Affordable Preamps & amplifiers? Thoughts on Carver Gear?

[SEAWOLF97]

I don't know why the stigma of "You can't/shouldn't use a pro amp for home use" exists. .

not sure WHY either ... my BGW's seem to do nicely.

classic preamp ==>> https://www.stereophile.com/content/...4-preamplifier

[Mike Caldwell]

Good to hear you have the amps up and running.

Do you have a high pass filter on the system that could help the woofer from bottoming out.
Careful, those amps have a fair amount power for those speakers.

[DerekTheGreat]

not sure WHY either ... my BGW's seem to do nicely.

classic preamp ==>> https://www.stereophile.com/content/...4-preamplifier

Please correct my ignorance, BGW's?

That's a nice looking pre, affordable too! Was trying to find another one <$300, I might just try that. Was thinking of a new one from Emotiva, which has a built in DAC and all that. Ever try one?

Good to hear you have the amps up and running.

Do you have a high pass filter on the system that could help the woofer from bottoming out.
Careful, those amps have a fair amount power for those speakers.

Thanks! It was fun during the window of time I had.

Yes, I use an Ashly XR1000, have the lo pass set to 200hz/12dB for 2214H's, the rest of that goes to the other components, whatever they are

They definitely do have too much power. JBL recommends 200w RMS max, but states they can handle peaks of 800w. I'm not sure about that latter part. Either my 2214H's need to be reconed and/or the weird titanium mids & tweeters need to have the foam replaced in them. I was detecting some scratchiness at mid to high volumes. Could also be the recording, those things really shine and reveal in the upper registers. It's the bass department that leaves me wanting more. Everything I read states the 2214H is an incredible woof. But compared to the 128H's in my L150A's, they're flabby & bloated. Running the K2 and MA2402 really tightened them up though! It was a kind of difference. But they can't play very loud before "brap! pop!" I don't know how much of that abuse they can take, so I'm afraid to crank it any more. Reconing isn't cheap, edgewound and I are on a first name basis as a result LoL..

I think I need a lesson or five about speaker placement. I bet that's what my problems are. Old house, carpet and ancient drapes that ports of the XPL's are firing into. They're about 7 or 8 inches away from the walls (only the left is close to a corner) and toe'd in toward the listening position, which is a couch that is against the wall and about 10ft away from the XPL's. Whatever pointers you fellas could give, I'll listen.

[SEAWOLF97]

I used for decades the more affordable Spectro Acoustics preamp model 217R (R for rackmount version) and the no frills EQ model 2102 (removable rackmount supplied), both have been quite reliable (35+ years), still going when i gave them away. Spectro was founded by former engineering collegues of Bob Carver at Phase Linear.
Richard

doing some "discovery cleaning" today in my audio graveyard and found a Spectro Acoustics 210R EQ that was long forgotten ... thot of RMC's post regarding SA.

powers up OK.

works GREAT ... no noise in controls, quality item ... $375 new in '77 .... here is a web pic, mine is rack mount.

[grumpy]

Yes, I use an Ashly XR1000, have the lo pass set to 200hz/12dB for 2214H's

I think Mike meant a filter to block the lowest frequencies, ... a high-pass filter (on preamps there used to be a 'rumble' filter so turntables wouldn't feedback or put undue/inaudible LF into the amp). A ported system has no protection below resonance and the driver can just uselessly flop around.

[DerekTheGreat]

Oh, thanks for the clarification grumpy. My Marantz pre has a 30hz filter option that I'm not using because the Ashly XR1000 claims to have a 20hz high pass filter already integrated into it. Perhaps I should? I think you're right- the ported design of the XPL could be why the L150A's can approach ear splitting SPL's (woofers never "braap'd" or "popped" right up until the clip lights of the bridged GFA 555 II's twinkled..) but the XPL can't. You guys definitely know more than me and have more experience.

Seawolf- Cool looking equalizer. I bought a Audio Control C-101 II a year ago, really liked it. Hasn't been in place for several months though, once I changed out the Marantz 510M, equalization wasn't necessary any more. All the great things people (myself included..) used to say about "Marantz Sound" too. Could vintage Marantz be a runner up to Bose? Or is my amp just an anomaly? I started "that game" with a Marantz 4300 bridged for stereo- 100wpc. That thing sucked when compared to the 510M, which sucked when compared to the cheap (by comparison) Adcom GFA 555 II's. I had my 510M gone over by a local tech. They replaced a few things which got the clip and meter lights working again. They also bench tested it, at that time it put down a healthy 305wpc @ 8ohms (factory rating is 256). As much as I hate to say it, it's just a pretty conversation piece or low listening volume unit based on my experience. At least the Marantz 3600 preamp is pretty magical!

Anyway, was doing some research on the Dynaco preamps, minimal. But, looks like the PAT-5 is what I'd like as they have a tone control defeat switch. Ever listen to one of those? Some manufacturers claim that their circuitry and design is so good a defeat option isn't necessary. Not sure if that's just marketing BS or fact though..

[SEAWOLF97]

Seawolf- Cool looking equalizer. I bought a Audio Control C-101 II a year ago, really liked it. Hasn't been in place for several months though, once I changed out the Marantz 510M, equalization wasn't necessary any more. All the great things people (myself included..) used to say about "Marantz Sound" too. Could vintage Marantz be a runner up to Bose? Or is my amp just an anomaly? I started "that game" with a Marantz 4300 bridged for stereo- 100wpc. That thing sucked when compared to the 510M, which sucked when compared to the cheap (by comparison) Adcom GFA 555 II's.

That SA is really well built . Didn't know I had one , still has price sticker from a thrift = $8.95 (probably got on a 50% day )
Have 2 or 3 of those Audio Control's in a stack somewhere. Never had problems, but just "moved on.."

Do have one that's kinda fun ... Technics, I think , electronic, where you can do up to 5 EQ setups and store them ... then 1 button instant selections to each for comparisons.. like a car radio.

I put that SA in my "headboard stack" (creek amp, 18ti's, fed from an Alexa Echo) . Now sounds pretty good. The Creek is an integrated with no tone control and made the JBL's to be too bright and little bass .. the SA sure fixed that up nicely.