Cables for his system
September 30, 2002
I have read a few of your reviews on interconnects, and
it's hard for me to make a choice. I have an Arcam system matched with stand-mounted
Cabasse Goelette speakers. The interconnects I use are basic, and I would like to upgrade
them. I find my system very good. These very efficient stand-mounted speakers provide a
very natural and detailed sound, but (1) it is a little shy in the bass, and (2) it can be
harsh or aggressive at the other end of the spectrum.
I would be grateful to you if you could help me in the
choice of interconnects (a choice between a few cables) under $150.
Yves
The problems you describe sound like they could be
addressed first with speaker placement. Perhaps moving the speakers back toward the wall a
bit will help reinforce the bass frequencies while lessening toe-in will ease the
harshness. These are only blind suggestions, as I have obviously not seen or heard your
setup. It is important, though, to determine what is causing the sound you hear before
trying to cure it. Using cables as a band-aid fix, in my experience, rarely yields
long-term gratification. Only after you've exhausted all of your placement options would I
embark on a component or cable swap. And then you'll have to hear the new addition in your
system before deciding whether the change is what you're looking for or not. Good luck.
Complex system
September 25, 2002
I'm trying to get a better understanding of
preamp-out/main-in capabilities. I've a Denon AVR-5800 A/V receiver with what they call a
"multi-zone 1 output," which they say can be connected to another amplifier. My
other unit is a Denon AVC-3000G A/V integrated amplifier with a pre-out/main-in
capability. What I'd like to do is to connect the A/V receiver's (5800) multi-zone output
to the main-in of the integrated amplifier (3000). This should allow me to play a source
on the receiver (5800) and pump it through the speakers connected to the integrated amp
(3000), correct? Once I connect the receiver's multi-zone out to the integrated amp's
main-in, do I automatically disconnect the preamp portion of the integrated amp and
therefore am unable to play any of the sources connected to the integrated amplifier?
Thanks for your help.
Subra Narayan
The preamp output of the receiver is typically used for
adding a basic power amplifier to the system. The Denon receiver you are using has seven
channels of amplification, so unless you are using all seven, or are upgrading the
amplifier to something substantially better, I fail to see why you are using the
integrated amplifier at all. Now if you are running a 7.1 system in the home theater and
the second zone output of the Denon works as you say, then you may possibly have a
workable solution. But...
I think you are getting your terminology confused. A
preamp output is designed to bypass the internal amplification on the receiver/integrated.
So, again, what are you gaining from using the integrated? The AVR-5800 is capable of
assigning two (of its seven) channels to a separate zone while still using the other five
in a 5.1 home-theater configuration.
If you are using the integrated's main-in connection and
it does bypass the preamp section, you will use the receiver's volume for control. I would
imagine that this is accomplished through jumpers of some sort, and this would render the
volume control for the integrated useless -- even for other sources.
I'm not sure I've thoroughly answered your question, as
it is a complex one. I would try to reconfigure your system so that you are using the
simplest method possible for accomplishing your goal, and I don't think you're there yet.
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