This is the bedroom system or system number 3, if you are counting. Speaker placement is not great by a longshot. The speakers are placed on top of a single bookcase (70" high) about 6 inches apart and about 12 inches from the rear wall.
I experiment the most with the speakers in this system. I use only smaller bookshelf types and try to keep the cost under $500, with the idea that I can much break even when I swap out and sell speakers.
The RR2150 Stereo Receiver is a state-of-the-art stereo receiver inspired by the art deco table radios of the past. Continuous Average Power: 100 watts per channel, 20 Hz - 20kHz,<0.03% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms and 160 watts per channel, 20 Hz - 20kHz,<0.03% THD, both channels driven into 4 ohms.
System edited: The system has changed around again (Marantz 2240 retired and replaced by the Outlaw RR2150; Pioneer PD 65 has been put away and the SONY RDR GX300 DVD Recorder moves in from the 2 channel HT system). The pictures are from the manufacturers and will have to do until I start clicking.
Dear Todd: Sorry it took me some time to get back to you. I was just released from the hospital this evening. I went in a month ago for some necessary spine surgery, and I suffered from some life threatening complications (spinal menagitis) and here I am a month later. The NHT's and Marantz are not a perfect combination, as the NHT's (even the SB2's need power). Tough to beat the Marantz' tuner ... which is the problem for me. To make the SB3's work, go for a Maranz 2256 or a model with a bit more power (stay away from the 2270 which was a bit of a strange bird power wise in Marantz receiver land). Another way to approach this is to try NAD's new receiver ... the NAD C720BEE (a C320 integrated with a top flight NAD tuner). The C320 BEE and SB2 (with a Music Hall MMD CD 25 cd player) are a real knock out combination and equal to a lot of sub $1500 systems that I have heard .
I love the look of your Marantz receiver -- it brings back memories! I bought an entry-level Marantz receiver as a teenager (late '70's), along with some Marantz bookshelf speakers and a Sony direct drive turntable. I gave them all to my brother when I went off to college, but they were stolen a few years later. I love the blue-lit meters and the horizontal tuning wheel on the Marantz receivers -- so cool!
Does the Marantz do a good job driving your SB2's? I am using a 40W integrated amp to drive my SB3's in a medium size room, and it sounds great, but the top volume is limited. I am very impressed with the SB3 -- NHT makes great speakers at reasonable cost.
Thanks for sharing your systems! Best wishes, Todd
System edited: Well, I just couldn't leave good enough alone! I was bitten by the high efficiency speaker bug several months ago and have purchased a pair of Omega Super 3 speakers (in the TS3 cabinet) in the parisian red finish. Stunning looks! I was after the type of warm inviting sound that I used to hear 30+ years ago in my Dad's repair shop, when he would have tube gear on his test bench. The vintage Marantz/Omega combination is pretty amazing. There is a real "live" sound to the music. My wife heard the speakers when playing a Nora Jones CD and became a big fan of the new speakers. The only shame is now the NHT SB2's have been placed into storage ... one of the best moderately priced monitors that I have ever used.
System edited: Replaced CD players. I moved in a JVC XV-SA602SL DVD/DVD-A/CD player and replaced the Music Hall MMF CD-25 (Note: the Music Hall CD-25 was moved into my HT system). The JVC is noted for its good CD playback ability, plus I now get DVD playback capability in the bedroom system. I wanted a low cost solution and the JVC cost me $100, which has a list price of $300.
Its both, thanks for the info. It might have been the room, but the sound to me was somewhat lean. Vocals sounded very nice but the sound was too upfront. Im in the middle of selling the Yamaha right now and sticking to a 2 ch rig for the moment. Thanks for the tip.
Just a thought and without knowing your particular Yamaha model ... I don't remember reading in any reviews about Yamaha receivers sounding bright. The British press (What Hi FI, in particular) has reviewed a lot of Yamaha gear and the comments about sound typically range from warm and pleasant (music) to detailed and spot on (movies). Is the brightness on music or movies ... if it is the music, your dvd/cd player may be the culprit.
Actually, there was nothing wrong with the Wharfedales 8.1's ... I compromised them by the way I set them up. On the plus side, I found the 8.1's to be OK sounding placed close to the wall (12 inches or less from the rear wall), but they sounded their best and actually sounded somewhat fuller and more revealing when they were out in the room a bit (2 feet or so from the rear wall). I liked the 8.1's better partnered with newer solid state equipment, than with the vintage receiver that I had teamed them up with. I would actually look at the floorstanding 8.3's for use with the Yamaha, as the 8.1's have very little of a bass feel to them. My physical set-up just makes it tough on ported speakers.
