Can my Ditton speakers be used with 5.1 amp?

[kenno]

Hi

I have 4 'Celestion Ditton 33' speakers - survivors of the 1970's. They stand 61cm high (large bookshelf?) and have 3 cones each - bass mid treble, 4-8ohms. I'm currently using 2 of these speakers with my PC/SB audigy sound card thru 1970's Luxman amp and the stereo from this setup is excellent. The other 2 dittons are used as coffee tables in the TV room.

I'm looking for an AV amp and 5.1 speakers to go with my recently purchased Palsonic76WSHD, Thomo HD STB and Pana s27 DVD.

My question is: if I purchase an AV amp (eg Denon AVR1604) will my Dittons be of any use as mains, centre or whatever? Or should I keep the dittons for stereo and coffee tables and buy new speakers for the 5.1 amp?

The Dittons have rather crude cable connectors - just holes for copper wire and screw down nuts. I have no idea how modern speakers are cabled.

Any advice appreciated.

kind regards

kenno

[geoffcb1503559619]

Hi

I have 4 'Celestion Ditton 33' speakers -  survivors of the 1970's. They stand 61cm high (large bookshelf?) and have 3 cones each  - bass mid treble,  4-8ohms.  I'm currently using 2 of these speakers with my PC/SB audigy sound card thru 1970's Luxman amp  and the stereo from this setup is excellent. The other 2 dittons are used as coffee tables in the TV room.

I'm looking for an AV amp and 5.1 speakers to go with my recently purchased Palsonic76WSHD, Thomo HD STB and Pana s27 DVD.

My question is:  if I purchase an AV amp (eg Denon AVR1604) will my Dittons be of any use as mains, centre or whatever?  Or  should I keep the dittons for stereo and coffee tables and buy new speakers for the 5.1 amp?

The Dittons have rather crude cable connectors - just holes for copper wire and screw  down nuts.  I have no idea how modern speakers are cabled.

Any advice appreciated.

kind regards

kenno

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I reckon if you're happy with the sound of the front 2 speakers, then use the other 2 as rear surround speakers. You then need to get a centre speaker that has roughly the same kinds of specs as the main speakers - especially midrange and treble. That might be more difficult. Ideally, all 5 speakers should be similar. Maybe you could get a good quality centre speaker (such as at www.theloudspeakerkit.com) and then replace the other speakers as you can afford it.

As for amps, I'm a Yamaha bloke. (www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/index.html)

The new Surround Receivers have a mic to equalise your speakers if you feel the need to. (I haven't as yet).

As for speaker terminals, I use Speaker Box Terminals with Banana Sockets such as Jaycar PT3006 or equivalent.

[dugby]

Hey Kenno, Your Celestion's will be OK in a 5.1 if you can find a matching Centre that has similar timbre, imaging and musicality.

I have 4x Energy Pro22 monitors that took me a couple of goes to get a matching centre. Initially I had a Wharfedale Modus Music Centre with some Modus Speakers, but I eventually matched the Energy Veritas V2.0C top of the range into my 4x Energy system.

One thing about 5.1 is that the Centre probably contributes 40% of the sound, and the next 40% comes from the subwoofer. The Fronts & rears really only contribute the remaining 20% of the sound stage. (many may argue against this). I went M&K MX150MKII (Miller & Kreisel for a subwoofer from Vince Ross Audio).

As you have British "sounding" I think you'll find the NADs more to you liking over the Denon. I went Harman Kardon AVR8500, as I have a full Linn-Naim hifi system, and found the HK sound to be more musical if you know what I mean...

[mungo brush]

If you like the sound of the Dittons, try a JM Labs (French) centre speaker.

I found that it goes very well with my ancient Monitor Audio (English) Mains.

Much better than the B&W centre I had previously.

Alternatively, you can use the Dittons as rear speakers and get new mains and centre for a totally new sound.

As for amps, I'm a Yamaha man as well.

Cream of the crop in the medium price range.

[kenno]

Thanks geoff dugby mungo

That's great information - gives me a lot to think about!

Guess I'll be looking for an amp + centre first and take it from there bit by bit. Need to have matching mains in mind in case the dittons don't work out.

I'm sorta hoping the Thomo STB audio drop out problem is fixed before I buy into an AVR - seems to occur with Sony, Pioneer, Denon and Yamaha at least, based on the posts.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply - much appreciated.

regards

kenno

[kenno]

Hi guys

Just a note to say thanks again for the advice, and to report that I came home last weekend with a Denon AVR 1604. Not exactly high end but we are very happy with the 1604. I think I would have been happy with a baby NAD T742 but finally realised that the main useage will be HT (family adicted to DVDs). Also, I have lost a lot of my high frequency hearing due to nerve damage so not I'm the sort of person to get too fussy.

Got the 1604 at a good run out price with an optical audio cable thrown in.

Hooked up the Denon to my 4 Celestion-Ditton 33's - mains & surrounds only, all set to 'large', no centre, no SW.

Never heard my Dittons play so well. With my Luxman the Dittons have always sounded 'bassy' (thought it was my poor hearing) but with the Denon the bass is well defined with a lot more from the mid and high cones (I can still hear bass and mid very well). Family also report easy, pleasant listening. We have played a DVD - (Bruce Willis 'Tears of the Sun') lots of explosions etc, via coax, and it was impressive, even with 4 speakers.

Ch 7 HD demo loop sounds good DD thru optical from Thomo. Surprised that I cannot find much DD on HD FTA apart from Ch7 loop - with 9 & 10 HD the Thomo info says 'DD' but the Denon reports - 'PL II' (confirmed by speakers). Have to check my settings again.

mungo brush .... I have not been able to find Focal.JM Labs speakers in Perth - wouldn't mind checking out the 'Chorus' range but they seem to be unavailable in Perth.

Next move is to try to find a matching centre but my wife says she no longer likes the 'look' of the Dittons and would like new 'good looking' floor standing mains (what they sound like seems secondary to her) - problem solved!

Sorry to ramble on but thanks again for helping me get my modest system going.

cheers

kenno

ps.. I have not noticed any additional audio drop out with Thomo thru Denon via optical - I do have reception problems with ch10 from time to time but it seems no worse thru the Denon. I have downloaded the new firmware for Thomo but will not install it for a while so that I can judge any before-after changes.

[betty boop]

Next move is to try to find a matching centre but my wife says she no longer likes the 'look' of the Dittons and would like new 'good looking'  floor standing mains (what they sound like seems secondary to her) - problem solved!

kenno what are you waiting for - heres your que. I'd be running out of the house money in hand at this point to get myself a new set of floorstanding fronts and a matching centre...hehe seriously it would do your front stage wonders. Theres plenty to choose from to match the 1604.