some advice needed on upgrade from N805's

[tec333]

Hello all,

I am considering an upgrade to my system and can use some advice. My current setup is:

N805's on the front, HTM2 for the center, a pair of small polk's for surround, and a SVS cylinder sub. I currently have a Denon 3805.

I am looking at doing an in house demo for the 804S along with two or three of the NuForce ref 9 amps. The NuForce will be used to drive the 804S and the HTM2. I am keeping my Denon 3805 as my pre/pro and to drive speakers at another zone as well.

Here's a few options I am also considering that I would like to get some input on:

I am considering finding used N803 vs the 804S. Anyone who has experience with N803 and 804S please let me know what you think.

Also considering keeping the N805 for now and instead buying a good amp like a Mcintosh or Classe that can drive some 802's in the future.

Anyone have any experience with the Nuforce paired with B&W's? Any suggestions on other three channel amps I can look under 3k?

The room is about 15x20 opening to an ajoining room about 15x18. Ceiling is about 9 feet. If I get the 804S - I am afraid I will have the same issue with the N805/sub need more speaker to fill the room.

- any comments on this is appreciated.

[tec333]

Just got the 804S in the house and after an hour of listening I can't really say it is a big step up from the N805. The NuForce amps on the other hand I am finding very much to my liking and in my opinion are worth every dollar. I have the setup for a couple more days so I am sure the 804S will grow on me.

Tec

[sikoniko]

I am using the ref9's with my Nhtm1 and N802's and I like the combination a lot. I was using a cinnenova grande 5 prior to this and the ref9's took off the harshness and opened a new layer of sound. i do plan on buying a second pair to biamp my 802's as i don't feel that its enough power for them to truely shine. i know others may disagree, but i know what i have heard myself and while they sound good with power below 500w, they sound GREAT with more power.

i took my ref9's in to go head to head against the krell (fpx?) 700w amp. the nuforce sounded good, but just didnt have the power to push the speaker like the krell did. granted, my ref9's were only about 5 hours old too. so break-in was a large factor as well.

i cant directly answer your question, but i upgraded from n804's to the n802's and after doing so, i felt that the n804's werent as balanced as the n802. to me, it was like there wasn't enough low end to balance the high end of the speaker, and i was using the asw850 for a sub, so it wasn't that.

[tec333]

sik,

Thanks, your comments it reassures me the Nuforce and B&W combination is a good match. Good to know someone else thinks this b/c it is not so common as the B&W - rotel, classe, krell, combination.

I absolutely love the Ref 9. Right now I am not so impressed with the 804S, I have just switched my setup back to the N805. I find the tweeters on the 804S overpowering the mids and even the lows.

It might be the break in time, or it might just be that I am still used to the N805 sound.

Right now I am leaning towards buying three of these Ref 9's and holding off on the speakers. In other words save up for 803S or 802S.

Tec

[tec333]

I decided not to go for the 804S but I did keep the Nuforce amps. I am saving up a little more $$$ for a better upgrade. Having said this I wanted to get some feedback from people.

Just to recap my current situation:

Nautilus 805 and HTM2
3 x NuForce Ref 9's
Denon 3805
Denon 2910
SVS PC Plus 20-39 sub

Right now I am looking at possibly going with 803S, 803D, or N802. I am looking at just the mains, I will have to live with NHTM2 for a while.

The problem is I have not listened to the N802 in a while, obviously most of you know most dealers do not have them anymore - and I would be lucky to find them at a dealer where someone traded them in. I have been looking here at the pawnshop and at Audiogon for some N802 - my thing is if I get the N802 chances are I can not demo these babies.

Like I stated above I just did a demo on the 804S and I have listened to the 803S in the store as well. I am looking for a store that has the 803D right now.

The price difference - if I am correct are within plus/minus 1k for used N802 vs. 803D (demo/used) vs. new 803S

My main issue is I can't really do a good comparisson with the N802.

Anybody with any opinions on the three speakers above? Also if there is a thread I missed that might help me out please feel free to send me the right direction.


Sikoniko, did you get the second set of Ref9's to bi-amp your N802? Can you share your thoughts? Are the single ref 9's not doing those 802's justice?

Tec