Need Help/Recommendations 4 Cerwin Vega

[AndreaBlas]

Hi everyone, I got 4 Cerwin Vega speakers from my father and am having trouble powering them. I am going to list my current set up and any feedback on what to do or other amp/receiver options would be greatly appreciated.

Below are the descriptions I have found:
Cerwin Vega AT-8
# 061101. 2 Way with 8" woofer.
Freq Response: 28Hz - 28kHz.
250 watts.
Impedance 6

Cerwin Vega D-9
# 414147 3 way with 15" woofer
5/450 watts
Nominal Impedance 8
Max Output 125 dB
29Hz - 20kHz

Yamaha
Model#: RX - V667. Seriel#: Y262170SU
120V ~ 60Hz
400 watt
500 Va
Impedance 6: Front 4 min, Others 6 min
Impedance 8: Front 8 min, Others 8 min

JVC
Model#: Rx - 888V. Seriel#: 114C2185
120V ~ 60Hz
320 watt
420 Va
Impedance 8-16 : 4-6 Low, 8-16 High

Current set up:
- Smaller AT-8 ran through Yamaha into R & L Front
* Other options: Center, Surround, Surround Back/Bi-Amp, Extra SP Zone 2 + Presence
- Larger D-9 ran through JVC into R & L Front
* Other Options: Center & Rear

Originally had all 4 going through 1 receiver and only listened to a turntable. Turntable currently getting ground wire fixed. That receiver went bad, and had a music head do the current set up. JVC has the two AT-8, and the Yamaha have the D-9.
Running both sounded like the volume was changing on its own, and had fuzzy buzzy distortion. Ran only the JVC with the AT-8 and had the similar problem. Even doing just the Yamaha with the D-9 didn't have great sound.
Was playing music to test them from a phone into the phono.

 

[crazy-in-az]

Welcome to Audiokarma! A couple of questions...

Have the woofers been refoamed? Most CV speakers of that time period need to be checked for foam rot.

And you said you had your phone plugged in to the "phono" input? A phono input is designed specifically for turntables only. The signal from a turntable is a little different than a regular input, so any other device played through it will sound pretty crappy

Hope this helps!

 

[7whales7]

Plug your phone into an Aux or VCR inputs. Cerwins don't need a ton of power to work but you should aim for a 6 ohm or lower capable receiver. The more power the better they will sound. You may want to get a good power Amp to power the D9's. Having alittle trouble visualizing how you have your gear set up.

 

[AndreaBlas]

Thank yall for the response, after some more research I realized I shouldn't have my phone through Phono.
The speakers when I received them did have foam dry rot and that was replaced with Cerwin Parts.
The ground wire and some others needing redoing on the turntable which I received back yesterday; running that now through a pre-amp into Audio 1.

All speakers I am running through the Yamaha now; the larger ones on the front, and the smaller ones on Surround.
Eventually I am wanting to get a powered sub to put into the Subwoofer Pre-amp; not exactly sure which area that should go.

Figuring out the Yamaha's stereo modes has been a bit of a headache to make sure its pushing the speakers through the different channels like it should - the manual is confusing as well and I still have such limited knowledge.

Uploading some images - if there are any recommendations for set up it would be helpful.
It seems like running through the Front and Surround is better than Surround and Surround bi-amp option?
- images of previous set up when I had Front & Surround Bi-Amp; I have now changed it to Front & Surround.

Things are sounding much much better now that the turntable was fixed and I wasn't running phone through Phono.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Both pairs of speakers you have are going to be in the 3 ohm range nominally impedance wise. The power ratings you quote are what the amplifier consumes from the AC mains, not it's output power. I'd recommend a receiver which is rated for 100 watts/channel into that impedance, RMS, 20-20,000 Hertz continuous power, all 4 speakers driven, less than 1% THD. Be careful with inflated power ratings, or with one channel driven, or less than full range. Separate power amplifier and preamplifier is justified for this application. Better to have more power than you need, than to have too little power (underpowered amplifiers which are driven too hard, are very damaging to loudspeakers)

 

[7whales7]

Looks like that receiver is 90watts per channel. According to Yamahas specs it can handle low ohm rated speakers. It's always difficult to hook up modern A/V receivers to vintage gear, i.e. speakers and turntable. Those Cerwins should Rock pretty good if the receiver can handle it. Are you just using Phone and turntable? How about CD? Make Shure the surrounds on the speakers are in good shape no holes or cracks. They're the red foam on the edge of those woofers. It has a tendency to get old and crack on Cerwin Vegas, the most common problem it leads to no Bass and then speaker voice coil problems. They can be replaced by yourself or professionally. Keep us informed.

 

[adnick]

Great gear.....

You might want to limit your setup to the D9s alone, or possibly pick up another amp to drive each set separately, or bi-amp the 15” woofers?

Have some AT15s myself and they are picky about their power amp, but can sound really good with the right right placement and amp....

Regards,
Andy

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Yes, the impedance load I quoted is your two pairs of loudspeakers ran at the same time. Easier to drive one at a time.