Rotel & B&W

[Triple]

Just foundout about this Rotel forum so I decited to join the club :T

My set contains the Rotel RA-03 Amp, the RCD-02 cd-player combined with B&W 603-S3 speakers.

I've got this set for almost a year now,
It's sounds very natural, the high and the mid parts sounds fantastic however the bass is not that great.

Has anyone got any experience with this combination because i wonder if the amps sounds that way or i picked the wrong speakers. :roll:

[grit]

I think it's the B&W 603's... they really don't have that much bass output to them. I use to own a set of the 603's (previous version) about 10 years ago. They just never did have much at the bottom range, but I LOVED the mids and highs. I think you'd probably find a well-matched subwoofer would add the subtle low-end that the 603's are missing.

[Triple]

I think it's the B&W 603's... they really don't have that much bass output to them. I use to own a set of the 603's (previous version) about 10 years ago. They just never did have much at the bottom range, but I LOVED the mids and highs. I think you'd probably find a well-matched subwoofer would add the subtle low-end that the 603's are missing.

Could be a solution, but doesnt it disturb the stereo image??

I see you have the 700 series how do they sound? Is it a big difference with the 600 series?

[grit]

Huge difference with the 703's. They are a big step up, even from the 704's.

Adding a sub does not have to disturb the imaging of the speakers if you take the care and time to tune it to your setup and room properly. However, I have found that I prefer the sound quality of analog bypass mode, which precludes the use of a subwoofer for 2-ch. I think though, if I had speakers with less low-end, I'd probaby prefer to add the sub.

[pembroke]

I had a pair of CDM9's and wanted to improve the bass, and did so with a sub (REL Storm 111). This solved the problem for me at the time. REL's are pricey, but you can pick up subs that allow you to connect to the speaker outputs, which allows you to listen in analog bypass mode and are in sync with the two main speakers.

[Joey_V]

The 703's FST driver is a super midrange driver. This is what separates it from the rest of the 700 series pack. I prefer the 703 to the 805 personally.

[Nolan B]

I had a pair of CDM9's and wanted to improve the bass, and did so with a sub (REL Storm 111). This solved the problem for me at the time. REL's are pricey, but you can pick up subs that allow you to connect to the speaker outputs, which allows you to listen in analog bypass mode and are in sync with the two main speakers.

the B&W PV1 also has the ability. It has a connection that looks like a phone jack on the PV1 input and it splices to four small cables which attach to your speaker outputs.

[Triple]

Hmmm, i'm not to sure about buying a sub yet, my guess is to save some money for the 700 serie. But that could take a while cause there not exactly cheap (to be honest a bit out of my leak )

What kind of speaker cables do you guys use.
I'm using ordinary (2.5 mm) speakercable at the moment and i'm thinking of replacing them for Qed silver aniversary cable (i see they got a lot of awards)


Greetz Triple

[Ryx]

Triple,
I have a set of 603 S2s powered by a RB-976 (60wx6, and 70w x5 if one channel is not used, 150w x 3 bridged) and I find that the speakers do fairly well with the lower octaves for the little speakers they are, although they can use a little help which a sub could defanetly fix up.

I run my setup unbridged, although I have set it up bridged before to see how much the lower end might improve with the added watts and they actually do really well with the added power. I myself have been looking to upgrade to a RB 990 at 200w x 2 so that I can enjoy this added lower-end without having the downfalls that come along with bridgeing!

so a bigger amp may get you what you are looking for if your looking at getting a bit more lower end out of your system. however if you are searching for a lot more, then upgrading to 604s or adding a sub may be what you need to tie you over till you save up for those 703s! : (if you get the 604s you will likely want a bigger amp to go with them though)

[Ut Pictura]

Rotel RA-03 and B&W 603s are a fantastic combination

I have this very combination (amp, cd player and speakers). I only listen to classical music.

Initially I had the same problem you describe but I have fully solved it by buying good speaker cable.

I cannot describe to you how much the sound has changed - the sound now is simply awesome - all the detail of mid and highs plus a warm, full bass. The sound overall has gone deeper, warmer but still sparkles with detail.

As an experiment I put my son's Led Zeppelin CD on at reasonable volume - hell you should hear the bass - it rocks! There is nothing wrong with the bass at all, absolutely nothing - all as a result of using a good speaker cable!

(my interconnects are also good)

My system is optimised, I believe, for classical music - voice, strings, winds, all instruments and combinations are detailed and vivid - without embellishments.
Piano music sounded a bit bright and hollow before I replaced the cables - now it is perfect - absolutely beautiful to listen to.

I recommend this combination to all classical music enthusiasts - whatever the equivalent will be today of the RA-03 RCD-02 and B&W603.

[Rod S]

I was running the 603's on a denon int. for a while before moving over to Rotel (RC1090, RB1080 and RCD1072). Made the 603's sound like a new speaker and added good weight to the bottom end. It could be that adding a little more quality power will open up those speakers.
Having said that, I just upgraded to the 804S's and was blown away by the increase in the clarity and cohesiveness of the music. Yes there is more bass but it's very well balanced and not over emphasized.
It could just be, like so many of us, your starting to see the effect of adding quality gear to your set up and now you're starting to chasing that ever alluring next level of improvment...... :B

[Ut Pictura]

An upgrade from 603 to 804 is a substantial upgrade (money wise too!). My main point, is that within the limited budget of approx €2000+ which the 603 speakers, Rotel integrated amp and cd player cost together a clean, balanced sound can be achieved with extra money spent on good interconnects and speaker cables.
Up until I changed speaker cable my system was clearly not optimised - so my basic point is that some of the limitations (mainly with bass) attributed to B&W 603s are a result of electronic and cable configurations.
One cannot expect them to perform like 8 series - but I, personally, having got the quality sound I have with 603s, would rather spend the difference on music - imagine €3000+ worth of more music!

[DL86]

You have to ask your self the question. Is the person who spends 20 grand on a audio system and 2 grand on a music collection a bigger music fan than the person who spends 20 grand on a music collection and 2 grand on an audio system?

[Ut Pictura]

It is an interesting question. I can only speak for myself, when I choose music over a substantial upgrade.

The question of quality of equipment vs size of collection, reflects a sort of tension between natural curiosity to explore new music and interpretations, and the desire for pure listening pleasure. This desire for a quality music experience increases exponentially with amount of music heard and appreciated.

My intuitive, personal guideline is that the total hifi system equals roughly half the total value of music collection. So for me to feel justified in upgrading from a system worth approx €2000 to a system worth say €4000 I would expect to have a collection worth around €8000.

Not everyone would see it like this - I am sure there are other perspectives.

(Just to make it clear, the discussion doesn't even start in a case of someone who lives in a luxury with a huge salary or inheritance. They live in a different world of priorities to the majority of us simple folk who eke out a living from month to month.)

[kyle333]

803D or 802D?

ok I just got my Denon avp-A1HDCI and POA A1HDCI. Speakers are the 803D for front,center is the htm2d,rear is 805s and sub is the asw855.but i have to return them cuz they send me the cherrywood instead of the nosenut.now i have to wait for a week or so..2 things i want to know. 1st should i get the 802d instead of the 803d and also will the denon separate goes well with the 803d? this is my very first hi end system and im very newt at this..the system i got will be the denon separate,the denon blu ray dvd 3800bdci,cd player is the arcam fmj. the speakers either gonna be the 803d or maybe 802d,rear is 805s,centre is the htm2d and for sub is the 15inch asw855..can someone comment how it will sound or is there changes i need to make?.. oh ya the screen is the sony 70inch rear projection qualia

[DL86]

Thats quite a big music collection you have there lol. Mine is no where near as big.

Kyle333, I have been doing some reading on these forums and it seems that preference would be the 802D over the 803D as the 803D appears to have too much bass and doesn't have a balanced sound like the 802D does, this is accroding to some individuals on the b&w forums. I have never heard either speaker so take it with a grain of salt.

[wettou]

ok I just got my Denon avp-A1HDCI and POA A1HDCI. Speakers are the 803D for front,center is the htm2d,rear is 805s and sub is the asw855.but i have to return them cuz they send me the cherrywood instead of the nosenut.now i have to wait for a week or so..2 things i want to know. 1st should i get the 802d instead of the 803d and also will the denon separate goes well with the 803d? this is my very first hi end system and im very newt at this..the system i got will be the denon separate,the denon blu ray dvd 3800bdci,cd player is the arcam fmj. the speakers either gonna be the 803d or maybe 802d,rear is 805s,centre is the htm2d and for sub is the 15inch asw855..can someone comment how it will sound or is there changes i need to make?.. oh ya the screen is the sony 70inch rear projection qualia

Very nice set up, I have three 802D (L,C,R)and two 802 (SR) as well as two 803 (BS) for a 7.1 surround sound system.

I have 803D in demo and they don't come close to the 802D but are very nice in a smaller room

The 802Ds rule and are very close to the 800D especially if you feed the bass to a great sub, JLAudio Fathom F113

I am curious how do you like the Denons!!
- AVP-A1HDCI and
- blu ray dvd 3800bdci

I am looking to replace my Integra Research and have been waiting for the Classé SSP-800

[kyle333]

Very nice set up, I have three 802D (L,C,R)and two 802 (SR) as well as two 803 (BS) for a 7.1 surround sound system.

I have 803D in demo and they don't come close to the 802D but are very nice in a smaller room

The 802Ds rule and are very close to the 800D especially if you feed the bass to a great sub, JLAudio Fathom F113

I am curious how do you like the Denons!!
- AVP-A1HDCI and
- blu ray dvd 3800bdci

I am looking to replace my Integra Research and have been waiting for the Classé SSP-800

I got all the pieces here sitting in front of but still missing the speakers cuz i return them for the rosenut instead of the cherrywood..anyhow say if i decided to get the 802d,will my denon avp a1hdci, poa a1hdci amp can handle the 802d? its a 150 x 10 channel power amp and im gonna biamp the left,right and centre speakers

[wettou]

Yes I believe they could, the 802D love juice the more the better. I have ben looking at Electrocompaniet Nemo 600

http://www.electrocompaniet.com/products/power-amp/nemo.html

http://www.dagogo.com/EdMomkusOnNemo-Nautilus800D.html