and this HK actually amplifies the
sound better and louder....
 
Sure, *some* higher wattage receiver/amps might work easier and/or sound better.
That's almost always the case. Unless a person has top top top notch gear.
But if you are happy and don't hear any distortion and the HK isn't getting real hot use it.
Window shopping is free, at this point it seems like you are ok with what you have.
Might have to speed up the search for something else if any of the warning signs mentioned appear.
Of course there's nothing wrong with buying something because you want it or you can, I just don't think you are at the emergency stage right now based on what you have posted.
 
TheWolf82 said:
Ok, gotcha. Do you think I'd benefit from a higher wattage amp? I had a 60w per channel yamaha amplifier/receiver hooked up to the model sixes previously and this HK actually amplifies the
sound better and louder....
Click to expand...
What Yamaha?
 
quiet said:
What Yamaha?
Click to expand...
Nothing special....although a solid receiver - Yamaha r-s300....It had 50 or 60 watts per ch.
It just seems the HK sounds better and a bit louder to me (@ 17-20w per channel I believe).
I'm worried that extensive use of this combo (lower wattage HK reciever paired with my beloved KLH Model Sixes) may damage the speakers.
 
goodolpg said:
Sure, *some* higher wattage receiver/amps might work easier and/or sound better.
That's almost always the case. Unless a person has top top top notch gear.
But if you are happy and don't hear any distortion and the HK isn't getting real hot use it.
Window shopping is free, at this point it seems like you are ok with what you have.
Might have to speed up the search for something else if any of the warning signs mentioned appear.
Of course there's nothing wrong with buying something because you want it or you can, I just don't think you are at the emergency stage right now based on what you have posted.
Click to expand...

Cool man, thanks for all the info. I picked up a little bear tube pre amp that I may play with in combo with the HK. This is a whole other discussion as I'm skeptical of this chinese tube amp...
Very mixed reviews. If it doesnt work out well, I'm considering just getting a solid state pre amp...That should help increase some wattage, right? Is it safe/ok to run the preamp outs to the HK Recievers aux input? Sorry for all the amateurish questions...still wet behind the ears. T
 
I run my 6s with a Dynaco SCA-35, under 20 watts per channel. Never had an issue, and they sound great. Also sound great with my NAD 3020, another low wattage amp. Not sure of the efficiency but they seem to pair great with lower wattage stuff.
 
TheWolf82 said:
Cool man, thanks for all the info. I picked up a little bear tube pre amp that I may play with in combo with the HK. This is a whole other discussion as I'm skeptical of this chinese tube amp...
Very mixed reviews. If it doesnt work out well, I'm considering just getting a solid state pre amp...That should help increase some wattage, right? Is it safe/ok to run the preamp outs to the HK Recievers aux input? Sorry for all the amateurish questions...still wet behind the ears. T
Click to expand...


No, a preamp would not increase the actual power of the system.
To get more power, a more powerful receiver, integrated amp, or amp will be needed.
Depending on the output rating of the preamp, more or less volume dial control may be desired, but there is no true power change.
Higher output preamp might let you listen at "3" instead of "5" for example.
 
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goodolpg said:
No, a preamp would not increase the actual power of the system.
Depending on the output rating of the preamp, more or less volume dial control may be desired, but there is no true power change.
Higher output preamp might let you listen at "3" instead of "5" for example.
Click to expand...

So I hooked it up this little bear T7 tube pre amp when I got him and it decreased the volume...Not sure if I’m doing something wrong or if these tubes suck. Definitely going to replace them with GE tubes. Is it OK to go from preamp output to aux my HK 330b? Or should I plug it directly into the preamp ports on the back of the HK. The only problem is, the preamp doesn’t have any volume controls or anything.
 
quiet said:
Are you using the same input source with the two receivers?
Click to expand...
No, The Yamaha isn’t even in the mix. I was just stating that I had it hooked up to another receiver I had (which was a Yamaha r-s300) it sounded great But when I paired the HK to the model sixes, it seemed like the HK was louder and better sounding...I’m probably wrong about it being louder but it’s sounded better
 
ebcdic said:
I run my 6s with a Dynaco SCA-35, under 20 watts per channel. Never had an issue, and they sound great. Also sound great with my NAD 3020, another low wattage amp. Not sure of the efficiency but they seem to pair great with lower wattage stuff.
Click to expand...
quiet said:
Then I'll assume you used the same line level input source.
Click to expand...

I’m sorry, I read the question wrong. Yes the source is my KLH model twenty System...coming from aux out to my receiver.
 
TheWolf82 said:
I picked up an HK 330B that I LOVE. I'm running my KHL Model sixes thru it and it sounds great. After some different reading on the net here and their, I got worried thinking maybe that I'm underpowering the speakers and causing damage...

Anybody's thoughts on this? Is a Harmon Kardon 330 Transistor amp with roughly 20 watts per channel good enough to power my sixes safely?
Click to expand...

All I can offer is my experience with the 330's and KLH Sixes:

KLH Sixes will work perfectly fine with a HK 330, 330A, 330B, or 330C. I've run all of them through my recapped and redoped KLH Sixes.

There is a limit, though. A not-yet-restored 330 will introduce more and more distortion the closer you get to 20W. A recapped and re-transistored 330 will go all the way up to 20 W very clean and up to 23-24 W with distortion.
 
TheWolf82 said:
So I hooked it up this little bear T7 tube pre amp when I got him and it decreased the volume...Not sure if I’m doing something wrong or if these tubes suck. Definitely going to replace them with GE tubes. Is it OK to go from preamp output to aux my HK 330b? Or should I plug it directly into the preamp ports on the back of the HK. The only problem is, the preamp doesn’t have any volume controls or anything.
Click to expand...

That Little Bear preamp may have lower gain (output rating) than the other one.
What I mentioned above only in reverse.

Like I have to turn it up to "5" where I used to only turn it up to "3".

But I may be all wet, (I may be mistaking gain for output rating?)if so someone should come along and correct me.
Kind of going off my experience with my preamp, which has two output options, "regular" and "high" output.
 
HK 330 & KLH 6's are a very complimentary pairing.

If you like the way it sounds and it gets loud enough for your listening then sit back and enjoy.

If it's not loud enough only a more powerful amp will make it louder.

Keep in mind that twice as loud is only a 3db increase requiring 10x the power so you need to step up to some serious amplification to rattle the walls.
 
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