Wharfedale W60D waiting on recap return & partnering receiver?

[Ishmael]

We are awaiting the return of our Wharfedale W60D speakers which are being re-capped and having their cross-over/attenuators gone over. Given the difference similar service made in the performance of our KEF Ref 104 speakers we are greatly looking forward to the return.

The partnering receiver will be a Hitachi SR-504. It is in really fine condition and per its service manual specifications has “27 watts per channel, min. RMS, at 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with no more than 0.08% total harmonic distortion.” It is also rated per specifications as: “30W+30W (8 ohms, 1kHz, T.H.D. 0.08%) 35W+35W (8ohms, 1kHz, T.H.D. 0.08%)”. We know that vintage Wharfedale speakers (Linton/W70) and these W60D speakers don’t require a lot of power to make beautiful/dynamic music. I would doubt even in listening to classic rock, Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Beatles, etc. that we would ever use more than 5 to 10 watts at the loudest we would listen to this music now (you see there is a benefit to growing old, you listen, with your ears now, as opposed to your chest cavity :yes.

After going through many posts on AK regarding this speaker, some have posted that they seem to perform best with a 50 watt amp/receiver powering them, however always with the caveat of keeping the volume down and not risking the tweeter (ours have the purple tweeters). What is confusing is that in the Wharfedale catalog for the W60D speaker (found online ) it lists Wharfedale’s specifications for the W60D as:

Input Power min. – 8watts (IHF, per channel)
Input Power Max.- 40 watts (IHF, per channel)
System Impedance – 4 to 8 ohms

Given the manufacturer’s specifications it would seem our Hitachi would fit the bill per specifications for these speakers. Of course specifications are just that, listening is the test, and hopefully next week that will begin (we will also experiment with the side versus upright placement of these speakers per other’s recommendations). Your thoughts are welcome.

 

[Brian]

There is specifications and sound. I doubt the proposed receiver will be the equal of the speakers. I have never driven my W70s above 1.5 watts peak.

Remember the speakers are not new. Like anything vintage care must be taken. You would not drive a vintage Corvette at the speeds you would when new.

 

[Ishmael]

Brian, agreed, these speakers are not going to the head-bangers ball, nor do I wish to anymore. It is just that I marvel at how much an improvement was made with the replacement of all the caps in our KEF Ref 104 speakers such that it will be interesting to see what changes come from the replacement of the two capacitor per crossover, and cleaning restoration of the attenuators in the W60Ds.

We are kind of like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as our New Large Advent (utility) garage speakers had their single capacitor replaced, with a small but very nice improvement in sound quality (WOW, playing Titanic’s “Hymn to the Sea”), the KEF Ref 104 with a very big improvement, and so we hope for similar good things with the W60Ds.

While not of the power rating of the Sansui 2000x that Gangtwanger has praised in posts for driving his Wharfedales I like the sound of the Hitachi which the measurements support (not the other way around). So you try, you listen and you find out.

To me part of the fun in this hobby is the time machine it provides. Listening to classic rock through the speakers and receivers it would have been first played through takes you to a different time in live music. A time of never to be forgotten small town armories with local bands playing their hearts out through single stacks of Fender or Vox amps/speakers (with the occasional out of town band with "gasp" "Marshall" speakers). It was far from perfect sound, but it was raw and alive. Our home playback system was the same, an older brothers Garrard turntable through a tube Sansui receiver and a pair of 10-12 inch heavy speakers with beautiful cast frame, spiders, base and the tweeter/midrange suspended over the woofer with no speaker box just laying on the floor angled up on its cast base and rim. That's where Joan Baez happened, Iron Butterfly, The Doors, and dancing to “Hey Jude”, a new year and graduation to follow. In its own small way through the W60Ds it may happen again.

 

[Dr. Humboldt]

Ishmael, beautiful time machine images/soundscapes! I look forward to reading about where/when the W60Ds take you.

I know tube watts are "bigger" than SS watts, but according to Ishmael's research and these posts, my 12-13 WPC, unrestored Stromberg-Carlson ASR-433 shouldn't be able to drive my W60Ds... yet it does, wonderfully. There is something left to be desired, a slight hum, but seeking that out is driving me to recap everything, which it needs anyway. But advice from those who haven't jumped into the tube world in the last year (like myself) is always appreciated and usually followed.

So, Ishmael, what caps did your repairperson use, after all? The Mundorfs you mention in another thread?

Thanks!
Wes

 

[BOUXY]

These Speakers will sound good with just about ANY Receiver of the proper Wattage but with that being said,would sound better with trial & error system of trying as many as one could try looking for that ultimate sound that one could hear/find

 

[Dr. Humboldt]

Bouxy - great advice. Just tried the W60Ds on another receiver, they definitely sound better through the old ASR-433 tubes than the Onkyo TX-3000, which is an SS amp rated at 45-50 WPC.