Get the most out of Classe 803D stereo system

[gerardhn]

Hello

Iám the proud owner of a classe cdp100/ca500/2200 + 803D combination.
When not listening I put it the standby mode. My dealer told me to leave it on for at least one week. (it drinks some electricity). The result is amazing! Believe me. World of difference after one week (note it was not continiously playing, just on).
I encourage everyone to do it.
moderator.... most classe's are coupled to b&w 's ..........

Aussie Geoff - I know - B&W even own them... Enjoy your system...

[RebelMan]

Nice setup gerardhn I am quite familure with it. Did you buy everything at once or build it up a piece at a time? I think that is good advice comming from your dealer too. I have been doing just that for about two weeks now and the sounds just keep getting sweeter and sweeter. Now I have my eye on a pair of speaker upgrades. Especially now that a friend of mine just bought himself a pair of 802D's. :P

[gerardhn]

Rebelman

Iám planning the same. My dealer offered me 100% value for the 803d if I upgraded to 802D. So I "just" pay the delta = 4000.

[Birdy]

Hello

Iám the proud owner of a classe cdp100/ca500/2200 + 803D combination.
When not listening I put it the standby mode. My dealer told me to leave it on for at least one week. (it drinks some electricity). The result is amazing! Believe me. World of difference after one week (note it was not continiously playing, just on).
I encourage everyone to do it.
moderator.... most classe's are coupled to b&w 's ..........

Aussie Geoff - I know - B&W even own them... Enjoy your system...

Hi gerardhn,

I intend to buy a gear similar to yours.

I'm still hesitating beteween 2 options:

1) CDP102, CP700 CA2200, BW803D
2) CDP 202, cp 500, CA 2200, B&W 803D

I know thisset-up is different from yours but any recommendations? :T

Also I'm a bit concerned about distances, i would be at +/- 2.5m from the line separating the speakers. Do you think I would be too close ?
Also how would you describe the spatialization of this equipment; as my current set-up is quite flat I want to hear some definitive improvement. :B

Any advise would help.

Tks,

Birdy

[stewfoo]

I hear that the cdp-202 , and cp700 are phenomenal... There is also a huge difference between the 803d and 803s.
I too am a ClasseB&W owner and love it. There is no fatigue like you see with mid-fi...
Stew

[Birdy]

I hear that the cdp-202 , and cp700 are phenomenal... There is also a huge difference between the 803d and 803s.
I too am a ClasseB&W owner and love it. There is no fatigue like you see with mid-fi...
Stew

Yeah but the 2 together are a bit heavy,moneywise.... :B
So I should choose between 202 or 700.. damn... :M

Birdy

[stewfoo]

I will defer that to Rebelman who has both. I have neither.

[gerardhn]

Birdy..

I think 500 preamp suits 803D level.
I also also think cdp 102 suits this better.
This combination makes this classe unit more affordable. Because it is expensive stuff.
I didnot hear 700 or 202 to be honest.
My dealer (whom I trust) said if you want to spend money....put it on 802d.
cdp 10X, 500, 2200 is even good enough for driving 802d! Let me conclude I want to believe the dealers statement .. also moneywise .....
Gerard

[Birdy]

Birdy..

I think 500 preamp suits 803D level.
I also also think cdp 102 suits this better.
This combination makes this classe unit more affordable. Because it is expensive stuff.
I didnot hear 700 or 202 to be honest.
My dealer (whom I trust) said if you want to spend money....put it on 802d.
cdp 10X, 500, 2200 is even good enough for driving 802d! Let me conclude I want to believe the dealers statement .. also moneywise .....
Gerard

Sounds very wise
But for 802D I have a little WAF problem; she thinks that they look too much "R2D2"....

So, I dunno, maybe an audition with wife could help... although...

Anyway congrats on your sytem; could you comment about imaging; left-right obviously but also front-back?
Also an opinion about my ear beeing 2,5 -2.7m only from the speaker line ?
I'm a bit scared of beeing too close, what's your opinion ?

Tks,
Birdy


Birdy

[gerardhn]

birdy,

I dont understand something. If you have only 2,5 m as listening distance than it seems to me that you have so little space that you position them against the wall???? The speaker should be free standing to get the spatious effect they can make.
Free standing is a difficult item but it means at least 50 cm from rear wall and no objects left and right and in between!

[Birdy]

birdy,

I dont understand something. If you have only 2,5 m as listening distance than it seems to me that you have so little space that you position them against the wall???? The speaker should be free standing to get the spatious effect they can make.
Free standing is a difficult item but it means at least 50 cm from rear wall and no objects left and right and in between!

My actual living room is about +/- 40m² but with it's actual configuration I can place the speakers only +/- 2.5,2.7m from my listening position ( then speakers would be 30 cm from rear wall). Speakers would have 2.9m between them and +/- 3m between each speakers and each side wall.

So I'm close to the "perfect equilateral triangle" recommended by b&w

What do you think ? Too close ? Do I have to wait for the next house ( we are renting) ??? :M
Or can I go for it ? :

[dknightd]

Almost any high power amplifier will benefit by having it turned on
for awhile before use. It takes awhile to fully charge the big capacitors
most of them use.

[RobP]

I usually let mine warm up 15-20 minutes before listening.

[RebelMan]

That's awesome SG! :jawdrop:

[RobP]

You like Rebelman?, I was goofing around with Corel today and made that. I am going to try to animate the tie and lamp. :lol:

[RebelMan]

Are you kidding? I LOVE it. In fact I stole your pic, hope you don't mind. :B LOL

[RobP]

I have to mess with the shadows and whatnot, but its close.

[Birdy]

My actual living room is about +/- 40m² but with it's actual configuration I can place the speakers only +/- 2.5,2.7m from my listening position ( then speakers would be 30 cm from rear wall). Speakers would have 2.9m between them and +/- 3m between each speakers and each side wall.

So I'm close to the "perfect equilateral triangle" recommended by b&w

What do you think ? Too close ? Do I have to wait for the next house ( we are renting) ??? :M
Or can I go for it ? :

Advise anybody ???? :roll:

[RobP]

Birdy, How long before you would move into a different home?

[Birdy]

Birdy, How long before you would move into a different home?

I have absolutely no ideas, might be 6 months as 5 years, you understand the dilemma.... :twisted:
If I read between your lines, I'm too close? :cry:

Birdy

[RobP]

Birdy, Do you have your heart set on the 802ds?
It is true that you will not get the full performance out of the 802d that it is capable of, but you will have the same problem with a smaller (803d,803S) as well in that room. Even the 805s need room to breathe.
So what do you do here? In my opinion..., if you can afford them, buy the 802d's, if this is the speaker that is your goal to own, then get them, so what if the room isnt perfect, in a year or so you move, put them in a bigger room and enjoy.
And dont worry about your listening distance, your fine. Just keep the volume at a safe level, you only have one set of ears. :W

[gerardhn]

Birdy
I agree with Soungdravy more or less.
Negative conclusion: you have too litle space to breathe fully. To be more exact: your rear distance is yoo small.
Sorry it what it is.
PS: Saturday I decided to trade in my my 803d for 802d! ...

[Birdy]

Birdy
I agree with Soungdravy more or less.
Negative conclusion: you have too litle space to breathe fully. To be more exact: your rear distance is yoo small.
Sorry it what it is.
PS: Saturday I decided to trade in my my 803d for 802d! ...

Congrats on your trade !!!! :T
What would advise as optimum/minimum rear distance for the 803d?

Birdy

[Birdy]

Birdy, Do you have your heart set on the 802ds?
It is true that you will not get the full performance out of the 802d that it is capable of, but you will have the same problem with a smaller (803d,803S) as well in that room. Even the 805s need room to breathe.
So what do you do here? In my opinion..., if you can afford them, buy the 802d's, if this is the speaker that is your goal to own, then get them, so what if the room isnt perfect, in a year or so you move, put them in a bigger room and enjoy.
And dont worry about your listening distance, your fine. Just keep the volume at a safe level, you only have one set of ears. :W

As I said above I didn't listen to the 802D because of WAF problem and I don't want to break my heart ( and wallet... :B ) for nothing... :M .
So I listened to to 804S & 803D & loved 803D....

Birdy

[RobP]

Ahh, Ok, I misread that sorry, but my opinion still applys to the 803Ds as well, very nice choice! :T I love the bass that the 803d is capable of. Very tight. ;x(

[gerardhn]

Birdy ,

At would say at minimum 60 cm rear distance...

[Birdy]

Birdy ,

At would say at minimum 60 cm rear distance...

Okay and what would you say about distance between listener and line joining speakers ?

Birdy

[gerardhn]

At minimum 2,5 m + some meters behind your listening position and that recieving wall should not be flat and hard.

[Birdy]

At minimum 2,5 m + some meters behind your listening position and that recieving wall should not be flat and hard.

Tks for the info; I was not aware that meters behind you had a role as well; first time I hear this :roll:

Happy with your trade? How would you describe the changes?

Birdy

[gerardhn]

coming friday they come to deliver it.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Birdy]

coming friday they come to deliver it.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One more night to sleep !!!!! :T :P

Birdy

[gerardhn]

Birdy

BUY THE 802D

[jim777]

Birdy

BUY THE 802D

This has probably already been discussed in the forum, but how much does a new 802D cost in the US with a reasonable dealer discount? I'm a few miles away from New Hampshire and the B&W prices in Canada are just too high since the exchange rate went from 1.44 to 1.12 in the last months/years...

[Eliav]

I have a quote on a new pair of 802d with 20% off the retail price (= 12k US$).
If anyone has a better one please let me know :W
Eliav

[jim777]

I have a quote on a new pair of 802d with 20% off the retail price (= 12k US$).
If anyone has a better one please let me know :W
Eliav

The retail is 12k or your discounted price is 12k? I have no idea of the US retail price..

Thanks

[Eliav]

retail in the US is 12k$, most US dealers as far as my experience goes offer 10-20% discount ( speakers price after discount 10,800$- 9,600 US $), some will even go as low as 25-30%.
Good Luck :W
Eliav

[Birdy]

Birdy

BUY THE 802D

I understand that you have no time to write anymore because you spend all your time listening .... :P

Still have a waf problem with 802D as she finds them too "R2D2"... but we can still work on that ... :B
The other problem is the wallet :M more difficult to work on that one !!!!
Or I could downgrade the electronic part as I was going for Classe 102+ 700+2200.

Birdy

[gerardhn]

Birdy,

if you have a waf problem.... dont do it. If you have classic furniture....they look modern ... man or woman ..
but 802d are better.. but you can live with the 803d in this world...

[Birdy]

Birdy,

if you have a waf problem.... dont do it. If you have classic furniture....they look modern ... man or woman ..
but 802d are better.. but you can live with the 803d in this world...

Sounds wise :T

How would you describe the improvement with 802D compared to 803D ? :roll:

Ashamed to ask I must say ops: :P

Birdy

[gerardhn]

Bird,

Improvement cover all aspects. Even brand new out of the box they beat the 803d. Most striking are its broader wideness, depth of the sound und the dry free flowing bass. But even the same D-tweeter sound more crispy! Very peculiar. The upgrade is in same order as compared from 803s to d. ... I (personal) find it a much nicer piece of furniture than the more coffin-type 803d also.

[jim777]

I wonder if ever someone prefered the 803D's to the 802D's (for sound - not looks)..

And does one have more bass than the other?

[RebelMan]

I wonder if ever someone prefered the 803D's to the 802D's (for sound - not looks)..

And does one have more bass than the other?

Interesting that you'd ask. I am considering the 803D's, 802D's and the 800D's for my next upgrade. Each have their pros and cons. As much as I would like to have the 800D's, I'm not placing any bets on them just yet for a couple of reasons. One is the limitations of my room (not with regard to acoustics but foot print) and the other is low WAF. The 802D's make a better fit in my space and pass WAF too but the 803D's are a better match with the HTM2D and I need to consider that also. Soundwise the 802D's are better balanced overall than the 803D's and specifically when it comes to midrange clarity, openess and soundstaging. However, the bass on the 803D's is somewhat better balanced and less prone to boom than the 802D's are and could be one sonic reason to consider the 803D's instead of the 802D's.

[ShadowZA]

The 802D's make a better fit in my space and pass WAF too but the 803D's are a better match with the HTM2D and I need to consider that also. Soundwise the 802D's are better balanced overall than the 803D's and specifically when it comes to midrange clarity, openess and soundstaging. However, the bass on the 803D's is somewhat better balanced and less prone to boom than the 802D's are and could be one sonic reason to consider the 803D's instead of the 802D's.

These, too, were my reasons for going for the 803D's as fronts instead of the 802D's. Had I instead settled for the 802D's I would have then wanted to go for the HTM1D as the centre speaker ... reason mainly being its matching Marlan head housing the midrange. As things stand at the moment, I find that the HTM2D is the perfect match as a centre to partner the 803D's.

[Birdy]

Bird,

Improvement cover all aspects. Even brand new out of the box they beat the 803d. Most striking are its broader wideness, depth of the sound und the dry free flowing bass. But even the same D-tweeter sound more crispy! Very peculiar. The upgrade is in same order as compared from 803s to d. ... I (personal) find it a much nicer piece of furniture than the more coffin-type 803d also.

Sh....t exactly what I'm looking for! Damned :M

Birdy

[sikoniko]

Soundwise the 802D's are better balanced overall than the 803D's and specifically when it comes to midrange clarity, openess and soundstaging. However, the bass on the 803D's is somewhat better balanced and less prone to boom than the 802D's are and could be one sonic reason to consider the 803D's instead of the 802D's.

Thats funny. I didnt find this an issue with the 802d. to me, the 802d is the perfect speaker. i have always liked the 802 all the way back since the matrix line. it always has felt better balanced than the lower cousins, and seemlessly integrated across all frequencies, and better priced than the higher speakers for what you get.