804S and HTM4S - can rotel rmb1075 drive it

[wywong]

Hi
I am looking to upgrade my speaker to 804S and HTM4 using the Rotel RMB1075/RSP1068 to drive it. I normally listen to CD (bypass mode) and DVD concert music. Anyone know whether he rotel rmn 1075 can drive the 804S. I also have a REL 201 sub in my system. When I listen to the 804S speaker at the dealer. I found that the 804S lack deep bass as compare to the 803S. The dealer said if I have a good sub, it will be OK. My room size is not big, 12X20ft. The price differece between the 803S/HTM3S and 804S/HTM4S is about 2K. I only concern if I buy the 803S, the rmb1075 will not have enough power and I also have to upgrade the electronic. Anybody out there have 804S/HTM4S? How do you like the sound? Any opinion? Thanks!!

[ShadowZA]

A few years ago, before I had the setup that I have now, I had 2 N804's (front left & right), 2 CM2's (old series - surrounds) and a CMC (old series - centre) all driven by a Rotel RMB-1075 amp. My opinion? Yes, it is drove my system well without any problems. :T

[Horacio]

Hello. About 18 months ago I also upgraded to the 804s and had a Roel stereo, with a RB1080 amp. I believe this is close to your situation. The Rotel has enough power to drive the 804s - no problem at all. I suspect it could drive the 803s too, though. Have you heard the 804s driven by an RMB1075, or similar Rotel amp?

However my issue was with quality of power: the 804s were too revealing of the 1080 limitations (as good as the amp is). I upgraded to a McIntosh MC275. Note the MC275 is a tubed amp with 2x75 Watts per channel. The takeaway: the amount of power is not everything! Take into considration you might end up replacing your amp down the road.

By the way, I also have a REL (Storm III). Very nice combo. Are you able to take both the 803s and 804s home for audition? This would be your best choice. Especially in a room your size, speaker location is critical and oftentimes the best place for bass reproduction conflicts with the best place for mids/highs (imaging and spaciousness). Having a good sub solves this to a great extent. My room is 14x30.

If I may, I suggest you take your time with the decission. Listen to the speakers several times with your CDs. Request they use the amps you need them to use (assuming you cannot bring them home). How big is the room the speakers are in, compared with yours? Are the distances between speakers and wall comparable to the position in your house? Try to mimic what the situation would be at home. Don't rush, as much as you'd like to do it (Been there!). Enjoy the search!

Horacio

[wywong]

You are right that I may be rushing to a decision. I only listened to the 804S and the 803D at the dealer . They do not have a 803S. The 803D definitely have a lot more bass but to me it sounds loud and a little overwhelm that kind of cover the nice high and mid bass sound. The 803D is also out of my price range. I am trying to decide should I spend 2K more on 803S/HTM3S or buy the 804s now and save that 2k for electronice upgrade down the read. I also read from this forum other peoples said the 805s is better than the 804S. Any opinion?

[kmcheng]

You are right that I may be rushing to a decision. I only listened to the 804S and the 803D at the dealer . They do not have a 803S. The 803D definitely have a lot more bass but to me it sounds loud and a little overwhelm that kind of cover the nice high and mid bass sound. The 803D is also out of my price range. I am trying to decide should I spend 2K more on 803S/HTM3S or buy the 804s now and save that 2k for electronice upgrade down the read. I also read from this forum other peoples said the 805s is better than the 804S. Any opinion?

The problem with audio upgraditis is that it is a never ending process. Let's say you get the 804S now and one year later you decide to upgrade the electronics. Once you get better electronics, you will be itching to find out what the new gears can do to a better set of speakers. At that point you will think that you really need those 803S, and will have to sell your 804S for the cash.

That scenario will definitely be more expensive than if you have picked 803S in the first place.

I am not saying that you will definitely get hit by upgraditis. However, given that you are already in the 800 series and roaming in this forum, the chances of you getting it is pretty high.

Your third option is to get the 805S now and the very best electronics that you want. If and when you want to upgrade the speakers, you can move the 805S to the back or to the bedroom. The 804S will be an overkill for either purpose.

Some people, myself included, like 805S better than the 804S, but I will think that at least the same number of people like the 804S better than the 805S. So give the 805S a try and keep your mind open when you are auditioning at the dealer.

[Antus]

for movie, HTM3 is definitely better than HTM4. you may also consider the HTM3/804S combination. in fact, HTM3 is a perfect match for 804S.

i found 804S and 803S are virtually the same speakers. 803S has slightly better bass, but just very slightly. On the other hand, 803D is a completely different speaker. i would say 803D is 802D without fancy cabinet.

Rotel 1075 will drive 804/803 just fine, but 1095 would be a better match. I found old Rotel class AB amp to be a little "dark" in sound. parhaps u can try the new 15xx series classD amp. 1575 will be a good choice for 8xx series speakers.

[Briz vegas]

For some people upgrading is a hobby in itself, for others the aim is to achieve the best sound for a given budget. Not everyone wants to upgrade every 12 months, and the current economic climate makes regular upgrades less likely these days.

Everyones choices are different and are driven by different priorities. I don't think there is a right or a wrong way to go providing that what you end up with meets your needs (which can change over time but that is another story)

I know a dealer that sees the B&W upgrade path as 705, 805, 802D (or signature diamond).

As a 705 owner I was not interested in the 805 as sonically they are too similar to get me to pay all that extra cash (if you own something for 2 years you get to know the sonic signature). It was even suggested to me that the old 805 signatures bass was better than the 804. Yet my 705 has more bass than the 805 (not as clean however), but is no match for my 804 which I find very capable in the bass department.

I have found that the 804 responds very well to virtually every subtle change to my system that I have tried (I have upgraded about 10 times). Listening to some new Beethoven CDs last weekend (zig zag box set) and the system sounded superb. My 804s are now only 1/4 of my 2 channel system outlay and about a 1/5 or the HT setup.

Now if I had my time over it is hard to decide whether I would have gone for 803 or 804. They are very similar speakers. On a set budget the only thing I might have given up to find the extra cash for the 803s is my 705 rear speakers. On the other hand given what the 804s does with my electronics and room the extra bass of the 803s (thats the only difference) is irrelevant. I just don't need it.

FWIW that is my experience after living with these speakers and fine tuning the system over 3 years.

That being said, it is well worth taking your time and hearing all the opinions if you can, but well set up all the speakers you are looking at will sound great.

[wywong]

Hi Briz, thanks for your inputs. Would you mind telling me your entire system setup(i.e speakers, amp, pre, CD player, etc.)

[htsteve]

Hi Briz, thanks for your inputs. Would you mind telling me your entire system setup(i.e speakers, amp, pre, CD player, etc.)

wywong,

Click on his username and select 'View public profile'. It's all in there.

[wywong]

I think my final decision is 803s and htm4s (to save a few bucks now). Anyone out there have any opinion with this combination. The dealer said htm4s will work fine with the 803s.

[htsteve]

I think my final decision is 803s and htm4s (to save a few bucks now). Anyone out there have any opinion with this combination. The dealer said htm4s will work fine with the 803s.

wywong,

I'm going to disagree with your dealer. The HTM4S is ideally suited for the 805S, not the 803S. The HTM3S is ideal for the 804S and 803S. They share basic design qualities.

The HTM4S will save you money and it will 'work' with the 803S. But there will not be the synergy that you would get with the HTM3S and 803S's. The HTM3S is simply a much better center channel.

I had the N804 and HTM1 (the predecessor to the HTM3S) and they worked beautifully together.


Hope this helps.

[wywong]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you folks know that I finally took delivery of the 804s and HTM3s last Saturday. Woow, those B&W speakers are wonderful, is like day and night as compare to my old Martin Logan. I am very happy with my decision, and boy that HTM3s center speaker sounds so good that now I realize I missed so much sound detail in the past. My Rotel rmb 1075 still was able to drive those speakers. Thanks you all!!

[htsteve]

wywong,

Excellent. I'm glad you got the HTM3S along the the 804S's. As you've discovered, lots of excellent detail and good sound from all of them. The Rotel's definitely bring out the goodness. You have a well balanced system.


Enjoy.

[ShadowZA]

Congrats wywong!
Enjoy :T :T :T