Even R50s sound better w/separte amp

Ron Temple

An installer friend dropped by today with a nice (borrowed, unless I buy) present. An older Audiosource 2 channel amp, 80wpc/2. I was skeptical that it would improve the R50 fronts. I'm not any longer. It is very nuetral sounding, cut some slight sibulance I was hearing, better midrange and more snap and detail for the highs.

I got a jump when I went from the Onkyo to HK and now another. My surrounds also improved. It's not night and day, but it's nice to hear. I was getting some fatigue with certain sources, this seems to have cured it.

I've been wanting to experience what you guys were talking about going with separates. Just didn't think it would apply to these speakers, which sounded pretty good in my modest room, but now better. I'm kinda getting the itch to move up the foodchain.

Schris22

$$$$ scratch that itch $$$$$


hah

I was septical that some 40 dollar wires would improve clarity detail and overall sound from my r50's but thanks to the cable swap there is a noticeable difference in our budget setups...

Chris

reeltrouble1

Runaway now or be doomed.

RT1

ND13

I've made the move up the food chain several times this year. With every move there has been noticeable improvements, whether in sound quality or noise reduction or both.
I've upgraded sources, amps, speakers, and wire/cables. I can't recollect any of the moves as being a bad one. Just remember to do it smartly. The only thing I'd do differently would be to hold off for what I really want. I have made a couple of purchases that I could have done without, but they were still improvements.

Ron Temple

ND13 wrote:

Just remember to do it smartly. The only thing I'd do differently would be to hold off for what I really want. I have made a couple of purchases that I could have done without, but they were still improvements.

I originally planned on putting ~ $5K into my first HT. I kept holding off taking the plunge, not listening to music, watching movies in stereo, etc. Instead I got into this via HTIB then the Polk R deals at Frys. I figured this would be temporary knowing that I'm going to have explore this hobby/upgrades carefully. I'm not sure if I want a permanent solution, just one I can live with for a few years. Frankly, I don't know what direction I'm going in, so a budget system makes a lot of sense. I read most of the upgrade/swapout/speaker collection posts here. I doubt if I'll get bit by the bug that badly, but you never know.

The ability to get hookups through these forums is certainly an advantage. A friend's trying to sell me his PB10, so he can upgrade. It just may be the next step.

polkatese

I still have my B&K AV125.7 that I will sell it to you for $1K if you are interested, Ron. No pressure, though.

Ron Temple

polkatese wrote:

I still have my B&K AV125.7 that I will sell it to you for $1K if you are interested, Ron. No pressure, though.

Thanks for the offer, but right now it would be overkill (unless you're pulling my leg ) I listened to some GR Research AV2s X 5 driven by monoblocks and a Marantz 8300, that sounded like butter and honey the other day. If I go in that direction, I'd need something like that.