Pioneer HPM 100 vs. Cerwin Vega vs120

[D.E.K]

Sounds good guys :thmbsp: I will keep a higher budget for the Receiver/preamp. Somewhere between $200-$250 instead of $100-$120. I, too, agree that 45 watts will come a tad bit short for the HPMs. On the other hand, at this stage, (not saying that I will) I'd be more than happy to spend $120 and get an SX-780 just to get me through until I find something more powerful. Anything is better than what I'm using now.

 

[geespot]

Where are you located at? With Akers all over the world, somebody may offer you a piece you could pickup or audition.

 

[D.E.K]

I am in St. John's, Newfoundland. Hard to find stuff here, not many amps/receivers come by.

 

[centralflori]

For now I eliminated my doubt that any other speaker would be better than HPM's (for my taste and liking that is) and now it's the next step...A decent receiver. I am powering the HPM's with a Panasonic SA-HE75 home theater receiver, probably made in Indonesia or Malaysia or even Canary Islands, for goodness sakes someone go find some info on them and try to feel my shame and pain.

I am just wondering if a Pioneer SX-780 would be sufficient, they are rated at 45 watts per chan. I found one in good shape and good working order for $120 shipping and handling included. Or should I spend a few hundred more and get a more powerful receiver? Or should I go with a preamp and buy a separate tuner?:scratch2:

Or what should I do!?!?!???

Tubes. Seperates.

 

[D.E.K]

Nice idea with one problem, can't find any.

 

[centralflori]

Nice idea with one problem, can't find any.

Try Audiogon.:thmbsp:

 

[Mark W.]

D.E.K. Jump on that SX-780 I push my HPM-100's with a 60-65 watt SA-9100 and I can get that chest compression heart rate changing sound level well before I hit 45 watts on my power meters.

The 100's at 92.5DB are pretty effeicent speakers and unless your listening in a large room you should have no problem seriously risking your hearing with a SX-780.

That is a good set from a sound point of view and the $120.00 price is reasonable for a Local pickup good working example. Should you down the road decide you need "MORE POWER" you will be able to get your money back out of the SX-780 pretty easy so there is little risk.

And it's going to sound so much better then that HT thing your using now.

 

[D.E.K]

Well said my friend, very well said. I don't like to blast my music to a nosebleed level anyhow. But I like my clean mighty powerful bass when I'm listening to Rod Stewart's Forever Young. The HPM's at 45W will do JUST FINE. I also agree 100% on getting my money's worth.

 

[D.E.K]

There's also something called YAQIN VK-2100. Brand new Chinese make tube amp. I heard both good and bad about them. They look mean. Here are some pics.

 

[RadShak1251]

I cranked up the Wega's and the HPM's to the same level with the same receiver to the same song. Sure CW's have decent bass, but it's more like you're being hit on the chest with balls made from cotton candy in a dodgeball game . Then I cranked the HPM's, it just felt like having an anxiety attack with heavy palpitations.

I don't even own Cerwin-Vegas (though I did sell them for 3 years non-commissioned), but was wondering where they were placed during the test.

Just basing (haha )it on the photo, the Cerwins were sitting out in the open but at least one of the HPMs was sitting in a corner......and corners are great for giving any speaker a large bass boost (that's why subwoofers are usually found there)......and a speaker sitting away from any wall is going to sound very weak bass-wise.

Though obviously the HPMs are definitely of higher quality, including their woofer which has a frame & motor structure that looks like it was designed for use by the U.S. Marines , if the Cerwins were placed in the same location as the HPMs I would think they might produce more bass than before.

Also, most Cerwins in my experience almost always have an impedance hovering around 6 ohms and many times 4 ohms, and like most receivers that little Panasonic very probably has a current limiter that automatically kicks in when it encounters such a tough load to help prevent the output transistors from burning out (though obviously more powerful receivers don't use their limiters as often). And current is the "fuel" that any speaker runs on, so if there isn't enough of it, the first thing to be audibly affected is usually bass output.

And Cerwins are usually tuned quite a bit higher than other large floorstanders: 1) to convert more of their input power into "punchy" bass but in doing so sacrifices a big chunk of the lower bass spectrum......but which also increases the efficiency a LOT i.e. IIRC many of their 12" models have a rating around the 95dB level; and in turn ---> 2) a lot of Cerwins are marketed more towards people without a lot of $$ to spend, so their tuning helps out such people because they won't need an expensive/powerful amp to drive them to high levels.

* here's the no-frills page for that receiver. the pdf operating instructions include a spec chart

 

[D.E.K]

They were placed where the HPM's are standing in the pics. In the pics they are out in the open becuse I was getting ready to move them into the living room after the test. Still, HPM's are providing tighter and more quality bass (read the test results in my previous post, cotton candy and anxiety attack comparison). I am not what you call a precise audiophile eared person, but I know my bass and I didn't have to pop my eyes and stick my head out forward trying to concentrate to distinguish the difference. It was there within the first 30 seconds of the song (will really sound stupid but I played Viva Forever by Spice Girls, one of wife's favourite songs ugly but bassy good for testing. Then 2nd tested it with Jan Hammer's Miami Vice Theme pretty bassy as well.) Well the remaining 270 seconds of the song only confirmed the result getting rid of any fragment of doubt. I am not saying this because I am a Pioneer fan. I would admit if they were better than the HPM's. But they ain't.

Cheers

 

[D.E.K]

Like it reads in your well put analysis, they are mid-class speakers made for ppl with low budgets. They sure can't match HPM quality. I am sure a lot of ppl will confirm it as well.

 

[Blue Meanie]

I listened to them at the guy's house, they sounded good. Just as I expected, bassy (not like most CW fans exaggerated it to be) Cosmetically they are in excellent shape. No scratches or dents on the FAKE WOOD

As soon as I came home I hooked them up to my God awful crappy system (sometimes I am ashamed to call that a system, it's so pitiful it ain't even funny) They sure are bassy and hey the mids and higs are MUCH better than ppl made out of them. I couldn't notice much difference from the HPM 100's in mids and highs. Although HPM's are just as fun listening to in lower volumes, CW's tend to lose their integrity at low volumes. Now, let's turn a whole new page and call it the BASS COMPARISON. Ladies and germs, hands down, it is HPM's. I cranked up the Wega's and the HPM's to the same level with the same receiver to the same song. Sure CW's have decent bass, but it's more like you're being hit on the chest with balls made from cotton candy in a dodgeball game . Then I cranked the HPM's, it just felt like having an anxiety attack with heavy palpitations. My rib cage was vibrating in harmony with HPM's 12'' woofers. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that anyway. But I must say that I am impressed with CW's more than I thought I would be. They will take their spots on each side of my 36'' Sony WEGA Trinitron. :thmbsp:

As for my babies, HPM's will always be my primary speakers for music.

Please forgive the nitpick, but they are Cerwin-Vega (or C-V) speakers , not Cerwin-Wega (or C-W) speakers. Thanks!

 

[RadShak1251]

I am not what you call a precise audiophile eared person, but I know my bass and I didn't have to pop my eyes and stick my head out forward trying to concentrate to distinguish the difference. It was there within the first 30 seconds of the song

Oh I believe you - I just wasn't sure where the CVs were located when being tested.

(will really sound stupid but I played Viva Forever by Spice Girls, one of wife's favourite songs ugly but bassy good for testing. Then 2nd tested it with Jan Hammer's Miami Vice Theme pretty bassy as well.)

Nah that's not stupid, that's just good testing procedure to help discover a speaker's ultimate bass output. :yes:

****************************************************************
An album I like and that has high levels of bass and bass that goes really low is Massive Attack's Mezzanine. The music is well-done but has kind of dark vibe to it (the lyrics aren't though) and my ex g.f. hated it. But it's the only album I have that can make my Bostons bottom out at normal volume levels. On Youtube, look for: "Angel" (a darker track) and "Teardrop" which is one of their um, happier tunes. I think both were posted by their label because of their hi quality images.

 

[D.E.K]

Sincere apologies for the W-V mixup. Just not used to typing Cerwin Vega very often. But you're absolutely right, it's something like Norton quotes in Fight Club "the little scratch on the roof of your mouth". Very tiny yet very irritating and something you HAVE TO pick at.

 

[D.E.K]

Here is an update of where the CV's are going to be from this point on :yes:

 

[D.E.K]

Just to avoid misinterpretation of what I said about the CV's , they are solid speakers in their own category. By no means are they weak or extremely low quality. It definitely scratches the "Party Bass" itch. It's just that the HPM's are better. That's why the CV's are sitting by my TV and the HPM's are hooked into my PC.

Cheers...

 

[D.E.K]

Still haven't heart any comments or thoughts on that Yaqin guys. Something? Anything???

 

[D.E.K]

Hi fellas, I am in need of your expertise yet again. I found this set of 2 Pioneer decks. SA-6800 and TX-6800. It's a matching pair, in mint shape looks like new. Comes with user manuals. Is the pair worth $160? I am attaching the pics. Also, keep in mind that I am still using the hideous Panasonic SA-HE75.

Thanks much...


D.E.K

 

[pustelniakr]

Just a bit high if in raw condition. Restored maybe

Enjoy,
Rich P