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Need some help finding speakers to match to a 50 watt receiver

post #1 of 17
5/12/10 at 7:39am
Thread Starter 
Hi all,

I need some help finding some decent speakers for a vintage receiver I shall soon own. I don't need an expensive pair, but I don't want anything unbalanced or sounding like a cheap transistor radio. My budget is $100 to $200 for the pair. I'd like floor standing if possible, but if there are no floor standing available in that price range I can use tv trays or something until I can get stands.
Here's what I have to match with: A vintage Pioneer SX-838
Power Output: 50 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms.classicaudio.com
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.3% max.

I sure wouldn't want to blow this baby!

Let me know if you need any further info.

Thanks folks
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post #2 of 17
5/12/10 at 8:31am
Pretty much any 8Ohm speakers will work. Finding towers in that budget might be tough.

Your limitation comes in that you aren't going to get a lot of volume out of it, but that is due to the receiver, not the speakers.

I think your worry is finding a speaker that is rated for 50 Watts to match...that isn't necessary (although if it were reversed and your speaker was only 50 watts you wouldn't want to run a 200 watt amp into it).
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post #3 of 17
5/12/10 at 8:32am
you will need a fairly efficient speaker system, something with 89/90 dB sensitivity or better at 8 ohms. The price will be a challange though.

You could get a pair of Polk Monitor 50 towers (priced each) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-014-_-Product or Monitor 40's on stands (priced per pair) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-011-_-Product

or a pair of Infinity Primus P162 and add stands (priced each) http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162...y+primus&ssi=0

gotta love the Pioneer "Silver" series.....had one - lightning took it out - missed it ever since.
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post #4 of 17
5/12/10 at 9:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by m_vanmeter View Post

you will need a fairly efficient speaker system, something with 89/90 dB sensitivity or better at 8 ohms. The price will be a challange though.

You could get a pair of Polk Monitor 50 towers (priced each) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-014-_-Product or Monitor 40's on stands (priced per pair) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-011-_-Product

or a pair of Infinity Primus P162 and add stands (priced each) http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P162...y+primus&ssi=0

gotta love the Pioneer "Silver" series.....had one - lightning took it out - missed it ever since.

I own both a set of Monitor 40's and a set of Inifity Primus 162's. The Monitor 50's are the same as the 40's speaker wise just a floorstanding enclosure. I dont own the 50's so I cannot comment on their sound. Between the Monitor 40's and the Primus 162's they are both about the same however the Polks have a more "bright" high end which some people like, myself being one (makes vocal tracks sound really good as well as TV) and lacks some umph in the low end. The Infinity's sound more overall "Mellow" and have a decent bass extension compared to the Polks.

Also worth noting is the Polks are rear ported so you need to keep them away from the wall to sound best IMO, whereas the Infinity's are front ported so you can push them straight back into the wall. The Polks are also deeper than the Infinity's. Width is about the same as well as height.

I use the Polks for my Master bedroom for movies and TV and the Infinity's with my computer setup for more music. Both sets are GREAT IMO and worth the buy.

The only real difference is that the Polks use 2 5 1/4 speakers and a 1" tweeter. The Infinity's use 1 6 1/2 speaker and a .75" tweeter. The Polks can also be bi-amped if needed, the Infinity's cannot.

Either set realistically needs a sub of some sort for low end if you like bass.
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post #5 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

Hi all,

I need some help finding some decent speakers for a vintage receiver I shall soon own. I don’t need an expensive pair, but I don’t want anything unbalanced or sounding like a cheap transistor radio. My budget is $100 to $200 for the pair. I’d like floor standing if possible, but if there are no floor standing available in that price range I can use tv trays or something until I can get stands.
Here’s what I have to match with: A vintage Pioneer SX-838
Power Output: 50 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms.classicaudio.com
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.3% max.

I sure wouldn't want to blow this baby!

Let me know if you need any further info.

Thanks folks

Here's a few options for you, your budget is unrealistic for new, so they are used:

Acoustic Energy AE109
VANDERSTEEN
DCM Time Window 1a

P.S. If you must have new - here you go: Sony SSF-7000

Ron
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post #6 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Turk View Post

Pretty much any 8Ohm speakers will work. Finding towers in that budget might be tough.

Your limitation comes in that you aren't going to get a lot of volume out of it, but that is due to the receiver, not the speakers.

I think your worry is finding a speaker that is rated for 50 Watts to match...that isn't necessary (although if it were reversed and your speaker was only 50 watts you wouldn't want to run a 200 watt amp into it).

Hmm, I figure as long as I have the 8 ohms rating on the speakers, I'm generally safe. I'd like to see if I can find some 50 watt rated speakers or 80 watt or something for efficency if nothing else. I'm not looking to fill a big room with sound (not with a 50 watt receiver). The room I'm planning on putting it in is about 10x11 carpeted, desk, bookcase, etc.
I'm afraid all I will find is 100 watt speakers though, so I may be stuck with those.
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post #7 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:35am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies so far everyone. I'll be checking out each one.
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post #8 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonaldoCombs View Post

Here's a few options for you, your budget is unrealistic for new, so they are used:

Acoustic Energy AE109
VANDERSTEEN
DCM Time Window 1a

P.S. If you must have new - here you go: Sony SSF-7000

Ron

I'm not opposed to "used", but I don't know how to make sure the speakers are good and will last longer than a week. In other words, I don't know how to shop for used speakers so I don't get ripped off.
Any guides, tips or advice would be welcome.

I want to steer clear of Sony having experienced their speakers already.
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post #9 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

Hmm, I figure as long as I have the 8 ohms rating on the speakers, I'm generally safe. I'd like to see if I can find some 50 watt rated speakers or 80 watt or something for efficency if nothing else. I'm not looking to fill a big room with sound (not with a 50 watt receiver). The room I'm planning on putting it in is about 10x11 carpeted, desk, bookcase, etc.
I'm afraid all I will find is 100 watt speakers though, so I may be stuck with those.

Power ratings on speakers are pretty worthless if you ask me - definitely not worth consideration as a purchasing factor.

All you need to know is what volume you'd like to achieve, and the speaker's efficiency, and some pretty basic math. Speaker SPL Calculator

Ron
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post #10 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonaldoCombs View Post

Power ratings on speakers are pretty worthless if you ask me - definitely not worth consideration as a purchasing factor.

All you need to know is what volume you'd like to achieve, and the speaker's efficiency, and some pretty basic math.
Ron

Thanks for that link. That's neat little tool!
Well, the power rating is really there to help with the calculation, but more so as a label so one doesn't try to connect 100 watt speakers to a 300 watt amp or something. (Unless one likes smoke, the smell of burning electronics and possible speaker shrapnel).
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post #11 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

Thanks for that link. That's neat little tool!
Well, the power rating is really there to help with the calculation, but more so as a label so one doesn't try to connect 100 watt speakers to a 300 watt amp or something. (Unless one likes smoke, the smell of burning electronics and possible speaker shrapnel).

I disagree, there is nothing wrong with hooking up speakers rated at 100 watts to a 1000 watt amp, you only run into problems past the point of distortion, which is sonically undesirable anyway.

Ron
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post #12 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

I want to steer clear of Sony having experienced their speakers already.

I used to say that too, but I was pleasantly surprised recently by a set of Sony floorstading speakers. I had them hooked up to a cheap Sony reciever and they sounded like crap. My dad had a 20+ year old Yamaha stereo reciever that I saw in the attic.

My freind wanted a set of speakers for when he is creating his music so I dumped the Sony's off on him and let him borrow my Dad's old Yamaha. I hooked everything up and was absolutely shocked at how unbelievable they sounded. I was hearing clarity and bass from the speakers I didnt know existed and even dont hear as articulated in my home theater with my Integra 5.9 DTR reciever.

So to shorten it up there are occasions where its whats powering the speakers thats the problem, not the speaker itself.

P.S. I am thinking about taking back the Sonys now :P. The Yamaha is definately coming home shortly .
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post #13 of 17
5/12/10 at 10:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

I want to steer clear of Sony having experienced their speakers already.

You experienced speakers from their SS line?

Ron
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post #14 of 17
5/12/10 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonaldoCombs View Post

You experienced speakers from their SS line?

Ron

I'm not sure, I doubt it. All I know is years ago I tried a pair of their bookshelf speakers on a Kenwood 100 watt receiver and was not impressed with the undefined sound. I looked at their subs not too long ago when I was in the market and just judging by specs and what I saw of the build quality I wouldn't even consider it.

As far as hooking up speakers to the SX-838. I'm just paranoid, I don't want anything even questionable happening to it. I still need to get it delivered (it is being packed professionally) and then insured when it arrives. While correctly considered a MOTL by collectors they are still somewhat prized and hard to come by, especially in mint condition as this one is. I have no problem using it, but it is considered a fine art piece for insurance purposes (as most vintage MOTL and all TOTL are).
I had help from "those in the know" aquiring it and very much appreciate this jump start into the vintage collection world. (It'a also a good investment as it only appreciates in value).
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post #15 of 17
5/12/10 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

I'm not sure, I doubt it. All I know is years ago I tried a pair of their bookshelf speakers on a Kenwood 100 watt receiver and was not impressed with the undefined sound. I looked at their subs not too long ago when I was in the market and just judging by specs and what I saw of the build quality I wouldn't even consider it.

As far as hooking up speakers to the SX-838. I'm just paranoid, I don't want anything even questionable happening to it. I still need to get it delivered (it is being packed professionally) and then insured when it arrives. While correctly considered a MOTL by collectors they are still somewhat prized and hard to come by, especially in mint condition as this one is. I have no problem using it, but it is considered a fine art piece for insurance purposes (as most vintage MOTL and all TOTL are).
I had help from "those in the know" aquiring it and very much appreciate this jump start into the vintage collection world. (It'a also a good investment as it only appreciates in value).

In that case pick up the Vandersteen or the DCM Time Windows - they are classic vintage speakers that stand the test of time and are from the same era. BTW, I think I had that receiver in the 70s, I kinda wish I had kept some of my old gear!
Ron
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post #16 of 17
5/12/10 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 
Hey Ronaldo,

Yeah, I'm going into vintage for nostalgic reasons as I grew up with the ol' gear and wish I had the means to have purchased some back in the day and kept it nice and held onto it. Even back then though the TOTL stuff was $700to $1000 +! Some of that vintage stuff is going for the same price today and climbing! It's a niche market though. I'm excited to be getting the SX-838 to keep me occupied while I wait to bag one of the holy grails. (That could take from a few months to a few years to get).

To everyone,
In the meantime, for now I am considering the Polk Monitor 50s (towers), Infinity Primus P162s (bookshelf) and the HSU HB-1s (although I'd have to come up with another $100 for those. I have a VTF-1 sub from them and it's fabulous).
I also have to get a sub for any of these (which will be later), as they only go down to about 60hz and most music goes to about 40hz and even 35 to 30 in some cases.
I'm going to see if I can find a way to demo these someplace. (I can go to HSU to demo thiers).

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone.
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post #17 of 17
5/12/10 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anubisrocks View Post

Hey Ronaldo,

Yeah, I'm going into vintage for nostalgic reasons as I grew up with the ol' gear and wish I had the means to have purchased some back in the day and kept it nice and held onto it.

In the meantime, for now I am considering the Polk Monitor 50s (towers), Infinity Primus P162s (bookshelf) and the HSU HB-1s (although I'd have to come up with another $100 for those. I have a VTF-1 sub from them and it's fabulous).

No problem. I will say if your into the vintage speakers that between the Polk and Infinity I think you will go Infinity. I personally love my Infinity's for music and my fiancee actually likes them better than the Polks for TV/movie.

Good luck either way as I think you have a set of three very decent contenders.
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