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Have I got the wrong amp? or the wrong speakers?

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and a relative beginner at hifi, so please excuse the (potentially) dumb question.
In homage to my late father, and the basic, budget setup he had when I was a kid, I've recently acquired a vintage AKAI AA-1150 receiver (circa 1979 I think) and paired it with brand new Wharfedale EVO 4.2 large bookcase speakers.

Two problems - 
First, I think the speakers are waaay too sensitive for the amp - turn the volume up to 3 and the room is shaking. Taking the dial to 11 would definitely kill the Wharfedales.  My old speakers (Paradigm Atom) suffer too, but a little less.  Its definitely the amplifier!
Second, the sound is impossibly forward and bright.  Incredibly clear, with amazing detail (from both vinyl & DAC) but really hard on the ears.

Do I need to ditch the nostalgia and get a warmer, 21st Century integrated amplifier?  Or is there some setting I've missed somewhere?

All suggestions welcomed!
tavish
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
Hi Miller, Russ, Steve
You got a down on receivers.
Please tell me why an amplifier coupled to a radio will have inherently poorer sound quality than a lone amplifier.

Assuming the present cables are not faulty and correctly connected, they cannot be the cause of a louder than expected signal.
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
The last thing those wharfedales should be is harsh on the ears....they are wharfedales and are usually a warm speaker. I'd buy the Rogue Sphinx v3 for those.
audition__audio
1,470 posts
 
A friend had the same problem with floor standing Wharfdales using a newer mid-fi Onkyo receiver. Better electronics helped a bit but not much.
rushfan71
291 posts
 
From the OP's descrition of the sound he's getting from those speakers perhaps a tube integrated amp would be the way to go.
jmun76
10 posts
 
I agree with most, ditch the receiver get an integrated. Raven Audio, Rogue, Vincent, etc but like MC said anything you go with with will be a huge improvement over that old receiver.

I went with a budget setup myself for my man cave/garage and got the floor standing Wharfdale EVO 4.3 paired with an Arcam SA20.  Cables from Audio Envy.  Its been a great combo and all budget friendly.

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