Plugging my stereo back up

[WideEyedToad]

My stereo has been sitting unplugged for about 18 months now. Was just too tired to set it up when moving to my current place.
My energy is returning and getting that itch after asking some questions here.
I figure I'll set everything up, space the speakers correctly again and maybe look into acoustic pads for the walls, though I'll have to ask someone on how it works.
I have plans to upgrade both the stereo amp and speakers, something with more power and sensitivity. Currently my speakers are 8 ohm, reading here tells me I should go with 4 or 6 ohms, higher than 85 db.

My 'expensive' $80 speaker cables. Any science to better cables or is it generally all similar and barely noticeable?

 

[RexrothPigeon]

ny science to better cables or is it generally all similar and barely noticeable?

The latter

 

[JSmith]

Currently my speakers are 8 ohm

There's nothing unusual or wrong about that.


JSmith

 

[WideEyedToad]

There's nothing unusual or wrong about that.


JSmith

Someone here told me they're harder to drive, compared to 4 ohm.

 

[sergeauckland]

Someone here told me they're harder to drive, compared to 4 ohm.

Sadly, someone told you wrong!

If anything, 4 ohms are harder on the amplifier than 8 ohms, but in any case, loudspeaker impedance is very nominal, so many 8 ohns rated loudspeakers have an impedance that drops to much lower and higher figures at certain frequencies.

Sensitivity is more important than impedance, unless the impedance minimum is severe.

S

 

[DanielT]

.....higher than 85 db.

There is no point in getting speakers with a higher sensitivity than 85 dB (2.83v/1m) just for the sake of it.

Like this, 85 dB (2.83v/1m) speakers that sound good or 90 dB (2.83v/1m) speakers that sound bad?
Sound good = well-built speakers, little resonance, good FR, low distortion, and so on. The usual parameters that is.

What do you choose? 85 dB sensitive speakers with good power handling that can sound good even at 96 dB or 90 dB sensitive speakers with low power handling that start distorting fairly quickly when the volume is turned up? In addition, the bad sounding speakers may already have high distortion
at 90 dB (2.83v/1m). For simplicity's sake, let's say speakers with high sensitivity but also with high distortion regardless of sound level. Does that sound like a good pair of speakers?

The reasoning above is based on the assumption that you have enough amp power to drive the speakers in a good way regardless of the level of sensitivity of the speakers.

A side note. Combination of well-built speakers, little resonance, good FR, low distortion, and so on at (really) high SPL levels = expensive speakers.
Plus if you want to skip thinking about the speaker sensitivity level plus appropriate amp power for them then look at active speakers. With active speakers you instead examine how they perform at different SPL levels.

 

[WideEyedToad]

Have a question about a power amp.
I plug it in to my peachtree, then speakers into the power amp?
I've never experiment with power amps, other than vehicles, so I have very little idea.

Would this illustration be correct?

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi - in my younger days the sequence was always: find a kettle and a mug, make coffee then set up the hifi before anything else. I definitely have less energy these days, and competing priorities!

It would help to know what your equipment actually is - not all 8 Ohm speakers are the same (and not all of them are actually 8 Ohm). We're always interested to know what you are using too, not just speakers.

Yes, your speaker cable is absolutely fine as is

 

[WideEyedToad]

Hi - in my younger days the sequence was always: find a kettle and a mug, make coffee then set up the hifi before anything else. I definitely have less energy these days, and competing priorities!

It would help to know what your equipment actually is - not all 8 Ohm speakers are the same (and not all of them are actually 8 Ohm). We're always interested to know what you are using too, not just speakers.

Yes, your speaker cable is absolutely fine as is

Peachtree nova65se
Kef q300
Svs sb2000
Using Tidal to stream. Likely will order a long usb cable and connect directly, if that helps any.

 

[staticV3]

Currently my speakers are 8 ohm, reading here tells me I should go with 4 or 6 ohms, higher than 85 db.

Power is cheap and speaker impedance has no relation to performance.

Choose what measures well and pay little attention to sensitivity and impedance.

 

[Willem]

And of course, for superb sound quality there are the Neumann KH120ii active speakers, to replace both your amplifier and the speakers. You will need a cheap streamer as well, so probably a bit above budget, but not that much.

 

[DanielT]

Have a question about a power amp.
I plug it in to my peachtree, then speakers into the power amp?
I've never experiment with power amps, other than vehicles, so I have very little idea.

Would this illustration be correct?
View attachment 475020

Is that a power amp you have or are thinking of buying?

In any case, information on how to connect:

Amplifier data:

 

[DVinylfan]

Best of luck and have fun setting up and enjoying your stereo again!
I'm especially happy for your other dog, who must be looking forward to their first good sleep in 18 months

 

[WideEyedToad]

Is that a power amp you have or are thinking of buying?

In any case, information on how to connect:
View attachment 475032

Amplifier data:
View attachment 475034

The power amp I'm thinking of, is likely marantz mm7025.

I just need to figure out how to wire everything.
If i plug the marantz into the peachtree, using the pre-out, then I don't have anywhere to plug the subwoofer into.

 

[Joe Smith]

It's not very clear what you want to do - your Peachtree is already an integrated power amp. So no need for another amp. If you want to use your Peachtree as just a preamp, then your would connect the RCA pre out jacks to another amp's main in RCA jacks. The Marantz you are showing does not have dedicated jacks for SW out, though. SO if what you are ultimately trying to do is incorporate a SW with your speakers, there are better amp/preamp combinations.

I don't use SWs, BUT I believe there is a safe way to connect a SW along with your other speakers to speaker jacks - but to my mind even if safe, if you intend to use a SW long-term, it would be better to sell off the Peachtree and get a different integrated amp that has all of the features you need in one unit...

I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[WideEyedToad]

It's not very clear what you want to do - your Peachtree is already an integrated power amp. So no need for another amp. If you want to use your Peachtree as just a preamp, then your would connect the RCA pre out jacks to another amp's main in RCA jacks. The Marantz you are showing does not have dedicated jacks for SW out, though. SO if what you are ultimately trying to do is incorporate a SW with your speakers, there are better amp/preamp combinations.

I don't use SWs, BUT I believe there is a safe way to connect a SW along with your other speakers to speaker jacks - but to my mind even if safe, if you intend to use a SW long-term, it would be better to sell off the Peachtree and get a different integrated amp that has all of the features you need in one unit...

I'm sure others will chime in.

65 wpc isn't enough for me, or the speakers I'm thinking about getting.

 

[DanielT]

The power amp I'm thinking of, is likely marantz mm7025.

I just need to figure out how to wire everything.
If i plug the marantz into the peachtree, using the pre-out, then I don't have anywhere to plug the subwoofer into.

View attachment 475135

View attachment 475136
View attachment 475137

You can solve this with an RCA splitter or with a high to low level converter (which are connected to the speaker outputs on your Peachtree amp). BUT DON'T do it yet. You haven't bought a Marantz MM7025, you're just thinking about it.
Instead: Consider selling your Peachtree instead of using it as a pre amp with an external power amp. You said yourself that you're thinking about WiiM AMP Ultra. A solution that @Willem shown has many features that would suit you plus more power than the Peachtree amp you have now.

With WiiM AMP Ultra and its sub out, let the WiiM amplifier and your Kef q300 take care of everything above, say, 80 Hz, everything below that your subwoofer takes care of. Then you have a solution that you can basically play as loud as the speakers allow (more or less), which the speakers have power handling for. For me, with your SVS sub, it would play high enough. But that's me.

If you want to play louder than that while still maintaining good sound, you have to change speakers plus maybe change or add another SVS sub (same model you have now) plus an even more powerful amplifier than the WiiM AMP Ultra. It costs a penny. You have to open a bigger wallet.

 

[WideEyedToad]

You can solve this with an RCA splitter or with a high to low level converter (which are connected to the speaker outputs on your Peachtree amp). BUT DON'T do it yet. You haven't bought a Marantz MM7025, you're just thinking about it.
Instead: Consider selling your Peachtree instead of using it as a pre amp with an external power amp. You said yourself that you're thinking about WiiM AMP Ultra. A solution that @Willem shown has many features that would suit you plus more power than the Peachtree amp you have now.

With WiiM AMP Ultra and its sub out, let the WiiM amplifier and your Kef q300 take care of everything above, say, 80 Hz, everything below that your subwoofer takes care of. Then you have a solution that you can basically play as loud as the speakers allow (more or less), which the speakers have power handling for. For me, with your SVS sub, it would play high enough. But that's me.

If you want to play louder than that while still maintaining good sound, you have to change speakers plus maybe change or add another SVS sub (same model you have now) plus an even more powerful amplifier than the WiiM AMP Ultra. It costs a penny. You have to open a bigger wallet.

I couldn't really find a wiim that was in the 150 wpc range, does something similar exist?
I'm not sure there's a big market for an old peachtree with 65 watts. If I'd only get a couple bucks for it, I'd rather just keep it or gift it to a friend.
The sub seems to be doing fine in this room.

 

[DanielT]

I couldn't really find a wiim that was in the 150 wpc range, does something similar exist?
I'm not sure there's a big market for an old peachtree with 65 watts. If I'd only get a couple bucks for it, I'd rather just keep it or gift it to a friend.
The sub seems to be doing fine in this room.

But even if you use your Peachtre as a pre amp together with a powerful power amp WITHOUT cutting off the lowest frequencies for your Kef q300 speakers, what have you gained? Then the bottleneck is the speakers.
I mean it doesn't matter if you have a 1000 watt power amp if your speakers are recommended to have an amplifier power of 15-120W. You simply have to realize that your speakers are not SPL monsters (which few home hifi bookshelf speakers are). Also, with a powerful amp you can destroy the speakers if you push them too hard, especially if they are working full range.

But okay there are many amplifiers, choose the one you like with as much power as you think is appropriate, but my recommendation would be that you filter the signal so the speakers only need to operate above around 80 Hz. You can do it already today with via your subwoofer's HP line out BUT due to the SVS's sluggishness DSP that results in considerable latency and that it's not something I would do.You want sound to come out of the speakers and subwoofer at the same time, but that won't happen if the signal goes through your SVS sub via line out to your amplifier and speakers.

Plus EQ for the sub bass area is good because the room itself creates such a wacky bass frequency response.

Imagine if there was some all in one solution that could fix those challenges/problem with 100 WPC (suitable considering your speakers' power handling). Wouldn't that be great?

Edit:
Then I have to say that I, like you, like to play at high volume. At least sometimes when I'm in that mood. Then maybe I even love it, as others can do:

Loud, I wanna hear it loud, right between the eyes
Loud, I wanna hear it loud, don't want no compromise

Check out its speakers and their SPL. With them you can really rock out. Something that no hifi bookshelf speakers can handle.I'll leave aside the question of whether they fit in a listening room at home or not:

 

[rdenney]

You asked about connections. Peachtree "Pre-Out" to power amp "Input", power amp phono-plug "Output" to sub, and power amp speaker outputs to speakers, is correct, just as you have drawn. That will work fine. You'll be bypassing the amp in the Peachtree.

65 watts (which I gather is the output of the Peachtree) is healthy enough but if you listen to loud music or (especially) loud and dynamic sound effects a more powerful amp isn't a dumb idea. But make a big enough move to be worth the trouble: doubling the power is enough to make a "just noticeable" difference--about 3 dB. A big difference will take more. But you also don't have to spend the money on that Marantz to get a very competent amp, though that's when you may need a way to split off the subwoofer signal, though some subs can work from speaker-level inputs.

Clean, abundant power is inexpensive these days compared to the past.

Rick "answering the question" Denney