new amps for 802d

[ED K]

Need to buy new amps for my 802ds (the old ones were Bryston7SST 600 watt) They walked out of the house when i was not home! Anyway, was looking at the mc501 and mc601. My room is 18X 36 with 8ft ceiling and hardwood flooring. Any experience with either?
Other suggestions would be great too.
thanks ed

[PewterTA]

Bryston and McIntosh are two different sounds...you know this right... I'm just wondering if you'll like the softer sound of McIntosh if you're used to the Bryston... just something to think about.

I personally was not impressed with McIntosh (though to the credit, it was not set up properly).

[Hallett]

Sorry to hear about your amps Ed i have the CA-M400 Monoblocks
they sound very nice with my 802's.

[Rod#S]

That sucks about the amps man, sorry to hear that. So what did you not like about the Bryston's? The reason I ask is if you really liked them I just figured you have have went ahead and bought more. I have 802 Diamonds and would love to power them with 7B SST's or 7B-SST^2 amps. I'm currently using a Bryston 4B-SST.

[Pio]

I run my 802D2 with Parasound JC1's - they have a peak current capacity of 135 ampers. Stereophile tested them at 4.2KW (yes, 4,200 watts) @ 1 ohm with tone bursts. So, you know they won't run out of steam. They're not just all muscle, as a matter of fact the are smooth and grain free and have bottom end control like crazy.

My favorite combo - hope this helps...

http://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/774

[ED K]

New amps

The Bryston had all the power i needed, bass was great but the highs did sound sharp or too bright.
Ed

[Rod#S]

The Bryston had all the power i needed, bass was great but the highs did sound sharp or too bright.
Ed

Ah ok. I would give the newer SST squared amps an audition to see if they perform the same at the high end for you. If they do then the MC601 or Classe CA M600 would be where I would look to first as I see many B&W 802 and 800 users using amps from those manufacturers in the on-line forums.

[specialized]

Bryston and McIntosh are two different sounds...you know this right... I'm just wondering if you'll like the softer sound of McIntosh if you're used to the Bryston... just something to think about.

I personally was not impressed with McIntosh (though to the credit, it was not set up properly).

I had the same impression about McIntosh (MC402, MC501..). .Too rounded sound, too gentle, not neutral.. At the end i have a luck to get Krell FPB 300C. Very neutral, dynamic, burst of power, very detailed but not harsh.. But seem that new McIntosh (MC452, MC601 have different sound compared to the old ones (MC402, MC501), and maybe they are worth too try. Anyway, my experience with McIntosh is that is overpriced and that there is a lot of marketing (i also had McIntosh C2300 which i sold becouse Benchmark DAC1 sounded better as Pre then McIntosh), and i really hope that new series (MC452, MC302, MC601), it's different story. I have B&W 803s as my fronts..

And the only McIntosh which i really like, was McIntosh MC2000 on my friends B&W802D

Greetings

[Pedro]

Why not a Krell amp? They´re more refined than Brystons and dont sound cold. Their current S series or even an evolution entry-level amp are probably the best choice for your speakers.

[PewterTA]

I agree, Krell or Classe would be my choices for the 800 series of speakers, give you the warmth I think you're looking for, but also the top end that isn't "too warm" and not seeming like the detail is there. Best of all worlds!

[ED K]

new amps

thanks for the suggestions. I will take a look at the Krell amps!
Thanks Ed

[Antus]

McIntosh make music sound heavy. it focus more on mid range a little too much to my taste. a violin sound like a viola in a way. u must listen and see if that's the sound u like.

bryston, moon, ayre, classe are all very good with b&w. bryston sound more analylitical in a way, moon has a pretty all around sound, nothing really standout and i say that in a good way. Ayre has a "fresh" "clear" sound which is great when listen to violin or piano. for classe, it is slightly lack in the bass department (previous generation, haven't heard the new one yet)

as for krell, does anyone know why the founder/chief engineer left the comapny?

[ShadowZA]

Ed, I'm driving my three 802d frontend speakers using the Krell Evo 403e amp and I am extremely satisfied. In my opinion, 802d's are fantastic speakers but are not easy to drive. I chose to invest heavily in amplification ... and I'm so glad that I did. The power reserves of the 403e are incredible and to me ... it's a perfect match for the 802d's.

But ... this is only my opinion. Amplification can be very expensive if you go at it full tilt. I chose to be as far away from amplifier clipping problems as possible. If you can, I would suggest that you do some auditioning before buying. Best of luck

[dan87951]

The McIntosh amps are phenomenal! I have had some reliability issues with Classe so I'm done with them!

[ninja12]

You might want to give Anthem's P2/P5 a look. 325 Watts 8 ohms, 500 Watts 4 ohms, and 675 Watts 2 ohms. And that's with all channels driven. Each channel is really a monoblock. The P5 comes with two power cords, and they recommend a dedicated 30 amp circuit; however, I have heard folks say they have gotten by with a 20 amp circuit.

Anyway, whatever you pick, I wish you the best and luck and enjoyment. :T

[RebelMan]

Ed, I'm driving my three 802d frontend speakers using the Krell Evo 403e amp and I am extremely satisfied. In my opinion, 802d's are fantastic speakers but are not easy to drive. I chose to invest heavily in amplification ... and I'm so glad that I did. The power reserves of the 403e are incredible and to me ... it's a perfect match for the 802d's.

What other 3CH amps did you compare too? I suspect not many that could fit the niche? And how in the world did you position that beast?! 8O

[ShadowZA]

What other 3CH amps did you compare too? I suspect not many that could fit the niche? And how in the world did you position that beast?! 8O

I did not compare to any other 3CH amps. I couldn't. There was nothing at all available in Cape Town at the time. I had been driving the 3 802D's using the Krell KAV-3250 3CH amp and I experienced what I believe to be "just a hint of clipping" with one of my live music blu-rays at the time. I can't remember which one it was - could have been "The Police - Certifiable - Live in Buenos Aires". Well that scared me a whole lot. In fact, I recall feeling quite down. I'd not owned the 802D's for too long PLUS (as you know) I have been somewhat of a Krell fan since Pontius Pilot was a pupil pilot. What to do? Well I had the Krell Evolution amps planted like an "out-of-control" germinating seed in my mind. Being at the age I am ... my music passion compounded itself and I took the choice to get the Evo 403e. I needed an amp which could drive the 3 802D's with ABSOLUTE ease, especially the extended frequencies and dynamics of live music blu-rays. 3 Mono's would have been great but I have limits in terms of space and wall outlets.

Looking back, some might say that I took quite a big risk. Well, I had finances available and yes, I can say that it was a calculated risk. I was not sufficiently satisfied driving the 3 802D's with the KAV-3250. Now ... I do feel comfortably satisfied. Compared to the KAV-3250 amp, the Evo 403e is simply effortless. There is no strain nor hint of clipping at all. The only way that I can describe it is like this: It is as if there is no hi-fi system at all, only music. I have to take care with the volume control as one does not actually realize how loud it is until one gets up and leaves the room and then comes back in again. It's a fantastic shock! When I used to turn the volume up while using the KAV-3250, there used to be a slight edge of "shoutiness". One did not have to leave the room to notice this as the edginess would begin to irritate after a while.

Here's a quick pic showing positioning of the beast:



Best to you & your family, James. Hope that you guys are doing well across the pond.

[bigburner]

Hi Lucien,

The on/off button on your Evo 403e reminds me of my Emotiva XPA-2, not that I’m claiming the Emo is in the same league as the Krell of course.

What is similar is your experience of clipping with the KAV-3250. I experienced the same thing with my Rotel RB-1080 and in an instant I knew that it needed to go.

I bought the XPA-2 on a whim based on reviews in this forum and elsewhere and I have never looked back. I was prepared to sell it immediately and buy the Pass Labs X350.5 I’d been eyeing for a while at ten times the price of the XPA-2 but so far it hasn’t been necessary. In fact if I upgrade it would probably be to a pair of XPA-1 monoblocks, which combined still weigh less than your 403e. Your Krell is a genuine beast.

I know I won’t be invited to join the country club while I own Emotiva gear but hell I’m sure enjoying the music in the meantime!

Nigel.

[ShadowZA]

... I know I won’t be invited to join the country club while I own Emotiva gear but hell I’m sure enjoying the music in the meantime!

Nigel.

You are already a fully fledged member of the country club. It's all about the music and nothing but. The only difference between you and I is that I could be deemed to be part of the lunatic fringe. I'm fortunate in that my wife puts up with me. If you can manage that without calling the gentlemen in white coats to take me away ... then we're all good.
Best to you, Nigel! :T

[abqnmusa]

I am powering Nautilus 802S speakers with a Wyred 4 Sound ST-1000
570 watts into 8 ohms, 1140 into 4 ohms, and stable to 2 ohms
The amplifier drives the speakers with excellent sound and control
These are high current amps
W4S also makes 500 wpc mono amps

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/332078

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/332075

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/wyred/monos.html

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/power...amplifier.html

http://www.10audio.com/wyred4sound_st1000.htm

[RebelMan]

I had been driving the 3 802D's using the Krell KAV-3250 3CH amp and I experienced what I believe to be "just a hint of clipping" with one of my live music blu-rays at the time. I can't remember which one it was - could have been "The Police - Certifiable - Live in Buenos Aires". Well that scared me a whole lot. In fact, I recall feeling quite down. I'd not owned the 802D's for too long PLUS (as you know) I have been somewhat of a Krell fan since Pontius Pilot was a pupil pilot. What to do? Well I had the Krell Evolution amps planted like an "out-of-control" germinating seed in my mind. Being at the age I am ... my music passion compounded itself and I took the choice to get the Evo 403e. I needed an amp which could drive the 3 802D's with ABSOLUTE ease, especially the extended frequencies and dynamics of live music blu-rays.

I do recall your fondness for Krell. The KAV-3250 is very capable of driving the 802Ds so it is unlikely the demands you placed on it would have exceeded its raw output power. It's more likely you exceeded the current reserves and slew rate thresholds which can manifest as distortion. Clipping would exacerbate this but I doubt that happened given the "hint" you described. The Evo 403 is not that much more powerful but it has massive reserves and is lightning quick and well worth the peace of mind. Good for you and your 802Ds! :T Nice pic by the way.

Best to you & your family, James. Hope that you guys are doing well across the pond.

Thank you Lucien, likewise to you and yours. We are doing well and getting better but it hasn't been easy. We had to start over.

[style]

Hey guys,
I'm a Classe fan but i thig too the a Pass x250.5 can drive really good the 802di!

The price from a Pass vs. the Krell evo is the half (in europa) I will replace the CA2300 with a Pass X250.5 with my 802di...

opinion?

thy Style

[ShadowZA]

I do recall your fondness for Krell. The KAV-3250 is very capable of driving the 802Ds so it is unlikely the demands you placed on it would have exceeded its raw output power. It's more likely you exceeded the current reserves and slew rate thresholds which can manifest as distortion. Clipping would exacerbate this but I doubt that happened given the "hint" you described. The Evo 403 is not that much more powerful but it has massive reserves and is lightning quick and well worth the peace of mind. Good for you and your 802Ds! :T Nice pic by the way.

Thank you, James! I sense that you are quite correct in your analysis ... especially so regarding your first sentence. I really really try not to be a fanboy ... but ... I guess more therapy is required. Having peace of mind now is very comforting and probably accounts for the fact that a lot more time is spent in the "hi-fi" room than before the upgrade.

Thank you Lucien, likewise to you and yours. We are doing well and getting better but it hasn't been easy. We had to start over.

Thanks, James! So glad that you managed to pull through. Best of strength to keep going forward as best as possible & not letting go of the positives!