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Re: What speakers are you using and how large is your room? (nt)

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In Reply to: What speakers are you using and how large is your room? (nt) posted by Jim Bookhard on January 23, 2000 at 13:44:42:

My room is about 17'x14'. The speakers I am using are Mission 774's. Mainly I was wondering if the MA700's just give more power than the 500's, or are they also better sounding, better built amps? Any other advice is greatly appreciated. My speakers have a slight emphasis on the higher freq. so I do not want anything that will add more brightness. Thanks!!!!

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Re: What speakers are you using and how large is your room? (nt) Jim Bookhard 19:09:00 01/25/00 (6)
Mission speakers, for the most part, are usually very efficient speakers. The Marantz MA-700 amps are more powerful, but I'm not sure that you need more than the 100 wpc MA-500's. The Marantz amps have a very detailed, yet mellow sound and do not exaggerate the top end (nor do they roll it off). These are very good sounding amps and should be placed on audio grade component shelving for best sound (as all equipment should). If you do not see yourself upgrading anytime in the future, the MA-500's should be all you need. If you think you will upgrade your speakers to less efficient speakers in the near future, I'd go with the MA-700s (REALLY good sounding amps). For even better sound, remove the manufacturer factory installed feet from the amps and set the amps up on brass cones (3 for each amp).
- I'm unfamiliar with how an amp reacts with shelving, please enlighten me, Thanks! WSB 15:32:59 01/27/00 (1)
  I didn't know the shelving and feet under the amp could affect the sound. How does this happen? I'm very facinated with the many sonic interactions in an audio system, but have much to learn. Thanks!
  - Amps, shelves and resonance Jim Bookhard 12:51:59 01/29/00 (0)
    Interestingly, both Michael Green of MGD and J. Biclewicz of Symposium Acoustics (RollerBlock fame) both advocate the removal of feet from components. I cite these two individuals because both have component setup recommendations that include this and lend credibility to my statements below, since I am just an audiophile of 30+ years and not a manufacturer. I have also used this procedure for about 15 years. Any factory feet made of "rubber", will add unwanted and extra mass to the component and affect the "sound" of the audio signal passing through internal components on the circuit board(s) of the chassis. In effect, "rubber" type factory installed feet change the resonant frequency of the chassis cabinet and actually absorb some of the harmonic structures in the audio signal passing through the component (an audio signal is composed of "vbrations" just as all forms of energy are).
    Since everything is connected (there is no such thing as total isolation, at least here on earth), the component shelves' resonant frequency will affect the resonant frequency of the component chassis cabinet and vice versa. Everything affects everything else. What you want to achieve is a "synergistic" relationship between the component resonant characteristics and the shelving resonant characteristics. Every (shelf) material will interreact differently with any given component, and even with its own support rod materials. You cannot create an "inert" shelf because everything in the Universe vibrates to some degree. Acutally, if you go to Mike VansEvers website at www.vansevers.com, he has an interesting article there on why "resonances" are necessary to create good sound. This may sound contrary to many things you will read in this forum, but it is true. The trick is to find the "complementary" resonances which will work synergistically in your system.
- Thanks! I will be going with the MA500's. (eom) WSB 07:13:14 01/26/00 (3)
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  - Make sure you can return them MikeP 09:56:57 01/26/00 (2)
    My experience is different than Jim's. On speakers that could get a little bright, I found the Marantz's compounded the problem. The last thing i would do is use MA500's in a bright system.
    The Odyssey Stratos is 150 wpc for $900. It is the best ss amp I've heard in my system and is yards better thant he Marantz. Unfortunately mine has lost a channel twice in 1 year so I can't really recommend it.
    - Re: Make sure you can return them Jim Bookhard 16:44:11 01/26/00 (1)
      There are many things which can make a system sound bright, including the shelving the amp is sitting on. On high quality audio grade shelving, Marantz presents a mellow sonic signature, all other things in the system being equally "neutral" sounding.
      - Re: Make sure you can return them MikeP 17:50:42 01/26/00 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Make sure you can return them posted by Jim Bookhard on January 26, 2000 at 16:44:11:
        
        Yup. Just a word of caution was all. I had several pairs of speakers, amps, pres and cdps when I had the Marantz. They could add a touch of brightness in some combos. As noted below, it wasn't noticeable at all with the VSR's, but they are a very smooth speaker. With the Mirages I never noticed brightness except with the Marantz's and then it was really bad. If I already thought my system was bright, it would not be an amp I would just assume I could drop in with good results.

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