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matching speakers to a Yamaha CR-820

Benz

Benz

Yeah Baby!
I have a recently purchased Yamaha CR-820 that I hooked up to a pair of Cerwin-Vega HED U10. To me this setup sounds pretty good: I have tried my PolkAudio RTA-8T and went back to the Cerwin-Vegas because to my untrained ears, I thought that the sound was "fuller" and that the CV's offered a more detailed soundstage.

I know a lot of posters here speak fairly highly of the Yam CR series, I would love to get the best out of this nice receiver - I listen to prog & Jazz mostly. I was wondering what other types of speakers might be a good match for the CR-820... any opinions, suggestions?

Thanks in advance!
 
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I have a ca-610II hooked up to a pair of Boston A150's and HPM-100's and tend to switch back and forth depending on the music. Instrumental and easy listening and cw stuff like that I tend to like the more mellow tones of the A150's, but for Dire straits and more rock music I like the HPM's. That is with the TT, if I am listening to digital music it is the A150's for all but harder rock as that is reserved for the HPM's to rock the house.

Just my .02 and I have not tried the advents.

Bill
 
Coytee said:
I always thought you bought speakers you liked first, THEN bought the amp to mate with them?
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In an ideal world, if you have either a) all the time in the world to wait for the right used amp at the right price to come along or b) all the cash in the world to buy the perfect brand-new amp or a used amp at an inflated price on that auction site, you'd buy the speakers, then the amp.

Most people don't have that luxury, especially us tinkerers on AK. I've got four or so sets of speakers at any given time, and try to make them work with any receiver/amp that crawls through my door. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I roll more receivers than speakers because speakers are generally way more expensive to ship and I don't generally see squat locally.

Dave
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys... gives me an idea what to look for in the classifieds and estate sales!

As per dspear's comment, I fall in the category of those who do not have unlimited budget - although I wish - to just go out and pick a pair of excellent speakers and build from there.

I have recently seen a pair of Yamaha NS-625 for sale in the classifieds, and debated... logic would seem to dictate that these should be a good match since they are part of the same line. But at $170 (cdn) I thought they were a bit pricey.
 
What I've done over the past few years is to buy some very inexpensive and surprisingly great speakers.

When I got my first CR-1020, I grabbed a $30 pair of Realistic floorstanders just so I would have a pair of speakers for when my new Yamaha arrived. I got the receiver, hooked the speakers up and was blown away. For a total of $100 I had the best stereo sound I had enjoyed in years. I still love the 1020 and I've probably owned about ten sets of speakers since then. In fact, I still have the Realistic t-100s. My fiancee's favourite speakers but they are in need of some solder before they go back to work. The tweeters are amazing!

I picked up a pair of Best Buy Insignias last Christmas. I like them a lot. They sounded really good with the 1020 and could take a lot of power. I use them with a Yamaha Ca-510 amp hooked up to my computer. I'm listening to them right now.

I stumbled upon a very nice pair of EPI m100s in a thrift and loved them for many uses, but wanted a punchier and fuller bass than what they can throw to be my main speakers. I still have them.

I found another pair of realistic Optimus 5Bs to get that big woofer for when you really want to rock out. They too are really fun speakers that I don't get enough time to play really loud.

Recently, I found a pair of Mission 761s. These little speakers are becoming my favourite, but would wouldn't give up both pairs of my Realistics. I like to have a precise and lively bookshelf speakers for daily listening and I love these new guys.

I've learned that I really need two sets of speakers to be happiest with my stereo. I've also learned to do my research, how to use ebay well and get to know my local thrift shops and such.

I have been blown away by music again after listening to everything on computer speakers for almost 7 years. I have owned over ten sets of speakers and have yet to pay over $100 on any pair. I've learned a lot from AK and have refinished or rejuvenated lots of them. Each of them either sold for more than I paid or are living with friends.

My best advice would be to try out lots of inexpensive and respected vintage speakers. What you eventually end up with might surprise you in the end.

Good luck and enjoy the music.
 
As Merrylander stated, Polk 7b's are sweet with a CR-1020. I'd also like to hear Polk 10's.

I preferred Polks over my Cornwalls.
 
jgmacv said:
The CR-820 I had did very well with Dynaco A-25s and EPI-100s.
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I am currently talking with a local seller who is offloading a pair of EPI M100s. Maybe I'll give them a shot if the price is right!

Thanks again for your recommendations guys.
 
I've got a pair of Polk Model 10's in the bedroom set up with a CA-810 and even at near field they sound pretty good to me! Jazz listener here also.
 
:scratch2: Yamaha.....:thmbsp: NS 670/690 , 500/1000...I'm biased :D
 
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