Will there be an audible difference if I upgrade?

[dantay]

I am considering changing my amp, It is a JVC AX700 that I purchased new in the late 80's.

It powers a Rega P2 TT with a Rega fono stage through JBL L96 speakers and a B&W sub. I am considering changing to either another solid state or tube amp used in the $500-$1000 range. Is it realistic to improve sound quality with these parameters? Should I stay with an integrated amp or pre-amp/power amp? Any recommendations for a change?

 

[E-Stat]

I am considering changing my amp,

The weak part of your system IMHO is the speakers. JBL's from Locanthi's day had horribly inconsistent directivity due to crossing the midrange too high. Imaging suffers as compared with modern designs and sounds artificial to these ears.

You might consider a pair of LSR308s in your budget which happen to be powered. All you need then is a preamp stage. Unfortunately, the AX700 doesn't allow for pre-in / main out operation.[/QUOTE]

 

[nj pheonix]

While i don't know, i suspect yours 80s pieces is due for a freshening (i really don't know anything about specific piece). I do know 40 years later they get tired and need a restore. I also don't know if the money spent on restoring that specifically wouldn't be better spent on something new or newer.

 

[soundmotor]

I am considering changing my amp, It is a JVC AX700 that I purchased new in the late 80's.

It powers a Rega P2 TT with a Rega fono stage through JBL L96 speakers and a B&W sub. I am considering changing to either another solid state or tube amp used in the $500-$1000 range. Is it realistic to improve sound quality with these parameters? Should I stay with an integrated amp or pre-amp/power amp? Any recommendations for a change?

I've heard good things about the L96s. I wonder if there are any performance gains in crossover mods? I like the rest of the system too, all your original choices were solid.

What are the main things you are trying to improve?

 

[richamor]

Well..... it depends. What do YOU think "need" replacement? What are looking to improve? Need more bass? Clarity? Midrange weak and muddy? System to noisy?

I'm not much of a JVC fan, but your speakers are a decent match for the amp. I would look to replace both. Whether tubes, vintage, or quality solid state any will sound different. Better is always subjective. Change just for the sake of change is not always progress.

You're off to a good start. Think about what you want your system to sound like, do your due diligence, and replace what you feel will make the improvements you're looking for. Listening to other systems is an almost perfect way but my system will not sound the same in your house so keep that on mind.

And with that I'll shut up. Didn't mean to ramble.

 

[Blue Shadow]

You will get a different sound and many may think it better. Carefully purchased, it will be better in your opinion. Don't know exactly where you are wanting to go with sonic improvements but a new amp system will make a difference.

 

[dantay]

The weak part of your system IMHO is the speakers. JBL's from Locanthi's day had horribly inconsistent directivity due to crossing the midrange too high. Imaging suffers as compared with modern designs and sounds artificial to these ears.

JBL L96 imo is an excellent speaker.....research and find they are quite popular. There is no point debating new vs. vintage as that will open a huge debate and nothing will be accomplished.

While i don't know, i suspect yours 80s pieces is due for a freshening (i really don't know anything about specific piece). I do know 40 years later they get tired and need a restore. I also don't know if the money spent on restoring that specifically wouldn't be better spent on something new or newer.

Again ...no need to debate new vs old...secondly , all pieces are in excellent condition and need nothing.

What are the main things you are trying to improve?

I am trying to determine if a change in my amp will improve sound quality. I would consider buying used between $500-1000 as used will offer better value.

 

[soundmotor]

I am trying to determine if a change in my amp will improve sound quality. I would consider buying used between $500-1000 as used will offer better value.

Have you considered these?

 

[Superampman]

JBL L96 imo is an excellent speaker.....research and find they are quite popular. There is no point debating new vs. vintage as that will open a huge debate and nothing will be accomplished.



Again ...no need to debate new vs old...secondly , all pieces are in excellent condition and need nothing.



I am trying to determine if a change in my amp will improve sound quality. I would consider buying used between $500-1000 as used will offer better value.

Not hard to improve on JVC.

 

[dantay]

Not hard to improve on JVC.

Too general of a statement....the amp has served well and problem free for 40 years . Very little info on this amp and I believe it is not that common.

Have you considered these?

Not sure how this helps???

Any constructive solutions anyone??

 

[tonyk]

You could change your amp and improve the sound for sure, but E-Stat is correct, regardless of how popular the L96 are the biggest upgrade sonically would come from changing speakers. They're easily bested by numerous newer designs, including newer JBLs.

 

[Superampman]

Not hard to improve on JVC.

My experience with JVC is to call it even mid-fi would be generous. Confine your research to descriptors such as sota, high end, audiophile, hi-fi, transparent, etc.. Separates are more than likely to be superior. Names such as Forte, Perreaux, Bryston, Sugden, Quad, Meridian fit the bill with models in your price range, guaranteed to spank your JVC. Even a Dynaco ST-70 in great shape can be had with enough left over for a decent pre.

 

[Ds2000]

Yes JVC never made anything of value.

Of course I kid I kid. However they've made a lot of great gear under the Laboratory moniker.

 

[don philipe]

What cart is in your Rega? Speakers and carts make huge improvements.I've never heard thos JBL's you have but I have a pair of L-36's that sound fabulous.Depends on what improvements you are looking for.I wonder if you could describe that!

 

[BMWCCA]

I am considering changing my amp, It is a JVC AX700 that I purchased new in the late 80's.It powers a Rega P2 TT with a Rega fono stage through JBL L96 speakers and a B&W sub. I am considering changing to either another solid state or tube amp used in the $500-$1000 range. Is it realistic to improve sound quality with these parameters? Should I stay with an integrated amp or pre-amp/power amp? Any recommendations for a change?

The answer to your original question might be "maybe". I'd say more like yes, of course! You asked about replacing the amp and then it seems you get sensitive about criticism of the JVC. That's to be expected if you've owned it since new, but you asked if replacing it would be an improvement.

I have to wonder how many here who have suggested your problem is with the speakers have spent much time with the L96. I have a mint pair, as well as over a dozen JBLs from the L1 to the 4345. I consider the L96 one pair that won't leave my home until I'm dead and gone (probably the not-so-distant future for those of you into a good garage sale, but my wife will have a list of values by then! ) I've often said they don't do anything badly and do many things so well they would be my "desert-island" speaker if I could only keep one pair and they had to fit in any room situation.

The L96 may seldom do any wrong but they will improve with more power added. I've run them with up to 200 watts-per-channel of Crown power. I'm not sure how that will compare on your JVC's 115-wpc, but let's just say not all claimed watts are equal. There is also a certain synergy between amp and speakers that can't be determined until you've tried it. Since your basic supposition is that you'll be replacing the JVC, then I'd start with separates which will give you the ability to try different power amps. Personally I've used Soundcraftsmen and Crown products for decades, many since new, and stick with them because of the way they sound and how they've served me. Many will tell you Crown amps and JBL speakers go together. Also separates will give you the ability to consider powered speakers. I also own two pairs of powered JBL LSR305s and run them off a Crown PSL-2. They are the most impressive affordable modern JBLs I've ever heard.

My daily-drivers are a pair of bi-amped JBL 4345 so I know what an impressive speaker sounds like, and I'm still impressed with the L96 which I can compare in my home to the L112, 4412A, LSR305, L3, L5, L7, and others in the same room with a variety of amplifiers from Crown, Adcom, Carver, JBL/Urei, and Soundcraftsmen. You don't say where you live but maybe there's an AK member nearby willing to let you try some gear before you make the jump. I only have one amp I've paid over $200 for (not saying I didn't get a good deal or they're not worth much, much more . . . ) and I have one currently out on loan to a neighbor. I have pre-amps I've paid over double that for and some that fall well within your budget. I think the best bang-for-the-buck comes from vintage gear. I've heard arguments both ways so everyone can save their breath.

Personally, I'd go for a vintage pre-amp which incorporates a good phone section. The Crown PSL-2 is excellent if a bit pricey. I have two since I can't pass up a good deal on a good product I've enjoyed. But my main system uses a Soundcraftsmen Pro-Control-Four with a Pro-EQ 44 since I love having an EQ in every room to adjust for low-volume listening and room issues. If you like matching components you could do a Soundcraftsmen Pro-Control-Four and Pro-Power Four even including the great Pro-EQ 44 for well within your budget. With Crown you could do the PSL-2 or SL2 with a PS-400 amp also within your budget. Those have all served me well and are what power my two main systems today (though the SC amps are sitting idle and I use Crowns in all systems currently).

So, yes, I'd say you'd benefit from a new amp, but go with separates and see if you can try a few in your system first before puling the trigger. Yes, your JBL L96s are fine speakers, but there are others out there that might serve you better depending on your musical tastes, etc. I wouldn't consider running a sub with mine but I'm not expecting them to give a home-theater experience, either. Give it a try and use your own ears to make your own decisions. That's what really matters.

 

[dantay]

Thanks BMWCAA for your specific detailed comments. This is the detail I was hoping to gather. Ironically I was just going to contact you for comment. My intention was not to be defensive of my amp but comments without support offer no help. With due respect to all involved, this hobby has many participants that think all ears are the same and have the same likes and dislikes as far as vintage or new product.

 

[E-Stat]

JBL L96 imo is an excellent speaker.....research and find they are quite popular.

*Popularity* doesn't fix its sonic flaws. At the top of the midrange's response, it is reproducing wavelengths shorter than its piston diameter where directivity severely clamps down. Then is immediately contrasted to a wide dispersion dome tweeter sitting in its sweet spot. That is avoided by crossing a 5" driver over around 2kHz rather than 5kHz. Under Floyd Toole's guidance, such is avoided with the LSR range of JBL speakers. It really isn't rocket science.

I find its "fun house mirror" wide-narrow-wide imaging perspective distracting and unnatural sounding.

To each his own!

 

[Old Guy8]

I have a bias. If you go newer used, Rogue Sphinx are available under $900. If you believe audio mags reviews are positive. Remotes available. 12au7 tube pre.

 

[BMWCCA]

*Popularity* doesn't fix its sonic flaws. At the top of the midrange's response, it is reproducing wavelengths shorter than its pistion diameter where directivity severely clamps down. Then is immediately contrasted to a wide dispersion dome tweeter sitting in its sweet spot. That is avoided by crossing a 5" driver over around 2kHz rather than 5kHz. Under Floyd Toole's guidance, such is avoided with the LSR range of JBL speakers. It really isn't rocket science.

I find its "fun house mirror" wide-narrow-wide imaging perspective distracting and unnatural sounding.

To each his own!

Sounds like a three-way versus two-way argument. Why not just stick with a full-range single driver?

Can't tell if you're suggesting crossover range based on a generic 5-inch midrange, or what. The L96 is crossed at 3700 Hz, as are all JBLs using the 044 HF. Once they went to a titanium dome tweeter most three-ways crossed at 4kHz. Probably the better imaging of my vintage JBLs would arguably be the L7, a 4-way with a titanium HF and a 5-inch mid crossed at 4kHz. The LSR305 crosses at 1725 Hz from a 5-inch woofer to a 1-inch HF.

Most any speaker will have position issues, from the boundary reinforcement of the JBL 12-inch three-ways sitting in a corner on the floor to the toe-in I've dialed into the 4-way 18-inch-woofer based monitors in my living room. If accurate soundstage is the goal, move your speakers. Not all will have "perfect" directivity, whatever that is. But then no two rooms are exactly alike, either, in acoustics or seating position. The LSR achieves what it does through the wave-guide work done on the M2 monitors. They are stunning in how they image and in the breadth of their soundstage even in the smallest LSR305 which is available frequently for under a C-note each. I know that. I own two pair. None of this analysis detracts from the musical presentation offered by the now-thirty-five-year-old L-series systems including the L96, or the ability of anyone to simply enjoy the music you hear from them.

 

[E-Stat]

Sounds like a three-way versus two-way argument.

Not really It's quite easy to solve the problem as I indicated. The LSR6332 using an almost identical complement of drivers (in terms of size) runs its 5" midrange an octave lower. Speaking of two ways, I run New Advents in the garage. Henry observed the rule of thumb for its crossover, but admittedly the tweeter isn't as extended as you find with the three way JBLs and its dispersion rolls off at the top. On the other hand, its sins are not brightly illuminated with a transition to a driver with an overtly different radiation pattern.

Why not just stick with a full-range single driver?

Agree. That's exactly how my U-1PX speakers operate.

Can't tell if you're suggesting crossover range based on a generic 5-inch midrange, or what. The L96 is crossed at 3700 Hz, as are all JBLs using the 044 HF.

Mea culpa. The L110 crosses at 4 kHz, L250T at 5 kHz and the L100/4311 at 6 khz. 4 kHz is still an octave too high for that size midrange.

The LSR305 crosses at 1725 Hz from a 5-inch woofer to a 1-inch HF.

The 308's xover frequency is similar, both of which are within the limits of the piston size for optimum performance. The math is extraordinarily easy.

Not all will have "perfect" directivity, whatever that is.

Consistent across the frequency band as you find with current JBL product and tons of other well designed speakers.

The LSR achieves what it does through the wave-guide work done on the M2 monitors.

And not breaking simple, but fundamental rules.

They are stunning in how they image and in the breadth of their soundstage even in the smallest LSR305 which is available frequently for under a C-note each.

Which is why I suggested the OP consider a pair of 308s. I aver that will make a far greater audible difference for the budget than merely changing the amplifier.