Older HK Receiver with New B&W Speakers?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

pgaron wrote:
> I have an older-model Harman Kardon receiver: the HK 3400 model, from
> circa 1991. This "high voltage-high current" receiver produces a
> nominal 35 watts per channel, but higher power for musical peaks. I
> have used it satisfactorily to power a pair of Large Advent
> loudspeakers (the classic model from the early 1970's), on which I
> listen to mostly classical music in my medium-sized living room.
>
> I have been considering purchasing a pair of the larger B&W bookshelf
> speakers (model DM 602 S3) and was wondering:
>
> * whether the HK receiver will provide sufficient power to drive these
> speakers satisfactorily; and

My guess is that your receiver would be adequate. If you were unsure,
you could buy a new receiver with triple the nominal power for less
than $200. But a sub might be a better investment.

> * whether I will miss the bass response from the Advents, which have a
> 10" woofer. (I realize that one alternative would be to purchase a
> sub-woofer for the B&W's.)

Impossible to say. There would almost certainly be less low bass output
(and probably less distortion as well). Whether that lower output, in
your particular room, would matter to you is purely subjective and
personal. Can you borrow a pair of 602s, or buy with full return
privileges? That's really the only way to know.

bob

Archived from groups: rec.audio.high-end (More info?)

pgaron wrote:
> I have an older-model Harman Kardon receiver: the HK 3400 model, from
> circa 1991. This "high voltage-high current" receiver produces a
> nominal 35 watts per channel, but higher power for musical peaks. I
> have used it satisfactorily to power a pair of Large Advent
> loudspeakers (the classic model from the early 1970's), on which I
> listen to mostly classical music in my medium-sized living room.
>
> I have been considering purchasing a pair of the larger B&W bookshelf
> speakers (model DM 602 S3) and was wondering:
>
> * whether the HK receiver will provide sufficient power to drive these
> speakers satisfactorily; and
>
> * whether I will miss the bass response from the Advents, which have a
> 10" woofer. (I realize that one alternative would be to purchase a
> sub-woofer for the B&W's.)
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> pgaron
35 watts is pretty small for today's amplifier standards, but there's no
harm in trying them. You have nothing to lose. The size of the woofer is
not the only indicator of bass capability. Perhpas woofer size is an
indicator of potential, but there's more to it. The crossover might
limit bass to 40 Hz. I think these newer DM 602 S3s go that low anyhow,
so you won't lose anything there either.

CD