Dave 2238b
Member
Greetings.
Here's my tale:
(disclaimer: If I make technical errors in terms and whatnot. I'm new to this and don't really know what the hell i'm talking about).
I've always been a fanatic music listener (as well as playing in a few garage bands). After hearing my buddies stereo; Martin Logan CLS II, Muse Subwoofer and Electronics, it utterly changed my view of my stereo.
I was using a cheap older sony pro-logic receiver with cheap sony fronts and surrounds and center, a pakage deal about $150 seven years ago and sounds every bit that
I was skeptical about buying good speakers as my receiver is at best not very good. I went for a set of PSB Alpha A/V's. Oh Lordy! Night and day difference. A damn good speaker for $180!
I was hooked! I wanted full range, but didn't want to go the subwoofer route. I was going to buy a set of PSB Image 4t's, but before I did, I happened to demo NHT 2.5i's. Well the 4t's were no longer a consideration and I bought the 2.5i's. They are absolutely amazing! And this is with the same crappy sony.
Then disaster strikes. I get layed off just as i'm about to replace my reciever. I'm back at work now but can afford only super cheap components. I get the idea of putting together a super cheap 2 channel system for listening at Night in my studio room. I figured I could use the cheap old Sony's for rears on the home theatre set up and use the Alpha's for my cheap 2 channel set up.
I had a budget of $150, so I hit ebay and ended up with an older Onkyo cd player for $40 and a a Marantz 2238b for $110. I got some cinder blocks from the yard and some boards from the garage and now have my "high mass" speaker and stereo stands Some 14g from home depot for wires, and $2.50 cheapy white and red tipped interconnects. I'm going to buy some decent entry level audioquest wire and interconnects soon, i'll spend about $50.
Even with the super crappy interconnects it sounds absolutely marvelous. I'm so sold on older quality gear. It so demonstrates the point that people make when the say "don't pay much attention to wattage". Those Alpha's are something like 91db sensitivity and with the 38 Marantz watts the 10 o'clock volume position is about as loud as i'll ever need. I'm thinking of adding a cheap subwoofer. I know it won't be too good as I want to spend about $100. But I'll have a full range system NOW! And I can start building a real, quality, system one piece at a time.
Question 1: Should I get a powered sub? Or will the marantz drive a passive sub and my Alpha's to reasonable listening levels. If so, How? Do I just connect it to the "B" speaker connectors and run it with both A & B speakers on?
Question 2: Here's the real fun one. Those NHT's are wonderful, but from what i've read hitting them with some real juice is the way to go. I'm thinking the way to get quality power to them on the cheap is to start with an older Marantz, Sansui, Kenwood or Pioneer. But how the heck am I going to build a home theater with this?
I assume that whatever receiver, or integrated I go with it will have to have the pre/main in/out plugs, and should have a minimum amount of "real power".
So I think I want a good unit that will drive the NHT's and also be able to hook it all up so I can run a center and rears (no sub - The NHT's make it unecessary) and be able to run my dvd and vcr sound through it, it would also be nice to be able to switch the video source to the TV from dvd / vcr.
I'm fishing for ideas, and please be specific as far as what hooks up to what (ie: connect x to y..etc).
I do understand that I will more than likely need to buy additional components other than receiver. But I need the blueprint.
Oh, and S**t out of luck IS a valid answer!
Other info that may be of help:
The NHT's are bi-ampable.
The dvd is a toshiba with every connector imaginable on the back.
The vcr is...a vcr (cheapo sony).
Question 3:
A real quick and easy one. On the back of the Marantz 2238B is the pre/ main in/out jacks. I assume the in is for an external pre-amp? And the out is for connecting the 2238b's pre-amp to an external amp? Yes?
Addendum: I have the cd hooked up to the Aux. / can I hook up other sources besides tape to the tape hookups?
(Sorry for making this so long...but I got pretty excited about finding this forum).
Thank you all sincerely
Dave
Here's my tale:
(disclaimer: If I make technical errors in terms and whatnot. I'm new to this and don't really know what the hell i'm talking about).
I've always been a fanatic music listener (as well as playing in a few garage bands). After hearing my buddies stereo; Martin Logan CLS II, Muse Subwoofer and Electronics, it utterly changed my view of my stereo.
I was using a cheap older sony pro-logic receiver with cheap sony fronts and surrounds and center, a pakage deal about $150 seven years ago and sounds every bit that
I was skeptical about buying good speakers as my receiver is at best not very good. I went for a set of PSB Alpha A/V's. Oh Lordy! Night and day difference. A damn good speaker for $180!
I was hooked! I wanted full range, but didn't want to go the subwoofer route. I was going to buy a set of PSB Image 4t's, but before I did, I happened to demo NHT 2.5i's. Well the 4t's were no longer a consideration and I bought the 2.5i's. They are absolutely amazing! And this is with the same crappy sony.
Then disaster strikes. I get layed off just as i'm about to replace my reciever. I'm back at work now but can afford only super cheap components. I get the idea of putting together a super cheap 2 channel system for listening at Night in my studio room. I figured I could use the cheap old Sony's for rears on the home theatre set up and use the Alpha's for my cheap 2 channel set up.
I had a budget of $150, so I hit ebay and ended up with an older Onkyo cd player for $40 and a a Marantz 2238b for $110. I got some cinder blocks from the yard and some boards from the garage and now have my "high mass" speaker and stereo stands
Some 14g from home depot for wires, and $2.50 cheapy white and red tipped interconnects. I'm going to buy some decent entry level audioquest wire and interconnects soon, i'll spend about $50.Even with the super crappy interconnects it sounds absolutely marvelous. I'm so sold on older quality gear. It so demonstrates the point that people make when the say "don't pay much attention to wattage". Those Alpha's are something like 91db sensitivity and with the 38 Marantz watts the 10 o'clock volume position is about as loud as i'll ever need. I'm thinking of adding a cheap subwoofer. I know it won't be too good as I want to spend about $100. But I'll have a full range system NOW! And I can start building a real, quality, system one piece at a time.
Question 1: Should I get a powered sub? Or will the marantz drive a passive sub and my Alpha's to reasonable listening levels. If so, How? Do I just connect it to the "B" speaker connectors and run it with both A & B speakers on?
Question 2: Here's the real fun one. Those NHT's are wonderful, but from what i've read hitting them with some real juice is the way to go. I'm thinking the way to get quality power to them on the cheap is to start with an older Marantz, Sansui, Kenwood or Pioneer. But how the heck am I going to build a home theater with this?
I assume that whatever receiver, or integrated I go with it will have to have the pre/main in/out plugs, and should have a minimum amount of "real power".
So I think I want a good unit that will drive the NHT's and also be able to hook it all up so I can run a center and rears (no sub - The NHT's make it unecessary) and be able to run my dvd and vcr sound through it, it would also be nice to be able to switch the video source to the TV from dvd / vcr.
I'm fishing for ideas, and please be specific as far as what hooks up to what (ie: connect x to y..etc).
I do understand that I will more than likely need to buy additional components other than receiver. But I need the blueprint.
Oh, and S**t out of luck IS a valid answer!
Other info that may be of help:
The NHT's are bi-ampable.
The dvd is a toshiba with every connector imaginable on the back.
The vcr is...a vcr (cheapo sony).
Question 3:
A real quick and easy one. On the back of the Marantz 2238B is the pre/ main in/out jacks. I assume the in is for an external pre-amp? And the out is for connecting the 2238b's pre-amp to an external amp? Yes?
Addendum: I have the cd hooked up to the Aux. / can I hook up other sources besides tape to the tape hookups?
(Sorry for making this so long...but I got pretty excited about finding this forum).
Thank you all sincerely
Dave
