Has anyone ever connected a pair of nice new speakers with a vintage receiver?

Great responses guys! It's so hard to find the right vintage speakers that I may make it easy on myself and go new. That said though, I would still like to run across a nice looking pair of vintage speakers with the wood lattice grills or something like that. I like the looks as well as performance.
 
89grand said:
I don't really know why people do. The only reason I change receivers/amplifiers is for more power and or particular features, or possibly for the look of it. I never select them for a particular sound, because I expect them to be transparent and not add some eq or whatever they add to change the sound. I prefer to use a processor to alter the sound if that's what I wanted.

If receivers and amps all sounded different, how would you ever know which one you wanted unless you demo'd all of them? Besides, as soon as you got it home, it'd sound different than it did at the store. Being neutral, at least I know what to expect.:thmbsp:
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I don't think anything is neutral. Demoing is a good way to find what you like.

To answer the OP's question, I ran a pair of Tektons and a pair of Zus with a vintage ('79) Yammy R-2000 for a while...sounded pretty good. Turned it all the way up to about 7:30, maybe 8:00. 150 watts for 98db speakers is way to much power.:yikes:
 
sebrof said:
I don't think anything is neutral. Demoing is a good way to find what you like.

To answer the OP's question, I ran a pair of Tektons and a pair of Zus with a vintage ('79) Yammy R-2000 for a while...sounded pretty good. Turned it all the way up to about 7:30, maybe 8:00. 150 watts for 98db speakers is way to much power.:yikes:
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All of my amps/receivers are neutral as far as I can tell.:scratch2:

I wouldn't own them otherwise.

If I ever discover one purposely boosts the midrange, bass or treble or cuts it with built in eq that can't be defeated, it's going in the trash can.
 
I use a pair of Paradigm Atoms that I use with a Harmon Kardon 330C receiver in my den. This combo sounds great!
 
To the O.P. paradigm atoms are a great suggestion for nice sounding new speakers, another possibility is the KRK passive studio monitors you can get at guitar center, *very* nice sounding for the price. Also good are NHT, PSB, KEF, and B & W though the B & W are more spendy. And keep your eye open Craiglslist fro all this speakers used and save some $$$. :) Any of these new relatively inexpensive speaker will hang with some quite decent old school speakers.
 
How about more power equals better ability to handle sudden transients before the amp clips which could lead to better clearer sound?
 
barredowl said:
How about more power equals better ability to handle sudden transients before the amp clips which could lead to better clearer sound?
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How about as long as you have enough power you'll have the ability to handle sudden transients before the amp clips which could lead to better clearer sound
 
Just like speakers all amps impart their own color to the sound. Some amps sound horrible with some speakers and rule with others. Damping, wattage, response, tube, SS, there are so many components between the input signal and speaker out there is coloration period. Amp matching / synergy is important, very important, just like the speakers, placement and room is. Select an amp that sounds great to you with your speakers and enjoy.
 
kfa888 said:
Just like speakers all amps impart their own color to the sound. Some amps sound horrible with some speakers and rule with others. Damping, wattage, response, tube, SS, there are so many components between the input signal and speaker out there is coloration period. Amp matching / synergy is important, very important, just like the speakers, placement and room is. Select an amp that sounds great to you with your speakers and enjoy.
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Roger that, Cap'n.
I've found that finding speakers you like but make sure they'll work in your room. Then find an amp that dives them well and to your liking and you're 80% there. The rest is just icing on the cake.
 
voltcontrol said:
Hmm..
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Whoops. Yes, I forgot to mention that also depends on the efficiency of the speakers of course. The more power you pour onto inefficient speakers most likely the worse they will sound and will distort at an earlier frequency cut off and lower db level. Also assuming minimal to zero colorizing from the amp and/or source.
 
Anubis said:
Whoops. Yes, I forgot to mention that also depends on the efficiency of the speakers of course. The more power you pour onto inefficient speakers most likely the worse they will sound and will distort at an earlier frequency cut off and lower db level.
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:scratch2:

The lower the sensitivity of a speaker, the more power they need to reach a given SPL, so I don't see how more power makes them sound worse.
 
Whoops. Yes, I forgot to mention that also depends on the efficiency of the speakers of course. The more power you pour onto inefficient speakers most likely the worse they will sound and will distort at an earlier frequency cut off and lower db level.
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i would say the only way an inefficient speaker would sound bad is beacuse you amp is to small and is working harder to drive the inefficient speakers.
 
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