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Receiver suggestion with old Realistic speakers?

S

Stutheit

Member
Hey all,

I recapped my old Realistic Nova 8bs, and now I feel like I owe it to myself to get a new receiver. My current receiver is an old Marantz PM 25 that is cool, but I'm not sure its right for the job.

I'd like to run my tv, cd player, phono, and an aux/rca setup through it.

Any suggestions? I was considering something like this, but genuinely don't know what I'm looking for with these speakers...

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_022AS301B/Yamaha-A-S301.html?tp=34948

or something like this -

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_779AXR100/Cambridge-Audio-AXR100.html?tp=47041
 
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That's the one! The right channel doesn't seem to have the same full sound of the left. Couldn't figure out how to repair it and also kinda wanted a remote, so I'm tempted to do something new.
 
I'd go with a period correct Realistic that provides enough watts. There are many out there.
 
I prefer vintage stuff for two channel music but if you need a remote etc the receiver above from Crutchfield looks just fine. Those Realistics LOVE power and need a decent amount to really shine.
 
z-adamson said:
Depends how you define need.

Personally, I would want 75wpc or more.

Headroom is your friend.-
Click to expand...

For the 8Bs? Hell yes. Realistic acoustic suspension speakers need power to sparkle. Even my little Nova 6s love power. Right now I have my 7Bs with my Marantz 3200 with the Sony 330 ES with 110 wpc.
 
I am with musichal on this. I have owned the Nova 8B speakers and they are really nice sounding. I feel that pairing them with an age equivalent amp may look nice, but I would prefer a new unit to drive them. The Yamaha A-S 301 at 60 strong watts per channel is my pick DuJour. Clean sounding, excellent loudness compensation, plenty of inputs including phono make it a very good sounding and reliable unit. I would add the excellent Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver so I could make use of internet sources from computer, iPad or phone. Make those 8B’s sing!:music:
 
A-S301 or 501 if you can swing it.

Buy the nicest modern amp you can. When funds come back, buy the nicest modern speakers you can. It will sound infinitely better than anything that vintage can offer in that budget. Look into KEF Q series for speakers. They sound absolutely fantastic.
 
I bought a new Yamaha R-S202 for my warehouse. I realize it's one of their lower end units. It's OK, but does not compare to any of my vintage units, the smallest being a Pioneer SX-737 that I bought for $50.
 
usedto said:
I bought a new Yamaha R-S202 for my warehouse. I realize it's one of their lower end units. It's OK, but does not compare to any of my vintage units, the smallest being a Pioneer SX-737 that I bought for $50.
Click to expand...

I think you are probably right, I have a R-S300 (paid $50) and I prefer my SX-750 (paid $75) over it. However, you are not going to find an SX-737 (or SX-750) for $50 these days. Not unless you are super lucky. Also, When new the SX-737 (~$300) cost twice as much as the S202 (~$150), and that was 40+ years ago. Given inflation, a fair comparison to the Pioneer would run $5-600 new in today’s money. Additionally, I have read the the R variants (receivers) are not as good as the A series (integrates amps) that the OP is considering.

All that said, I have not heard the A series units so I can not speak directly to their sound but they are supposed to be nice units at their price point.

edit: folks here seem to like the Yamaha but the other comparable amp might be the Onkyo A-9010. Pretty highly rated by all the reviewers, frequently chosen over the Yamaha, but I am not sure about the end users opinions.
 
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nickrobotron said:
A-S301 or 501 if you can swing it.

Buy the nicest modern amp you can. When funds come back, buy the nicest modern speakers you can. It will sound infinitely better than anything that vintage can offer in that budget. Look into KEF Q series for speakers. They sound absolutely fantastic.
Click to expand...

Have you heard the 8Bs? To get something that sounds as good, one would have to spend multi thousands of dollars......especially to find d something covered in real walnut and not the horrible shitty black wood. How something looks is important to a lot of us as well.
 
johnda said:
I am with musichal on this. I have owned the Nova 8B speakers and they are really nice sounding. I feel that pairing them with an age equivalent amp may look nice, but I would prefer a new unit to drive them. The Yamaha A-S 301 at 60 strong watts per channel is my pick DuJour. Clean sounding, excellent loudness compensation, plenty of inputs including phono make it a very good sounding and reliable unit. I would add the excellent Audioengine B1 Bluetooth receiver so I could make use of internet sources from computer, iPad or phone. Make those 8B’s sing!:music:
Click to expand...
What do you mean by 60 "strong watts?"

Anyhow, the appeal to the vintage realistic amps with vintage realistic speakers is 1) They were voiced to eachother... 2) To get the quality level of vintage realistic gear in today's new market would cost a LOT... 3) Looks and coolness factor.

Yes, one could power them with ANY amp, new or vintage, that's not the question.
 
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