Stop the Press!! 802 owners need to read

[Seeme]

Guys,

I was in Seattle recently and I was checking out the local audio stores as I always do when I'm traveling and I came across the Musical Fidelity kW 500 connected to the new 802D's. I know it's an integrated amp but it made the 802's sing. If you get a chance give this a listen.

[bigburner]

I've got a funny feeling that 802D's will sound good with lots of different amps!

[Cowanrg]

SO not true. they sound terrible with a LOT. they are very picky with power. a KW500 is one of the good options.

[bigburner]

SO not true. they sound terrible with a LOT. they are very picky with power. a KW500 is one of the good options.

That still leaves LOTS of amps though, doesn't it?

[Dmantis]

In my years I have found B&W speakers to be very picky with what you power them with. Certain amps and pres sound great while other sound aweful.

B&K sounds really good with the older N803's and 4's. I liked it much better then Rotel.
Then theres Krell which I found to bring out all kinds of detail in the N803's.

You gotta hear differnt stuff to decide which is right.

mantis

[Seeme]

I too have found B&W speakers to be very picky in regards to the amplifier selection and that's one of the reasons why I decided to let everyone know about the kW 500. It's hard for us to be able to listen to all of these great amps, as some are not even carried in our area, so I thought it would be good to share another option for those that can not find local dealers. I think as it stands Classe, Krell, and Mac's are no brainners when it comes to B&W's but I agree with Cowanrg and Dmantis. I have heard so many amps connected to the 802's that left me saying "Why would anyone spend this amount of money on these speakers" but I was glad to hear the 802's on a good amp finally that changed my mind and I'm glad I did.


Happy Listening.

[aphexist]

I have heard so many amps connected to the 802's that left me saying "Why would anyone spend this amount of money on these speakers" but I was glad to hear the 802's on a good amp finally that changed my mind and I'm glad I did.

Don't be so coy. What were the "bad" amps? And where was this 802 listening party that you apparently attended?

[Seeme]

Well... The listening party for the most part took place at my house I have been blessed enough to be able to bring home a lot of great amp's to audition with the 802's.

Here is a list that I have personally tried to name a few: "I have been able to hear all in my home except for the Music Fid., Levinson and Halcro but those three had the same Meridian Pre-Amp as I do connected to them."

Proceed AMP5 - Didn't like
Aragon 8008ST - Didn't like
Krell TAS - Loved
KAV-250 - Didn't like
Blue Circle BC202 - Loved
Krell FPB350Mc - Loved
Jeff Rowland 302 - Really Loved
Linn Klimax - Didn't like
Bryston 14Bst, 7Bst 9BST - In-Between
Theta Dreadnaught - Didn't like
Aragon Palladium Mono Amps - Didn't like
Halcro - Liked
Classe - Loved
Music Fid. - Loved
Mac - Liked
B&K - Liked for the price
Levinson - Liked some and Loved others -

My opionion is only based on the B&W 802's and 804's. Not on the amp's but how the amps made the 802/804 sound. JMHO

Basiclly what we are saying is that, they are a ton of great amps but in the end it comes down to system synergy with regards to the 800 series speakers.

I have heard other amps through my travels but they where connected to different equipment and I didn't like the way they sounded or they where connected to other equipment.

The only other Amps I would like to hear are as followed:
Pass Lab
Boulder
Lamm
Audio Research
Bel Canto
Sim Audio

[Blazar]

I personally want to know how they 802D would sound with Nuforce 9's or a PS Audio ICEpower based product.

I am waiting personally to change my rotel 1095 5 channel amp to one of these switching class D units but ONLY when they reach a signal to noise and THD threshold that is significantly better than class AB units.

[xk8boy]

I personally want to know how they 802D would sound with Nuforce 9's or a PS Audio ICEpower based product.

Anyone???

[Seeme]

Unfortunately, I have never come across either of those amps in my travel. Hopefully someone in the forum has tried them. Sorry.

[dan87951]

My local dealer had a set of 802D's connected to a Rotel RB-1090. Absolutely stunning the sound that was coming from them, but at 10k+ a pair it will be a while before I can afford them.