Receiver for use with Pair of SB3 Bookshelf Speakers

User Name

I've been searching for a stereo for a month or two that'll produce clear, full, flat, sparkling sound for listening to music and watching DVD's and I've come up with a speaker solution but still have to find a suitable receiver. For speakers, I've decided to buy a pair of NHT SB3's. These, according to my research, should deliver the highest quality sound for my speaker budget of $400 dollars.

For those who have only been able to find these speakers for $600, click here.

However, I may expand this modest-sized system in the future as more funds become available. Given my taste in music (popular, electronica, and rock) it would be nice, for instance, to eventually buy a second pair of NHT's for surrounds, a center, or a ball-zy sub-woofer.

I am open to all reasonable suggestions that are somewhere in the range of 200-300 dollars, but not much more. I will buy reconditioned/refurbished/remanufactured items as long as they come with the full warrenty.

Because it was luck that I found out about these supposedly supper-value speakers and because the models I mentioned I was looking at colored the responses I got and almost made me miss these, I will hold off on mentioning what I've been looking at myself.

Please respond only if you have experience with the receiver (having tested it in a store is fine), it is within my relative price range, and potentially could fit my needs.

Sound is most important, then design and looks, and least importantly ease of use.

One thing to note: these are highly inefficient speakers - just about anybody who owns them will tell you that. I don't know whether or not that has an impact.

Thanks in advance...I love this place!

AsSiMiLaTeD

yep those are some inefficient ****...

I don't know how well a receiver will drive those, as I dont own them. Hopefully someone here own them and will chime in...

I've a friend who has some NHT bookshelves and his receiver will drive them, but not to any reasonable volume...don't know the model number though...and he probably has a **** receiver...

Not to derail, but in that price range, have you looked at the RT55i from Polk. IMO some of the best bookshelves made in that last few years...they should be around your price range.

EDIT: The NHT is a fine speaker, and I see now that Sean has a set over in the flea market for sale at a good price...I also doubt you'll be able to beat the performance at that price. I'd get an HK receiver to drive these if you can find a good deal on one...I think the HK will do better with inefficient speakers...

Danny Tse

I currently power a pair of NHT SB2 with a Cambridge Audio A500 stereo integrated amp.

Does it have to be a receiver? If you don't need the tuner, get an integrated amp.

For a system in a small room, the Cambridge does a great job of powering the SB2, which should have the same efficiency rating as the SB3. Cambridge Audio makes great sounding, yet relatively inexpensive, separates. Their new integrated amps, the A540 and A640, have been getting rave reviews. So check them out.

Go to Audio Advisor and check their list of "Clearance" items. You can pick up some real bargains that are back by a 30 day return policy and factory warranty.

FYI, I got my A500 from Audio Advisor for $250.00 shipped, brand-new in box.

dorokusai

I'll second the Cambridge Audio/ Audio Advisor idea, the Clearance or Hot Buys sections are nice places to look for deals.

I picked up a 640A for $399 a few months ago, and couldn't be happier. The NHT is a great speaker, very nice sound and robust performance.

RuSsMaN

I don't know guys, F1Nut seems to think you need an amp with a damp fact of at least a grand, and at least 150wpc.

Fact is, they are 8ohm speakers, 86db 1w /1 m and to be a at 101db (constant, not peaks), you will need a whopping Thirty-Two watts of power.

Cheers,
Russ

F1nut

Russ,

A little is good, but in my book more is better. Something around 360 wpc should do it.

Cheers,
F1

User Name

Are these HK things...avr-130,230, and on too weak to get good sound? This was indeed what I had been considering - kinda going for the budge approach but with gear that could find its way into a higher-end system.

F1nut

IMO, the HK's will work, but you will get better sound out of something like the Cambridge.

dcarlson

If you're going 2 channel NOW. Go 2 channel now. Get an integrated and go with a receiver later on when the funds allow you to.

ezc

I have a pair of sb3 that we use here in our shop. I drive them with a older Onkyo TX DS595 receiver no sub used. They sound good at normal levels, we cant drive the speakers hard in our shop the building managers office is next door. The receiver is rated at 85 wpc but again at normal levels they sound good. I havnt tried them hooked up to our main system which we use a rotel 1065. I know that the ST4 towers sound much better driven by the rotel than the onkyo, I have tried the st4 w/the onkyo & the rotel & big difference, the rotel is much more open, top end opens up all around a much more fuller sound. We are a dealer for NHT & sell packaged sets ST4, SC1, Sb2 or SB3, SW10II & Onkyo TX SR701 or the 801. The 701 & 801 seem to drive the speakers well if your trying to stay within a certain budget, but powered through a high current receiver or amp is the best way. Our customers have been really happy with the set up & prices, but the real question is can it sound better " Yes it can with a higi current receiver ot amp!" will my customers want to spend that much more? most are very happy with the sound they have now. If I used NHT in our main system I would definately use high current amp or receiver & try to get all the preformance. For our shop system which plays FM radio most of the time or cd for cable demos the sound is ok.

User Name

I think I'm getting the HK (AVR-130). This will give me the high-current needed to drive these speakers (which I didn't know about the HK) and allow me to expand my system (which I may do by December or January) without having to buy a new amp/receiver. Also, this seems to be best performing receiver in this price range.

As far as amps go, those mentioned here just don't seem to have the flexibility I'll need later on. (I'll get lots of criticism from my family if I buy something just to turn around and sell it a few months later.)

Any faults in my logic?

Danny Tse

In recent months, the Panasonic SA-XR25 and XR45 HT receivers, with TI digital amps, have been causing quite a buzz on the internet. The general opinion is that these receivers, when a CD or DVD player is connected to them digitally, sound amazing in 2 channel performance. And these were less the $300.00. Despite their specs, 100 watts/channel @ 6 ohms, they actually tested out quite good. Right up there with similarly-priced offerings from Yamaha and Onkyo, according to a 3-way comparison test done in Sound & Vision magazine a while back. Mods, costing much more than the receivers themselves, are available to take their performance further. Check out the work being done by The Boulder Cable Company modding the Panasonic XR45.

The new SA-XR50 is now available for $250.00 shipped (from J&R.com) and a new flagship model, the SA-XR70, is coming next month.

I was very interested in these....until I realized that in order to play my SACDs thru these receivers, they will have to go through an additional analog >>> digital >>> analog conversion stage to get to the speaker output. It may be totally transparent, but that additional processing just bothers me.

arufener

I think the HK AVR-130 is a great choice.

Depending on how serious and how complecated you want to take it, integrated amps are not the way to go unless all you do is listen to music. Sorry guys, mabye I'm wrong but their just to much of a hassle, and not integrated enough.

I own (or my brother does) a HK AVR 230, we got a really good deal for a brand new one on ebay (check it out.) I think we got it for 370 including shipping. It is really a great reicever, it will deliever clear, crisp, and full sound out of those speakers. It will also provide you with plenty of options to upgrade in the future. It has the 5.1 outs if you want to move up, plus its a AV reciever. So really if you want to stay in that price range a AVR is defenatly the way to go, and HK is a good pick.

thanks
arufener

F1nut

Originally posted by arufener
Sorry guys, maybe I'm wrong but they're just to much of a hassle, and not integrated enough.

Huh? WTH are you talking about?

arufener

depending on how serious he wants to get, an amp isn't really nessisary. If all he is doing is two speakers, and wants to upgrade to 5.1 in the future, the HK 130 is fine, and less of a hassle.

F1nut

Ah, so you're looking at it from a HT stand point. Ok, I can see that it would be easier to get a AVR, but it'll never drive those speakers as well as a integrated or seperates.

arufener

yes true. I know what you mean, I can't really tell, but as far as I know, he wants to upgrade, so ya AVR would be the most upgradable.

User Name

Yeah - since writing that a while ago - my situation has changed. I'm now building the best 2-channel system I can, meaning if I upgrade later I'll just buy a receiver then. In the immediate future I see a pair of SB3's coming my way along with an integrated amp - probably the NAD C320BEE or similar. Then I'm going to invest in a kickin' sub - something on par with the NHT's, or maybe NHT as well. After that - not sure - either end it, add surrounds and a receiver - who knows. It'll be at least a year and a half before I'll be able afford anything past the simple speaker pair-sub setup anyway. By then I'll need a notebook for school - running somewhere in the range of 2500, so chances are this route will be fine.

dcarlson

Excellent, glad to hear.

Don't forget that movies in stereo will still sound good.

It takes a lot more money to get a home theatre going properly. Baby steps.

User Name

Sure - pics as soon as they arrive and are out of the box.

I'm probably ordering in a week - my brother just ordered a 3,000 dollar powerbook for college - so I don't want to run out our bank account! My dad should probably get paid by then.

Danny Tse

It'll be at least a year and a half before I'll be able afford anything past the simple speaker pair-sub setup anyway.

Come on! You know you want some fancy speaker cables between your NAD and NHTs.

That's the next upgrade for my Cambridge Audio and NHT SB2 combo.