(09-26-2021, 10:57 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: I donated the Yamaha equipment I bought back in the 80's to Goodwill a couple of years ago. Sound systems are so much more efficient and better sounding with component speakers. The old formula of  big power pushing big inefficient speakers is long gone. The craftsmanship of some of those old tuners and amplifiers is incredible, though.

The Denon 5.1 AV receiver I'm using now kicking out 75W per channel driving five relatively small speakers with a subwoofer sounds leagues better than the old Yamaha 400W amp driving a pair of JBL L80T floor speakers and some small rears.

Last year I bought a couple of Bose 301s to use as my front speakers because I really like their sound dispersion. They replaced a set of Klipsch bookshelf speakers which were ridiculously directional.  It's a good thing I bought the 301s when I did because Bose stopped making them this year. They don't make anything that large anymore, which were considered quaint little speakers back in the day of the 901s and 601s. It's all about efficiency and component systems now.

In the speaker nerd camp, Bose are considered average with an expensive nameplate (No highs, no lows, must be Bose).  But during my cheap thrift store speaker buying experience, I picked up a couple of 301s.  They're fantastic.  I gave them to my little brother one Christmas, knowing his wife would let him put them up, since name brands are a big thing with her.  He set them up as surrounds, and I am now convinced there's not a bookshelf speaker pair under a grand that can beat them. 

I've got a component setup downstairs and an old school 70s setup upstairs.  I love them both, but the upstairs setup is just super clear.  It's a 50 wpc Technics with some Radio Shack Optimus speakers with 15" woofers that weigh about 50 pounds each.  I've never turned the volume past halfway.  And as you mentioned, the craftsmanship of the older receivers/amps is nothing short of beautiful.

I'm currently at 8 receivers, 6 subwoofers, and about a dozen pairs of speakers.  I've run out of family to give them all to, but I've also got good enough stuff to stop acquiring equipment indiscriminately.

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