PapaBear
Active Member
I recently picked up a spare system (for when I eventually put my beloved SX-737 in for overhaul). Pio VSX-522K HT with a pair of B&W DM12s.
Before I hooked up the 522, I swapped out my Boston A40s on the 737 for the heck of it. Hit them with my usual range of program for a few weeks.
The first thing I noticed was the stage has more air and definition than the Bostons when it comes to rock recorded after 1977 or so. That flips completely back to the Bostons for rock, and pretty much anything else, recorded before then.
Their mids and highs are uninspiring. At first, I thought this might be because they are inefficient (85dB) and the 737 is only 35wpc. Turns out to be the same on the 522 (80wpc). I normally run flat, no eq in the rig. The only time I have to touch the knobs is for certain very old recordings. The B&Ws I had to bump up the treble up 1 or 2 clicks for many sources.
And, naturally, having to turn up the 737's volume a notch for the same comparable level as the Bostons. 85dB versus 88dB is a noticeable difference to your ears, and to your amp.
In spite of the things I am not thrilled about, I would say these are quite listenable if you have a more powerful amp, and an acoustically-friendly listening space with a nominal amount of soft furnishings. I have exceptionally good hearing so clarity and detail are huge things for me. OTOH, my other half, who spent much of his life around printing presses, only noticed some of my complaints and said he had no real preference. As with all speakers, YMMV.
An aside about the receiver: Swapping the B&Ws on the 522 for the Bostons resulted in a mighty darn close experience to the 737. Flat tone settings, clean & crisp mids and highs. Depth and subtle detail of program. The 522 sounds more like a Fluoroscan-era receiver, not the disappointing computer-controlled entries of the mid-80s, and BPC of the 90s through aughts. I definitely like its sound better than the Kenwood and Technics that filled the time between the 1010 and the 737. However, its sound is just shy of the sublime sensuality and seductiveness of the 737. I know I will be pining for it to return once it goes for servicing.
Before I hooked up the 522, I swapped out my Boston A40s on the 737 for the heck of it. Hit them with my usual range of program for a few weeks.
The first thing I noticed was the stage has more air and definition than the Bostons when it comes to rock recorded after 1977 or so. That flips completely back to the Bostons for rock, and pretty much anything else, recorded before then.
Their mids and highs are uninspiring. At first, I thought this might be because they are inefficient (85dB) and the 737 is only 35wpc. Turns out to be the same on the 522 (80wpc). I normally run flat, no eq in the rig. The only time I have to touch the knobs is for certain very old recordings. The B&Ws I had to bump up the treble up 1 or 2 clicks for many sources.
And, naturally, having to turn up the 737's volume a notch for the same comparable level as the Bostons. 85dB versus 88dB is a noticeable difference to your ears, and to your amp.
In spite of the things I am not thrilled about, I would say these are quite listenable if you have a more powerful amp, and an acoustically-friendly listening space with a nominal amount of soft furnishings. I have exceptionally good hearing so clarity and detail are huge things for me. OTOH, my other half, who spent much of his life around printing presses, only noticed some of my complaints and said he had no real preference. As with all speakers, YMMV.
An aside about the receiver: Swapping the B&Ws on the 522 for the Bostons resulted in a mighty darn close experience to the 737. Flat tone settings, clean & crisp mids and highs. Depth and subtle detail of program. The 522 sounds more like a Fluoroscan-era receiver, not the disappointing computer-controlled entries of the mid-80s, and BPC of the 90s through aughts. I definitely like its sound better than the Kenwood and Technics that filled the time between the 1010 and the 737. However, its sound is just shy of the sublime sensuality and seductiveness of the 737. I know I will be pining for it to return once it goes for servicing.
