New 803D at home!

[Pedro]

Hello Folks,

Yesterday my 803D´s arrived. They really worth for me, very well finished. The diamond tweeter is amazing, and also the Cherry finish is beautiful one of the best woods I´ve ever seen in speakers.

Well, now I hAve to choose the best eletronic to match with them. I´ve listened they before with Gamut D200 Mk3 power, and Gamut C2R Pré amp, and sounded amazing. But i think an amp more powerfull (400Wx2) it´s recomended just because they support 500W and are power hungry. Some people say that they could be better bi amp, but i don´t think it´s necessary (being just for with 802D or 801D). Thinking in this way, probably in next weeks will audition them with Mcintosh MC501 and C2200.

Someone who have/had MCIntosh with BW Diamond could tell the impressions, and how this combination sounds??? :T

Thanks in advance.

[Glenee]

They will only get better.
Congratulations,
Glenee

[GregLett]

Pedro,

I don't know where you are located. But there is a store in NYC that has MC and B&W.

[joetama]

Better feed them the wattage they want...

[ShadowZA]

Congrats on your new 803D babies, Pedro. Nurture them and they'll be good to you. :B

Enjoy

Also ... the more powerful the amp, the better imho.

[eljr]

Congrats!

Be sure to give them 500 watts each (or more)! :T

[Glen B]

Pedro,

I don't know where you are located. But there is a store in NYC that has MC and B&W.

Stereo Exchange in Greenwich Village. They carry Mac, B&W and Classé.

http://www.stereoexchange.com/index.html

[GregLett]

Also Stereo exchange in NYC

[Glen B]

Also Stereo exchange in NYC

Oops, typo. I meant "Stereo" Exchange.

[beden1]

Congrats!

Be sure to give them 500 watts each (or more)! :T

I'm not sure that I agree with the 803Ds needing 500 watts or more. I'm currently powering mine with 150 watts x 2 (bi-amped) and I find that it is more than enough power to run them efficiently. Prior to bi-amping, I had tried them with a straight 150 watts, and they sounded good, but in need of a bit more. Possibly 250 watts per channel would be the happy medium.

[Pedro]

OK Beden thanks for your opinion.

I think 500W like MC501 is the maximum indeed. But a power like D200 Gamut wich is 200x2 isn´t enough in my opinion. From what i heard from 803D i think a power between 350 and 400Wx2 it´s the best option.

[gostan]

Pedro:

Congratulations on your new diamonds.

My 803D's have been breaking in for abou one month now. Sounding better all the time. Still being powered by a Cary Cinema 5 (200 x 5). Yes, I would love to add a MC402 or something more powerful, but surprisingly enough, the Cary does a better job pushing the 803D's than it did with my older N803's. My advice is to add more power if you can afford it now, but a home demo is definitely the way to go before committing to a new expensive amp. And, be sure to let your new speakers break in before jumping up the power ladder.

[Pedro]

OK Gostan thanks your advice. Unfortunelly i dont have ANY amp or receiver to gear them or break them. I am starting literaly from Zero hehe.. So I will buy the definitive amps, sources, pré etc, and in this way the best amp for them i think it´s a Mcintosh MC501, or Krell FPB400, or Mark Levinson 432. As I said I like the Gamut 200x2 but don´t think it´s the better

[hifiguymi]

More important than power is the sound of the amp. I've heard the 803D with a few 200 watt amps and that is plenty of power. The Classe CA-2200, for example, runs those speakers very well. So does the Mark Levinson No431. Could they use more? Sure. But you have to like the sound of the amp before picking something based on it's output.

Eric

[Pedro]

Yep. That´s why will before make an audition to pick it up. Krell FPB400CX is an example of a power that HAVE to be listen. Some says that it´s so detailed, and unforgive some records.

[miner]

You can get two Rotel RB-1091 monoblocks (500w/ch) for $3000 (retail). I have the RB-1092 and it is amazing. It has only gotten better with use. There are a ton of Rotel bashers on site but at least give them a listen and decide for yourself.

[Russ L]

More important than power is the sound of the amp. I've heard the 803D with a few 200 watt amps and that is plenty of power. The Classe CA-2200, for example, runs those speakers very well. So does the Mark Levinson No431. Could they use more? Sure. But you have to like the sound of the amp before picking something based on it's output.

Eric

Agreed. Its also important to have a quality amp that has the necessary current to drive those 803Ds when the speaker impedance falls below 4 ohms. The 803Ds nominal impedance drops down to 3 ohms minimum. A Classe or Moon amp with 100-150 watts will do the job better than alot of amps with 400watts and sound better. These amps have superior design that can deliver quality current or amps when the speakers really demand it Ex: the low midrange and bass frequency range. No sense having alot of watts for volume when the sound quality is poor.
The Rotel 1091 monoblocks and the Rotel 1092 are class D amplifiers with a distinctive sound. They also are digital amps that convert the analogue signal to "digital" and thats why they don't get hot. I would look into the Class D topology before I committed to it. Best Regards, Russ

[Pedro]

Folks,

Today i had the pleasure to connect my 803D's using a Krell KRHRCH préamp and the Power FPB400cx Classe A 400x2. They havent been played before, never breakin. At the first minutes they were some shy, but after 30mins they started to show its powerfull basses and the large soundstage.

Really apreciated the Krells they havent sound harsh or bright. They were very musical, but at same time a little detailed, but not completely unforgiven :T

[Briz vegas]

Folks,

Today i had the pleasure to connect my 803D's using a Krell KRHRCH préamp and the Power FPB400cx Classe A 400x2. They havent been played before, never breakin. At the first minutes they were some shy, but after 30mins they started to show its powerfull basses and the large soundstage.

Really apreciated the Krells they havent sound harsh or bright. They were very musical, but at same time a little detailed, but not completely unforgiven :T

Depending on your usage I would strongly recommend running those 803D for at least a week (heavy usage) or two before making a decision on the amp. My 804s changed significantly in the first couple of weeks - they sounded a bit dark and closed in at first before the drivers ran in with use.

I'm not saying the Krell's aren't just what you are looking for, but if you bought them today you would find the system sounds different down the track.

[Pedro]

Briz,

I thought your 804S turned less bright after brookin??

[nick.h]

Congrads dude, are you using them for just 2 channel?

Mc or classe would be an awesome match.

[jim777]

McIntosh and B&W are a great match. The MC402 is a great choice for the 803D, that is the amplifier that my dealer normally sells with those speakers. A pair of MC501's would be better, but costs almost double so they would be more for the 802D's, unless you already think that you might upgrade those 803D's one day...

The matching pre would be a C2200 (tubes) or a C46 (SS with EQ), unless you think about 5.1 with an external decoder (DVD player), then the C45 can be a nice choice (it is made like a stereo preamp but has 5.1 in/outs, but nothing digital).

[Pedro]

Thanks folks, i will listen the Krell FPB400CX + FPBKCT + EVOLUTION 505 player saturday. Some friends said this combo sound very natural and not analytical specially when using the CAST conections. I´m pending to Krells because the bass are the best ive ever heard.

[ShadowZA]

Pedro, just a thought. If you are heavily into CD (rather than SACD), you might want to compare the EVOLUTION 505 player to the MERIDIAN 808 Signature reference CD player - if possible.. Unfortunately though, the Meridian player is not compatible with CAST.

A few months back, I found myself deliberating between these two players. I chose the Meridian without having the opportunity to listen to the Evo 505.

Good luck with your choice & enjoy. :T

[eljr]

I'm not sure that I agree with the 803Ds needing 500 watts or more. I'm currently powering mine with 150 watts x 2 (bi-amped) and I find that it is more than enough power to run them efficiently. Prior to bi-amping, I had tried them with a straight 150 watts, and they sounded good, but in need of a bit more. Possibly 250 watts per channel would be the happy medium.

I upgraded from the MC252 to a pair of MC501's in the Spring and the differance was considerable. I hold to my opinion.
Enjoy! :T

[pengilly]

I dont know what watts are enough but hi flo is a given. Im now running a Classe CA301 and life is good!!