Which electronics should I get with my B&W speakers?

[TomScrut]

A 200w receiver won't cause trouble for your centre and surrounds.

Stereo/surround amplification that you ask about is when one has a stereo system for 2 channel, which probably sounds better with music than the HT components, being fed via the pre outs of the AVR for when you want to watch a film etc. You set the stereo pre amp to HT bypass for that input so it doesn't affect volume so you just control volume on the AVR when using surround. That's how mine is setup

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[donkimizer]

Okay, but if I understand your setup correctly, I need preamp, stereo amp and avr (surround amp)? So, therefore, preamps task except signal processing would be switching the feed between stereo amp and avr, because there is no other way to connect stereo amp and reciever in same speaker setup?

[linuxtx]

I am currently running a Parasound New Classic 2100 preamp -> Rotel RB-1080 -> Nautilus 805/REL setup in my office (nearfield, speakers 3 ft from my head). I am looking to replace this with either a Parasound Halo Integrated, McIntosh MAC6700, or McIntosh D100/MC152 combo. Any thoughts on these? I can't find anywhere to hear the D100/MC152 combo or the Halo Integrated. The MAC6700 sounds great, but it is a completely different preamp/DAC setup than the D100. One of my requirements is an ASIO driver for the USB DAC. While the Pre definitely needs to be upgraded, I can't really complain about the amp, are any of these going to make a very noticeable difference for the amp section? I suppose another option would be just replace the preamp with the D100 and keep the Rotel amp.

Eventually I might replace the speakers with 805D or whatever the next 800 series bookshelf is, but TBH I haven't been taken enough with them to justify the price just yet coming from the N805.

[wkhanna]

Just my personal opinion based on my listening to various Mac/B&W combonations, but Mac tends to be a little soft (as lack of detail & dynamics) when paired with B&W.
It is a matter of personal taste, obviously.

[uncle_dito]

I have 803D, with Audio Research Reference 3 preamp, VT.100mkIII power amp, and DAC8, also Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD. It´s quite a nice sound, with good soundstage, definition, musicality, and for my loudness requirements and room size, I think enough power. I would appreciate some advise from a B&W owner of 803/802Ds who may have tried ARC Ref75 or Ref150 power amp, or alternatively, Ref 5 preamp with my current VT100mkIII. As I look to upgrade my system, I wonder if I will get best value from changing the rather old VT100mkIII for Ref75 (will the power be enough?), or from changing the Ref3 preamp with a Ref5SE. Or maybe the new integrated ARC GSi75 which also includes the DAC! Thanks for your comments.

[bbill]

the perfect match... B&W Diamond & Classé Sigma 2200I