Tech Talk - Jazz Speaker /System Suggestions?

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Jazz Speaker /System Suggestions?

Printed From: JazzMusicArchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.JazzMusicArchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4160
Printed Date: 30 Jan 2025 at 3:53pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 10.16 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Jazz Speaker /System Suggestions?

Posted By: Peaceful World 33/3
Subject: Jazz Speaker /System Suggestions?
Date Posted: 09 May 2015 at 7:20am

I am redoing a room to listen to my vinyl. The system currently consists of a Pioneer SX101o Receiver and a pair of Pioneer 99A Speakers. My TT is a Project with a glass platter and speedbox.

I have another system I was thinking about using. NAD C352 amp, Monitor Audio Silver BookShelf Speakers and a MA powered Sub. Lector CDPO 6T CD Player, Project TT with a Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ Phono Preamp

Pioneer is a 1977 monster 110 Watt and the NAD is 2009 80 Watt. The main issue is the speakers. The Pioneer's sound is dull and lacks tonality on brass selections. The Monitor Audios are crisp and I can adjust the bottom end with the sub.

My question, do I stay with the vintage Pioneer SX1010 that is from an all analog era and replace the 99's or go the NAD newer route?

I listen to 50-early 70's jazz on Vinyl and get some newer releases on CD if there is no record.

Thank You!

Replies:

Posted By: js
Date Posted: 09 May 2015 at 7:36am

If you are listening to old vinyl, I would keep the analog record player, I'm no expert at all, but I do prefer any older acoustic music on vinyl.

I have several record players, the prize one being one of those heavy weighted technics that the DJs love. I like record players, and I have a large record collection, but I'm not particularly educated when it comes to technical audio information.

I am fairly knowledgeable when it comes to record collecting, and I used to trade records a lot.

Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 09 May 2015 at 10:01am

From my experience, Pioneer speakers (of any size) fit best for listening of dynamic mid-frequencies music,as pop,some rock,etc. Their sound is cold and lifeless,especially on highs and lows, and very flat as well (generally, as any other's Japanese mass-production speakers'). Have no idea how MA sound though.

After using some more modern devices (Technics,Sony,etc) I returned back to old Harman Kardon PM 645 amplifier (still Japan-made, not Chinese as they do now) in combination with Harman Kardon player (more modern though). The speakers I use for decade or more are Danish Jamo, nice black wooden boxes with warm and soft sound (absolutely prefer European sound-speakers, almost any make is much better of similar Japanese by head, just they are pricey)

Posted By: Peaceful World 33/3
Date Posted: 09 May 2015 at 10:29pm

Monitor Audio Silver are from England. Mine are 2009 before they embraced Home Theatre. I love them and will sell the Pioneer 99A's on the Bay as there is a demand for them. Too me they are bloated and rather dull. http://www.trustedreviews.com/monitor-audio-silver-6av12-review

Posted By: snobb
Date Posted: 10 May 2015 at 2:40am

^ from the above review it looks MA speakers are good choice, British manufacturers knew how to produce good acoustic systems still from earlier Tannoy and Polk Audio makes.

Posted By: brewski
Date Posted: 19 May 2015 at 9:54pm

I am punching My vinyls via pioneer turntable with a Pyle preamp,then to an Onkyo receiver,then to a Bose surround speaker system with a Yamaha sub woofer,It sounds great,You can email me for catalog numbers.

Posted By: diamondblack
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2016 at 5:06am

Well, if one wants to take jazz playback to almost realistic level, should consider Marten speakers. They are even named after Jazz player. www.marten.se

Posted By: Steve11
Date Posted: 30 May 2024 at 9:18am

Hello, my system and ears are very jazz oriented so I appreciate your using the Monitor Audio speakers as well as the Project turntable. The only suggestion I would have is, if the tt is using the Ortofon Red it came with, I suggest a change to the Audio Technica VM540ML. For about $270 you get a cartridge with a Shibata type microline needle which, for jazz is really more expressive, because it plays more of the groove. So, the rhythm of the bass and symbol are more clear. However, because the Project table has a one piece arm with no removable headshell, it is obviously harder to change cartridge. So be careful with the thinner connecting wires. I'm using a Fluance tt which came with the Ortofon Blue, and having replaced it with the VM540, the jazz, especially small combos/trios-Oscar Peterson or like Bill Evans, are more expressive and clear.

Posted By: Moshkiae
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2025 at 2:41pm

Hi,

I have no idea what I would choose these days, especially as the majority of the music is not "clean" and well recorded as it was 50 years ago where a lot more care was usually the difference between a good band and an average band, although this usually changed after the first album for some bands!

In 1976 I got me a pair of ESS Heil AMT1 speakers ... and I had to get a receiver to handle them and ... finally I settled on a Concept of some sort that was 450W ... the speakers had an unknown/unlisted suggestion that at least 300W was necessary to get a good to better sound.

Next was the turntable ... Pioneer 12D which lasted until 2010 and had a pair of belts replaced in between. But the kicker was the cartridge ... a Stanton 681EEE that cost $375 in 1977 so you have an idea of its quality ... it was one of the top rated cartridges. Needless to say, I had a monster system, and the speakers were wonderful and here in Portland I had them re-coned twice since 1982 by a local shop that is still around.

I chose the ESS Heil speakers, in the music store ... everyone was playing their favorite rock album and song, and I brought Tangerine Dream ... and none of the other speakers in there, including more expensive ones, showed Phaedra and Rubycon as cleanly as the ESS Heil speakers did ... and I still have them today, though the receiver is a piddler and the turntable is a reasonable Stanton ($300 some 6 years ago) but not a good cartridge at this time. My LP collection is going down and is now around 1K albums, from a top of 3500 albums at one time, but in the end, these are so heavy and without a house of my own, carrying these around is a problem. But if my neighbors don't behave, I will blow them out of the house ...

I have not, yet, or if I will or not, put together a playing music studio ... I have the computers for it, but the compatibility of the majority of the keyboard stuff is horrendous and learning a DAW is worse than having to be punished with reading War and Peace three times!

But I can tell you that CD's don't sound "better" than the LP's or vice versa ... the only bad part is that a lot of the stuff yo download is not high quality ... which I can tell the difference as I have recorded a lot of my collection of LP's to MP3 ... at high quality, and comparing one of those to the bit on the toob ... is disgusting ... and pathetic ... no wonder people think analog is better ... they are hearing to cheap versions of the stuff .... and all of a sudden the remasters of every kitchen recipe is better ... well I tell you a secret ... the version of Sgt Peppers, the English pressing is better than the remastered version ... way better ... and the same for Dark Side of the Moon .. it's like the American version of those LP's were taken from a trash copy at EMI, or Abbey Road!

Once you know that ... choosing a system takes a different direction as to what you need or want ... but I can tell you that 50 years ago, some Tangerine Dream made some speakers fly and the music ... oh my GOD ... I'll leave that to your imagination!