Canton owner's 'club' - Page 12

Hello Canton users,

Happy to join the club. I have read bits and pieces of the thread of communication, and I see many experienced users!

I presently have a canton movie theater set up, and I loved canton products since I first purchased them, about 10 years ago, buying the LE line.
I then upgraded, and my set up is as follows for home theater in basement:

Fronts : chrono 507
Center : chrono 505
Rears : Chrono 502.2

I'm looking at a stereo set up for my living room.
For this, I'm looking at purchasing the new Canton Vento 870.2 floorstanders.

Questions to my fellow canton users:
1) I understand that the new vento has a ceramic tweeter, vs older vento having an alu-mag ; will the highs be less "high" with ceramic tweeter?
I ask because i find that when i use my chrono 507's for stereo (which has a alu-mag tweeter) i find vocals tends to overlap the mids and lows the louder you get.

2) For this capital investment, i'm a little torn between the Canton Vento 870.2 and the Monitor audio GX200's. Can anybody share theirs thoughts on the pros and cons of either model?
I've hear each at different dealers, but not one after the other to really get a good picture.

3) As I lean towards the Canton Vento 870.2, what would be the best stereo amp to best match these speakers?

I thank you to all that provide feedback

What amp/receivers have you been using in the past or currently using with your current Canton HT setup and what is your budget for you Ventos?

I presently use an Anthem MRX500 for movie set up. Works very well.

I was thinking of going with an Cambridge audio azur for the ventos, maybe 651A or older 840A.
Was also thinking of of the Anthem 225 integrated.
I dont mind going second hand either...
Budget would anything below or equal to around $1500

Cheers

I presently use an Anthem MRX500 for movie set up. Works very well.

I was thinking of going with an Cambridge audio azur for the ventos, maybe 651A or older 840A.
Was also thinking of of the Anthem 225 integrated.
I dont mind going second hand either...
Budget would anything below or equal to around $1500

Cheers

You have a bunch of choices with a 1500.00 budget. I just browsed Audiogon SS amps starting at 1500.00 and working my way down, you've got some Bryston, Perreaux, Parasound Halo, Rotel (1080), Classe' and more! I was going to suggest a couple of units I've had experience with to power the large Canton Ergo 1002's (model prior to the recently discontinued Ergo 695's). I started with a Rotel RSX 1065 receiver a few years back and then went with a Marantz SR 8002. Another receiver to consider might be the Marantz SR9600. The nice thing about these is you can find them for 500-700.00 range. But, then again you may not want a HT receiver for two channel, although I did use my Rotel and the Marantz SR8002 for that quite often. Please let us know what you do decide on. Cheers!
Edited by mahdlokg - 2/4/13 at 10:55pm

Thanks for your feedback Mahdokg. All amp you are suggesting are more for AV than specific stereo.
What about Cambridge audio amps? I was looking at the 640C or 840C. How would these match up?

Thanks

Hey Silverman,
I have not heard any Cambridge lately, but the models you are mentioning look very nice for the money, and they seem to be something you are leaning toward. Looking at used equipment, I would consider all of the following brands that are currently listed on a-gon: Peachtree Audio (very nice), Musical Fidelity, Cary, Arcam, Creek, Rotel and Marantz PM8004, which is available new. BTW, these are all integrated 2-channel amps. Let us know what you go with. Cheers.

I have heard both speakers...and before my purchase of the Canton Vento 830'2 I had both Vento and the new Monitor gold in a shoot out. The Canton with the ceramic tweeter is much better. No pollution whatsoever in the tweeter...no fatigue at all. The Monitor Gold can be ear bleed...and is no match for the Vento.

Rantzmar,
My opinion on the highs for monitor gold vs ventos is pretty much same as yours.
What 2 channel amp are you using on you 830.2?
As budget got thight, i'm looking at the rotel ra-1520...but its rated at 60w/channel....but has good reviews.
How would rotel amp much up to the 870 i'm looking at?
Thank you all for your feedback/ comments.

Hello Canton fans!

I have some questions about my speakers and I am hoping I can receive some realistic advice. I purchased a set of Canton GLE 490.2 speakers and have let them run-in for 20 hours as suggested by the manual. They sounded good right out of the box with plenty of bass. However, I am now hearing, after the run-in period, that there is less bass. The bass response is is very slight and their overall presentation is somewhat bright. The treble and midrange is excellent, however,and it is crystal clear and very listenable. I have the speakers hooked to an Onkyo m-282 100 wpc amp, connected to an Onkyo TX8050 receiver (using it as a pre-amp). I also tried them on my secondary bedroom system which is the HK 3490 120 wpc receiver. Again, the same result-poor bass response. Is it possible that these amps just cannot muster the power needed to get good bass out of these speakers? I checked the polarity of the Dayton speaker cables in each case. I primarily listen to cds. I have the speakers positioned 2.5 feet from the back wall and 2 feet from the side walls. My seat is 7 feet away and there is 7 feet of space between them. They are slightly toed in but are not aimed directly at my seat.

I have read through this thread and it is obvious Canton speakers need ample power to sound their best. I am thinking of replacing my amps. I just wonder if there is something wrong with the GLEs? Your feedback is appreciated.

Try not toeing them in at all. I use Marantz AV receivers and also used an external amp at one point, and they sounded wonderful either way. I tend to agree with the thinking that you can't have too much amp, but if you're like many of us here, there is a budget to consider. Are you strictly 2 channel, or are you planning to do some multi channel listening, too?

Also, have you moved the speakers further out into the room. Closer placement to the rear wall does tend to enhance bass, sometimes thats good and sometimes, not so much, but you might try that as well.
Edited by mahdlokg - 2/11/13 at 4:09pm

Thanks for your suggestions, Mahdlokg. I only use for two-channel listening. I have a separate home theatre system already in another room. Maybe they need more burn-in time? This really has me stumped. I have noticed that the speaker connectors have a plastic ring around them. I wonder if I should remove them as they may not be allowing the banana plugs to make a proper fit? Just a crazy guess.. .

Hi Vlasto, thanks for your suggestions. What type of plug are you referring to? Is it different from bananas?

Hi Vlasto, thanks so much for the pix and links. I amy look into these type of plugs. I am letting the speakers burn-in more with some bass heavy jazz. I am starting to suspect that the Onkyo amp is just not sufficient for these speakers. Thanks for your help, everyone!

I am using a Rotel power amp...RB 1080 200 watts per channel and a Vincent tube preamp...excellent!

My first Cantons were GLE 403's. I had the same experience as you. What speaker cable are you using and yes canton sound best with power. IF you are using a cheap no name speaker wire, they will be fatigue. Get a very good speaker cable and they will sound much better.

I would ditch the dayton speaker wire for a better one....and no toe in...Cantons really dont need toe in because of the wide dispersion of sound. For those amps I would get some Analysis Plus speaker cable. .

yes its still for sell.

Thanks for the advce. I think I will try different speaker cable. I also sent an email to Kevin at Canton, so it will be interesting what he has to say.

Have you heard anything?

Yes, I have heard from Kevin and he suggests that the speakers need a longer run-in time than the manual suggests. He also recommend the Arcam A19 integrated amp. He said they used the amp to run their latest Ventos at the Vegas show and it ran the speakers very well. So, I have taken his advice and once I receive the amp, I'll let the speakers run-in for another 40 hours, as he suggested. Kevin was a great help and he allayed my concerns that the speakers were damaged. I'll report back once I put the speakers through their paces with the new Arcam. Thanks for asking and I appreciate you help as well!

Hey guys,

Well, the last post on the Arcam A19 has me thinking again about my choice for amplifier for the Ventos 870.2

I've been looking around, and for now, before last post, I was really looking at the new 8200 series by audiolab. These units, speccifically 8200CDQ matched with 8200P power amp is been leading my selection process, and for the price!!!! 8200CDQ is a pre amp/cd player/DAC with awesome reviewa, and the 8200P is a two channel amplifier, high current, 100 wpc that matches it.

Now, wondering if anytbody has experience with these Audiolab units?
You guys think is would be a good match for the ventos?

Again, when comparing prices, for new units, these have no match!

Anyway, please share your thoughts/comments

Thanks again

Hi Silverman, Sorry I do not know about those Audiolab pieces. If you can audition them with your speakers, that would be the best option to see if they have synergy with your Ventos. I have wondered if NAD gear would be suitable amps for Cantons? NAD is more reasonably priced than Arcam. Let us know about the Audiolab gear if you decide to pursue it.

Guys...I think Cantons especially the Vento's are out standing speakers. But Cantons are a very clear and some what lively speaker on its own...its not dark and can be bright if you also match it with bright gear. But will repond to darker gear and mellow out if you match it with warm gear. Now I've never heard Arcam nor Audiolab but what I do know is that Cantons sound their best with some nice lightly warm tubes. I run mine with a tube front end and SS amp on the back end and the sound is nice. I also have a hybrid amp coming to replace the SS amp in the near future. If you must use a SS amp, get one that is not bright sounding. I suspect NAD may be a good fit for Canton but remember...Canton's like power, so I would get one with high current and 100 watts or better unless you get a nice NAIM amp or the likes...just my two cents.

Hi, I agree with the Naim amp suggestion. I have a pair of Vento 880s and I am running them bi-amped with a pair of Naim Nap 155 power amps. Sounds fantastic.

Hey everyone, just a quick update. I took a detour from buying the Arcam amp. I found a great deal on a new NAD C326BEE integrated and I could not pass it up. I'll be hooking it up this weekend. I am curious to see what it will do with my Cantons. If it does not work out, I can always use it elsewhere. I'll report back and let you know how it goes. Have a happy weekend, everyone!

Looking forward to it

Ok....I have a preliminary update. I am letting the NAD run-in and play and here are some of my thoughts:

First off, I am surprised how small this integrated amp is. Yet, it gets loud!! For only 50wpc, it fills my listening room very well. I do not even have to turn the volume more than 1/4. So it is a much more powerful amp than the size and wpc suggests. My initial impression is that it has tamed some of the brightness and has contributed better bass response to the Cantons. I have an old NEC 650se cd player hooked up as it is doing the cd playing while I await the new NAD c516bee cd player I ordered. Although the NEC is an old player, it was revamped several years ago and sounds great. I use it as a back-up player. I sold off the Onkyo amp, receiver and cd player.

Listning to "I Can't Tell You Why" by The Eagles: Timothy B Schmidt's bass lines come out smooth and refined. Much more definition than before. I also listened to Simple Minds, "New Gold Dream" and the NAD/Canton combo really brings out the pulsing drums and bass on this album. Bill Evans Trio, Village Vanguard Sessions, sounds great with a nice sense of spaciousness. So, although I need to let the NAD run-in some more, I am pretty happy with the results so far. The NAD appears to be a better fit for the Cantons than the Onkyo. The bass slam is back and the highs are no longer harsh!! I do not think I will spring for the Arcam after all. I think the Cantons are responding better to this amp.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions and advice!!