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Pairing vintage receiver with modern D-class power amp

D

Danyel537

New Member
Hi all
I would like to know if people have paired a vintage receiver/ amp with a modern D-class power amplifier and what they’re experiences are.
I have a Pioneer SX-850 and a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 7 G300. 80-200 watts DB87.5.
I can’t drive these speakers to their fullest capacity and would like to get a power amplifier.
The SX-850 is a nice sounding receiver and I’m hoping it will still have this nice sound when paired with a power amplifier.
I’m currently looking at a Eversolo AMP-F2 or a Crown XLS 1502.
 
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When I was working on my Concept 2.0 and wasn't sure how to clean things up yet and didn't have any passive speakers, I removed the Pre-amp Out / Amp In jumpers and ran the preamp outs to a pair of cheap powered speakers I have in order to test the overall functionality of the preamp section. I still liked how it sounded; I don't believe that the amplifier in the powers speakers changed the sound of the preamp much.
 
Danyel537 said:
Hi all
I would like to know if people have paired a vintage receiver/ amp with a modern D-class power amplifier and what they’re experiences are.
I have a Pioneer SX-850 and a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 7 G300. 80-200 watts DB87.5.
I can’t drive these speakers to their fullest capacity and would like to get a power amplifier.
The SX-850 is a nice sounding receiver and I’m hoping it will still have this nice sound when paired with a power amplifier.
I’m currently looking at a Eversolo AMP-F2 or a Crown XLS 1502.
Click to expand...

You sorta asked this already, just in somewhat different form. A few times, it looks like.

Why do you think you can't drive them adequately? Just because the receiver power isn't fully aligned with the speaker specs?

The speakers don't inherently "require" 80-200 watts. They require only as much as power as needed to achieve the playback level you want.

Rather than matching or approaching from numbers, a better way to approach is by discussing what actual performance deficiency you're trying to resolve.

What would you say that is?
 
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whoaru99 said:
You sorta asked this already, just in somewhat different form.

Why do you think you can't drive them adequately? Just because the receiver doesn't have as many watts as the specs list for the speaker?

Rather than matching numbers, a better way to approach is by discussing what actual performance deficiency you're trying to resolve.

What would that be?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have already asked this question in a different form.
I didn’t have the speakers when I enquired about this.
I now have the speakers and they sound great but I am very hesitant to crank the volume up.

I am new to this and learnt that it’s better to have a more powerful amp than the other way round.
I read that a good power amp would drive the speakers better, more headroom.
I’m just looking for the best possible results.

Still learning.
 
Ahhh that's too bad all the chatter (I might suggest blather, at times) has put so much worry in your head that you fear you have a problem before you're hardly even started. It's really a disservice to those sorta just getting into it.

It's really MUCH simpler than one can read into it.

Use your ears, let that be the guide rather than a bunch of reading where worst case is always forefront rather than the most likely case.

If it sounds good it probably is good. If you turn it up to a point where it doesn't sound quite right then simply turn it down a bit until it sounds right again. If that volume of sound isn't enough then lets talk more. But, until then, I strongly suggest enjoying more and worrying less. Don't presume you have a problem simply because of the numbers.

The sound should be clear and lively. If the sound becomes harsh or seems like it has lost that lively kick (sound flat, as in non-dynamic), or the speakers are making strange popping or clunking noises, those things are signs to back off. If you don't hear that sort of stuff then there is hardly a reason to worry.
 
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whoaru99 said:
Ahhh that's too bad all the chatter has put so much worry in your head that you fear you have a problem before you're hardly even started.

It's really MUCH simpler than one can read into it.

Use your ears, let that be the guide rather than a bunch of reading where worst case is always forefront rather than the most likely case.

If it sounds good it probably is good. If you turn it up to a point where it doesn't sound quite right then simply turn it down a bit until it sounds right again. If that volume of sound isn't enough then lets talk more. But, until then, I strongly suggest enjoying more and worrying less. Don't presume you have a problem simply because of the numbers.
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Thanks
I’m probably overthinking this.
I’ve read so much about distortion and clipping that I’m actually staying away from loud volumes.
So, you can actually tell when it’s not sounding right, you should turn the volume down?
What I mean, the amp/ speaker doesn’t get damaged straight away?
I’m not planning to play music super loud , no party levels
Sometimes it’s just nice to play a song a little bit louder
 
No, the stuff doesn't get damaged straight away.

Clipping is not like an on/off light switch where off is 0% / OK and on is 100% / assured damage. It's not that way.

Just use common sense. Turn it up a bit, of course not to exceed your tolerance. You'll get the hang of what's right and what's not if you keep stuff like I mentioned in mind.
 
whoaru99 said:
No, the stuff doesn't get damaged straight away.

Clipping is not like an on/off light switch where off is 0% / OK and on is 100% / assured damage. It's not that way.

Just use common sense. Turn it up a bit, of course not to exceed your tolerance. You'll get the hang of what's right and what's not if you keep stuff like I mentioned in mind.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info.
I will play with the volume a bit
I guess I am too worried about the numbers
I haven’t gone past the 9 o clock point on the volume yet.
I will turn it up a bit and see how that sounds
 
Danyel537 said:
I haven’t gone past the 9 o clock point on the volume yet.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about the volume knob position. Trust your ears.

I've got a Schiit Freya preamp with a logarithmic volume potentiometer (non-linear) and it has to be turned up past 12:00 with every amp I've ever connected to it to get anywhere near decent volume.
 
Danyel537 said:
Thank you for the info.
I will play with the volume a bit
I guess I am too worried about the numbers
I haven’t gone past the 9 o clock point on the volume yet.
I will turn it up a bit and see how that sounds
Click to expand...
Agreed with the previous comments and I'm not trying to be rude just try not to overthink this
 
In a typical room and at a typical distance, your amp will drive those speakers up into the low/mid 90s dB range and still have enough in the tank to keep any clipping to low (safe) levels. That's pretty LOUD!

Until it becomes extreme, clipping is more an issue of sound quality than risk of damage to your speakers or amp. Minor clipping may not be distinctly noticeable, but as it becomes excessive you will know it. When your speakers start sounding harsh, ragged, compressed, unbalanced or strained, you've found the end of either their capabilities, or the amp's.

If you hit that point before it's loud enough to satisfy you, then start thinking about getting more power, or more sensitive speakers, or both.
 
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Your class a/b amp section will clip a whole lot more gently than most class D amps will.

I say this as a person who appreciates class D.

You are getting good advice in this thread.

Enjoy your music and trust your ears.
 
Hammett said:
Your class a/b amp section will clip a whole lot more gently than most class D amps will.

I say this as a person who appreciates class D.
Click to expand...

Please explain. I'm curious about why this would be the case, and the characteristics of "gentle" clipping.
 
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Folks... really? Read the room.

I think we had done a fair job of putting Danyel's mind a bit at ease and now this sort of rabbit trail and jousting?
 
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OP got the info he needed.

I'm curious about the Class D clipping statement.

That's the nature of conversations. They meander.

Technobabble. That's a good one.

EDIT- I'll ask @Hammett to respond via PM, rather than risk confusing the OP.
 
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Danyel537 said:
Thank you for the info.
I will play with the volume a bit
I guess I am too worried about the numbers
I haven’t gone past the 9 o clock point on the volume yet.
I will turn it up a bit and see how that sounds
Click to expand...
Numbers are the bane of audio. Unfortunately the only meaningful numbers are dimensions and weight.
When I say that, it ruffles a lot of feathers with many posters because it shakes the foundations of everything they believe in. Let's just say get a lot of resistance when I post this stuff.
What is a "100 watt" speaker? Is it a limit? A suggestion? An advertising gimmick? A combination? Context is everything, and most people lack context.
What's a "100 watt" amplifier? Again, context is everything. Pioneer used to make this stereo receiver that was rated at "100 watts" that I could pick up with one hand on the shelf by the faceplate. It sold for about $120. My "100 watt" amplifier weighed about 40lbs, a high end amp could be 60lbs+. Each passes the same test. The difference is that the Pioneer was designed to pass the test, the others mentioned were designed to drive actual speakers. All the numbers you see on paper were derived by hooking up an 8 ohm resistor, not a speaker. A speaker has a lot going on, and some are a lot harder to drive than others. Not going to get into all that mess here.

Your speakers are a pretty easy drive. The Pioneer, if working properly, is perfectly adequate for the job, unless you (as mentioned by another) want to play stupid loud (you don't), or are a big lover of dynamic punch (usually heavy classical). Even then as long as things don't sound crunchy and distorted.

Sit back, enjoy.
 
Well, except that the OP comes back and sees all this other stuff, and is drawn right back into the typical "read and worry" loop so frequently facilitated by well-meaning but confounding posts not unlike those that got him in this mindset in the first place.

If you wanna challege Hammett maybe consider PM/Conversation.
 
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