OT---New Amplifier for my Altecs

[voice of the theater]

Couldn't find the original thread I started for this so I'm posting a question here instead. I'm still looking for a new solid state amp to power my Model 19's and 14's--I may end up buying a couple of them if I can find one I like. In the other thread that I started regarding this, I mentioned that I was considering an NAD amp and someone (Bowtie maybe) mentioned that their build quality is not great. Well, I read some reviews on the NAD amp I was considering and one said it sounded great but ran "Volcano Hot" and another said his is in the shop already with popping in one channel. So, thanks to this forum I dodged another bullet!

Anyways, I've heard (here maybe?) that the new Marantz amps/receivers aren't very good, so I guess that rules out this one I was looking at

Marantz US | SR4023

I'm now seriously considering this Yamaha receiver. I've had really good luck with both Yamaha audio gear and their pro gear that I've used with my band over the years. Anyone ever heard one of these receivers (or a similar model by them?)? There is a link to download the manual -- I really like the design and the specs look amazing but specs are just specs of course!

R-S500 - Stereo Receivers - Hi-Fi Components - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Or does anyone have other recommendations?

[Panomaniac]

I haven't heard it, but the Denon AVR-591 comes highly recommend by a friend who is a very good tube amp designer. He really likes the sound of it.
They retail for about $300, but I've seen them several times on eBay for ~$150. I'll pick one up when I have the spare cash. FWIW.

[voice of the theater]

I owned a Denon receiver several years ago and the left channel was louder than the other--I returned it and the replacement unit had the right channel louder than the other. Maybe it was just a problem with that model but it really turned me off of Denon receivers.....

[just me now]

I personally tend towards the older crown commerical or commercially derived amps...

[bowtie427ss]

Any interest in a Nakamichi Stasis PA5II? PM me.

[cradeldorf]

I replaced that Marantz N1501 surround receiver with the Harman Kardon. It was a major improvement so I agree with you on your thoughts about the new marantz's. Unfortunately the HK has a hum in the left channel So I'm swapping that out today for the 2216 Marantz ...I hope what ever one you chose it works out for you.

[voice of the theater]

I've owned older Crown amps and Phase Linear etc. and I'm really hoping to find something new that I'll like. cradeldorf--you mentioned the Harmon Kardon was a step up from a new Marantz. Well, here's why I'm starting threads about new capacitors for crossovers and new amplifiers. I bought a brand new Harmon Kardon amp several months ago -- an HK 3390

Harman Kardon - HK 3390 - 2 x 80W Stereo Receiver

Anyways, when it arrived, I noticed that it sounded phenomenal--extremely clean, quiet, and nice crisp highs and great bass response. It audibly blew away the vintage amps that it replaced (which I'm sure were in need of service to some extent). Since then, I've put a lot of hours on it. I've noticed lately that it seems to be losing high end response. I'm having to add EQ in the 13 khz to 16 khz range to get it to sound as bright as it did when I bought it. Then I thought, maybe it's the Solens that have lost some high end after being installed in my crossovers over a year ago. Not sure what the problem is, my Solen crossover capacitors or my HK receiver, but something has definitely lost a lot of high end response lately--not my hearing So far, no one has anything bad to say about the Yamaha receiver---I'm considering buying one from Amazon and if the high end is restored to my system I'll know the HK has lost high end and I'll keep the Yamaha if I like everything else about it. If the high end sounds more or less the same with the Yamaha, Amazon will take it back within 30 days no questions asked and I guess I'll have to re-cap my Altecs (again) with different caps this time--I'll assume at that point the caps are the problem and not the amp. Anyone have a theory--is it more likely the amp or caps that have lost considerable high end after many hours of use? I haven't driven the Altecs hard so I'm confident the h.f. drivers are not the problem---especially since it's a uniform h.f. degradation in the left and right channels....

[cradeldorf]

It's the HK that's F'ed, That's the same HK I got...I thought maybe mine was crap because of a lightning strike that might have hit. It's out now and my 2216 is really sounding good now. I had to totally readjust the nady but now the highs are so high I get to turn them down and the house still hops off the foundation on the lows... It is strange but at one time I was also looking at a Yamaha...seems like it had like 9,9 stars out of ten or something.. on it's rating, which on the same site the HK was rated like a 6.6. I Keep trying to blame everything on the speakers or crossovers and when I switch it up It's always the amp because the speakers always sound Kick Arse again... Good luck with what ever way you go Buddy.
I'll try to find that site I saw the ratings on so you can see if it's the same Yamaha your looking at.

2nd one down on this page link.
http://www.testfreaks.com/a-v-receivers/

[voice of the theater]

It's the HK that's F'ed, That's the same HK I got...I thought maybe mine was crap because of a lightning strike that might have hit. It's out now and my 2216 is really sounding good now. I had to totally readjust the nady but now the highs are so high I get to turn them down and the house still hops off the foundation on the lows... It is strange but at one time I was also looking at a Yamaha...seems like it had like 9,9 stars out of ten or something.. on it's rating, which on the same site the HK was rated like a 6.6. I Keep trying to blame everything on the speakers or crossovers and when I switch it up It's always the amp because the speakers always sound Kick Arse again... Good luck with what ever way you go Buddy.
I'll try to find that site I saw the ratings on so you can see if it's the same Yamaha your looking at.

2nd one down on this page link.
Find the Best AV Receivers Ratings and Reviews

Did your HK seem to lose high end response after you used it for a few months?

[cradeldorf]

Yep, That's what I'd say plus it has that noise in the left side. It lost it's umph.