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Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?

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Posted on October 9, 2020 at 11:43:26
Trose
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: October 9, 2020



Long story short, I inherited a set of Red Rose Classics. Whenever I would visit, I loved our time listening to the amazing range that these tall towers produced. I am not educated in stereo equipment and setting them up has been complicated. I connected them to my older Onkyo receiver. Within a couple days the receiver is not putting out sound. I researched and this appears to be a common issue with the receiver. I "repaired" the chip connection, however it keeps shorting out. I'm wondering if maybe the receiver is not powerful enough to support the speakers and is causing it to over heat, and I should get a couple amps to support it? Or should I get a different receiver, and if so, how do I know what to get. I've researched them and it sounds like older is better, however, I have older and it isn't better.

 

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RE: Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?, posted on October 9, 2020 at 12:53:53
DKL
Audiophile

Posts: 1044
Location: Deland, FL
Joined: November 20, 2001
These may be 4 ohm speakers - if your receiver is not rated to support a 4 ohm load, then that could be the issue

 

You probably need a higher-current amplifier, posted on October 9, 2020 at 12:56:33
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1287
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
Although they're rated for 93dB voltage sensitivity, I'm willing to bet the impedance of those speakers dips below 4 Ohms at some point, probably with a wicked capacitive phase angle. Mark Levinson, their designer, ran them off his own 250WPC Red Rose Affirmation amplifier, and recommended at LEAST 200WPC. So they're probably causing your underpowered Honkyo receiver to clip and fail. You should be looking for a gutsy amplifier with plenty of current reserves -- there are many options out there, at reasonable price if you buy gently used.

 

Nice inheritance! Time to re-group?..., posted on October 9, 2020 at 14:15:18
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31819
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since:
January 28, 2004
If you love those speakers ( and it sounds like you did in a different system) you
should re-group and set up your system around them. This is a more typical
way to set-up a sound system, base it around your speakers.

So, do some research (there's a TON of info at AA in the archives and helpful
folk are live here everyday), but first figure out what you want to spend to help
narrow down your goals to get those speakers to sing. In the meantime keep the
Onkyo away from the speakers - you don't want to risk damaging anything.

It can be a fun task and that's the best way to approach it.

In no time you can have a system worthy of those speakers that will bring you joy.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?, posted on October 9, 2020 at 18:10:30
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16200
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
March 1, 1999
As others have mentioned, the amp in your Onkyo is not up to the task. Take a look at the back and see if it has preamp outs for the main L-R channels. If so, you can just add an amp. Check the Amp/Preamp forum. There are many options that may fit your budget.

-Rod

 

RE: Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?, posted on October 12, 2020 at 09:11:33
Trose
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Joined: October 9, 2020
Thank you everyone. I'm going to look Into some amps and see what I can do.

 

RE: Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?, posted on October 12, 2020 at 13:30:05
Rick58
Audiophile

Posts: 1118
Location: No. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
Not sure about this one, but the R3 measured in S'phile showed 4 ohms min with decent phase characteristics, and medium efficiency. Seems like a good 4 ohm rated amp is recommended.

Not sure what's happening with the Onkyo, but yes, a much better amp is recommended, these are truly high end speakers and probably deserve something good. That said, maybe they need to be checked out for internal shorting, or damaged drive units. They are going on 20 years old, probably.

 

RE: Red Rose Classic Speaker Setup?, posted on October 14, 2020 at 07:52:28
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1476
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
August 3, 2002
Why don't you check to see who got the amp that was powering them when you visited. It might be available.

 

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