Receiver and Speaker Recommendations (Sansui, Klipsch, Boston, Harman)

[lewiscellist]

Hey all,

Previous casual vinyl listener here - trying to upgrade my setup. I am definitely not looking for anything top of the line or groundbreaking, just hoping to get ahold of some solid, quality gear that will compliment each other well and make for a nice setup.

I am pretty new to researching brands and gear, so I could definitely use some help in making my final choices.

I will be picking up a fully serviced Technics SL-D202 turntable.

With that, I am leaning towards a Sansui R-5 receiver. Also was considering a Harman Kardon 350i Receiver.

For speakers, I could use the most help. I am considering the following:
-Klipsch KG 2.5
-Boston T830
-Monitor Audio Silver 5i

Please feel free to share your experiences with any of the gear listed, or what you would advise the best setup to be. Thank you!

 

[dmar]

Klipsch (heritage)......

 

[wmgwizard]

First off, hello and welcome to AK.

Neither receiver you mention is "bad" per-se, but neither is representative of either manufacturers best.

Klipsch speakers with their horn tweeter can be a bit bright / harsh, especially with SS gear. They are very efficient, meaning you will get a lot of sound with not a lot of power. KG-2's were one of their lesser expensive offerings. Probably would benefit from a reforaming of the woofer and recapping the crossover.

The Boston Acoustics T830 was near TOTL in its day. A very nice sounding speaker that doesn't look "bad" but it's not a stunner either. Probably would benefit from a reforaming of the woofer and recapping the crossover.

Monitor Audio is a fairly new manufacturer compared to the other two. As they are significantly newer refoaming/recapping is probably unnecessary at this point. I ha e no experience with this model but other MA speakers I have heard were quite enjoyable to listen to.

 

[opnly bafld]

Boston Acoustics T830 with the foam surrounds replaced with the proper ones (if you are buying speakers for me), otherwise try and listen if you can.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Hey all,

Previous casual vinyl listener here - trying to upgrade my setup. I am definitely not looking for anything top of the line or groundbreaking, just hoping to get ahold of some solid, quality gear that will compliment each other well and make for a nice setup.

I am pretty new to researching brands and gear, so I could definitely use some help in making my final choices.

I will be picking up a fully serviced Technics SL-D202 turntable.

With that, I am leaning towards a Sansui R-5 receiver. Also was considering a Harman Kardon 350i Receiver.

For speakers, I could use the most help. I am considering the following:
-Klipsch KG 2.5
-Boston T830
-Monitor Audio Silver 5i

Please feel free to share your experiences with any of the gear listed, or what you would advise the best setup to be. Thank you!

Monitor Audio nor Boston recommended with that Sansui. Remember, it's only 20 watts/channel into 8 ohms. The Bostons and the Monitor Audio especially need a much more powerful amplifier/receiver than this modest Sansui is.

 

[opnly bafld]

Monitor Audio nor Boston recommended with that Sansui. Remember, it's only 20 watts/channel into 8 ohms. The Bostons and the Monitor Audio especially need a much more powerful amplifier/receiver than this modest Sansui is.

I have owned a lot of Boston Acoustics speakers since the 80s, never needed more than that.
It pretty much depends on how loud someone is wanting to listen (and if the speakers will play that loud).

 

[dfunghi]

Why you wouldn't just buy an SX1250 or Marantz 2275 and a pair of AR3 I don't understand.

Just kidding, I just wanted to be first to make unrealistic and off base suggestions.

Welcome to the Internet's nicest corner.

FWIW unless you already have these units in your possession or soon to be there are likely other choices that may not require much more money and will take longer to grow out of.

In Chicago area (not sure where you are) there was / is a nice Sansui 771 for small money being sold by a member here. That will drive just about any speakers within reason.

As to sound I listened to some Klipsch speakers at a relatives home (unsure what version) and found them way, way too unbalanced with too high highs and missing lows. For the money I prefer older speakers but I am a huge fan of what is typically called the New England sound. AR2ax can be found, restored, for under $300 typically. Clearly personal preference plays a huge part.

Sadly we live in a time now where auditioning gear and their sounds is almost non existent unlike decades past when many shops let you (even encouraged you) to come back often and hear different set ups.

 

[Rey1]

First off, hello and welcome to AK.

Neither receiver you mention is "bad" per-se, but neither is representative of either manufacturers best.

Klipsch speakers with their horn tweeter can be a bit bright / harsh, especially with SS gear. They are very efficient, meaning you will get a lot of sound with not a lot of power. KG-2's were one of their lesser expensive offerings. Probably would benefit from a reforaming of the woofer and recapping the crossover.

The Boston Acoustics T830 was near TOTL in its day. A very nice sounding speaker that doesn't look "bad" but it's not a stunner either. Probably would benefit from a reforaming of the woofer and recapping the crossover.

Monitor Audio is a fairly new manufacturer compared to the other two. As they are significantly newer refoaming/recapping is probably unnecessary at this point. I ha e no experience with this model but other MA speakers I have heard were quite enjoyable to listen to.

KG 2's use butyl surrounds and shouldn't need a re-foam (unless they were trashed) . Some require re-capping, some don't. Mine didn't! I disagree that horn tweeters are harsh with SS gear, anyway these have a hybrid tweeter that is not harsh, That Sansui is only pushing 25 Watts, so any speakers matched with that should be efficient. Check out the Klipsch forum here and you will see some vastly different opinions then are being voiced in this thread. That said, I like Boston's as well