Hi. First time posting. I have lurked for three months and want to thank all of you for the great education you have been giving me. You guys are truly fantastic!
I am just getting back into owning "traditional" 2 channel audio components as a recent empty nester. Prior to now I have only swum in Technics, Pioneer, Sony waters. So far, I have purchased a pristine pair of Infinity Crescendo CS3009s and a Yamaha AX-700. My intention is to keep the Crescendos long-term. The Yamaha's life span was unknown and is part of what I would like your help with.
First I would love clarification on what the Crescendos REALLY run at -- I have read 4 ohms and 6 ohms -- the manual says 8 ohms. Everyone agrees 8 is wrong. Can anyone definitively clarify the ohm rating of a Crescendo 3009?
Next, I can't find a manual for the Yamaha AX-700. So far, the AX-700U is getting all the manual love. The problem is, where reputable sites (as far as I know) represent the 700 as 110w at 8 ohms with no information about 6 or 4 ohms, I have found the 700U manual, representing the "U" at 160W/210W/280W. What a difference. Was that "U" that much of a tweak or is there a misprint somewhere? And what is the 700's 6 ohm and 4 ohm rating?
Not sure if I should stop here or keep piling on the questions.... (I'll keep going, if you only answer the above it WILL be appreciated). ...sorry, this became MUCH longer than expected. Hope you find it interesting...
Even though the AX-700 has posts for an "A" and "B" speaker pair and the Crescendos have four posts (jumpers are in place), I have been running a single 14AWG pair of wire between. I know, I need better wire.
Listening to a CD source, 9 o'clock is LouD, 10 is LOuD, 11 is LOUD and 12 is going to be a very short listen. Actually, the amp cuts out both channels in fairly short order. Is that clipping? Anyway, I have only done that ONE time...
That is current world.
Because I believe (from reading this forum and others) that "higher quality" separates (preamp and amp) will "improve" my listening experience, today, I alternately listened to a McIntosh MC2105 and a Classe Audio TEN amp fed by a Bel Canto DAC1.5 sourced from a McIntosh CD player and output to a pair of B&W speakers.
THANK YOU SEAN!
THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE:
I found I didn't like the McIntosh MC2105, actually. Seemed like the music wanted space and couldn't get out of the speakers. Who put a blanket over them? Just too rounded everywhere is what I would say, but I am barely understanding what I am saying, so don't write it down.
The Classe Audio TEN had more "crispness" and allowed the music to breath (open up) in comparison. It was much more detailed. I think I even heard the saliva in the vocalist's mouth a couple of times. TMI?
Anyway, the "openness" of the Classe Audio was far closer to what the Yamaha had been giving me, I thought. In any event, I simply liked the Classe Audio presence over the McIntosh, better.
That established, I wondered how the Yamaha AX-700 would compare against the CA TEN.
Well, my host obliged such an audition -- I had brought my 700 with me -- too awesome for words!
THE POISON IN THE MIX:
Because the Yamaha AX-700 is an integrated amp, the first thing we did was switch the Bel Canto to "fixed" so the signal would "pass through", bypassing the Bel Canto preamp. However, I don't know if that worked because we had to turn the AX-700 to 4 o'clock to get what had been 9-10 o'clock on the Crescendos at home. Does anyone know why the Yamaha needed so much in this setup, especially where neither the McIntosh nor the Classe Audio needed half that -- all to the same B&W speakers (8 ohm)?
At the very least all three amps are about 100-110w and the Yamaha was supposed to be the loud screechy one.
The Yamaha did exhibit much of the same detail and expanse in this system as with the Crescendos, however both listeners thought the mid-bass was lacking -- period. At home, on the Crescendos likewise the vocals are most prominent and the bass can seem thin. The CA Ten sounded a LOT better. So was the comparison fair or was the Bel Canto somehow compromising the Yamaha? I don't know. In some ways I feel I know less now than before the audition. Any comments advice welcome.
I am just getting back into owning "traditional" 2 channel audio components as a recent empty nester. Prior to now I have only swum in Technics, Pioneer, Sony waters. So far, I have purchased a pristine pair of Infinity Crescendo CS3009s and a Yamaha AX-700. My intention is to keep the Crescendos long-term. The Yamaha's life span was unknown and is part of what I would like your help with.
First I would love clarification on what the Crescendos REALLY run at -- I have read 4 ohms and 6 ohms -- the manual says 8 ohms. Everyone agrees 8 is wrong. Can anyone definitively clarify the ohm rating of a Crescendo 3009?
Next, I can't find a manual for the Yamaha AX-700. So far, the AX-700U is getting all the manual love. The problem is, where reputable sites (as far as I know) represent the 700 as 110w at 8 ohms with no information about 6 or 4 ohms, I have found the 700U manual, representing the "U" at 160W/210W/280W. What a difference. Was that "U" that much of a tweak or is there a misprint somewhere? And what is the 700's 6 ohm and 4 ohm rating?
Not sure if I should stop here or keep piling on the questions.... (I'll keep going, if you only answer the above it WILL be appreciated). ...sorry, this became MUCH longer than expected. Hope you find it interesting...
Even though the AX-700 has posts for an "A" and "B" speaker pair and the Crescendos have four posts (jumpers are in place), I have been running a single 14AWG pair of wire between. I know, I need better wire.
Listening to a CD source, 9 o'clock is LouD, 10 is LOuD, 11 is LOUD and 12 is going to be a very short listen. Actually, the amp cuts out both channels in fairly short order. Is that clipping? Anyway, I have only done that ONE time...
That is current world.
Because I believe (from reading this forum and others) that "higher quality" separates (preamp and amp) will "improve" my listening experience, today, I alternately listened to a McIntosh MC2105 and a Classe Audio TEN amp fed by a Bel Canto DAC1.5 sourced from a McIntosh CD player and output to a pair of B&W speakers.
THANK YOU SEAN!
THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE:
I found I didn't like the McIntosh MC2105, actually. Seemed like the music wanted space and couldn't get out of the speakers. Who put a blanket over them? Just too rounded everywhere is what I would say, but I am barely understanding what I am saying, so don't write it down.
The Classe Audio TEN had more "crispness" and allowed the music to breath (open up) in comparison. It was much more detailed. I think I even heard the saliva in the vocalist's mouth a couple of times. TMI?
Anyway, the "openness" of the Classe Audio was far closer to what the Yamaha had been giving me, I thought. In any event, I simply liked the Classe Audio presence over the McIntosh, better.
That established, I wondered how the Yamaha AX-700 would compare against the CA TEN.
Well, my host obliged such an audition -- I had brought my 700 with me -- too awesome for words!
THE POISON IN THE MIX:
Because the Yamaha AX-700 is an integrated amp, the first thing we did was switch the Bel Canto to "fixed" so the signal would "pass through", bypassing the Bel Canto preamp. However, I don't know if that worked because we had to turn the AX-700 to 4 o'clock to get what had been 9-10 o'clock on the Crescendos at home. Does anyone know why the Yamaha needed so much in this setup, especially where neither the McIntosh nor the Classe Audio needed half that -- all to the same B&W speakers (8 ohm)?
At the very least all three amps are about 100-110w and the Yamaha was supposed to be the loud screechy one.
The Yamaha did exhibit much of the same detail and expanse in this system as with the Crescendos, however both listeners thought the mid-bass was lacking -- period. At home, on the Crescendos likewise the vocals are most prominent and the bass can seem thin. The CA Ten sounded a LOT better. So was the comparison fair or was the Bel Canto somehow compromising the Yamaha? I don't know. In some ways I feel I know less now than before the audition. Any comments advice welcome.
