B&W makes fine speakers, don't get me wrong. This is about the difference between a 3-dimensional and more 2-dimensional image. A nautilus top is exeptional good in indivividual focus. But less good in depth. The extra depth can make an image more 3-dimensional. Wenn you have a speaker with exeptional crossovers you can get a very deep and wide stage. Stage goes on for metres behind and even beside your speakers. Voices and instruments become a lot more loose from eachtother and palpable. You hear a big difference were an instrument or voice is recorded, even in depth. |
Rotel is not in the same league as brands like Classe and Pass Labs. Classe with your speaker is a very good combination. It is a very balanced overwhole sound. The thing I miss is a lot of depth ( cause of the poor B&W filters) this was the main reason why I sold my 800 Signature speakers. Mctosh is less controlled. Take a listen to Pass Labs with B&W. Pass Labs is more precise and has more depth compared to Classe. |
I listend to the D as well. Because depth was still poor I did not want to go further with B&W. B&W shopkeepers tell the same story. I want to play far behind and even beside the spakers. B&W is still very poor in this area. In the absolute sound this is a pre. Without a 3 dimensional deep and wide stage you are in the 2 dimensional league. @ dimensional audio= standard audio. Because a cheap amp does play at the same way. I played a few times with my own recordings with 802D and new Classe gear. Mannnnn depth was soooo poor. |
You first have to understand what the differences are between the talents/properties of a Rotel and a Pass Labs for example. Also the difference between how wide and deep a speaker can make the stage. Because B&W does not make crossovers what can give you an exeptional deep and wide stage. Like Musical Fidelity ( I owned it, sold it for a long time and I even did audio shows for Musical Fidelity) is not very good at giving a deep stage. There is only a little of depth. Every brand even if you are talking about an amp, source or speaker have there own properties/talents. There is a very big difference in how the stage is projected between all these brands. |
B&W with MF is a very good combo. Both miss the most important part in highend audio. This is depth and playing even beside your speakers. MF also makes expensive amps these days. Compared to brands Like Pass Labs there is still a lot missing. This is not only in de way a stage is build. But also in sound realism. |
Depth becomes better wenn the crossovers are perfect. This is still the weakest point of B&W. I am in this business for 15 years now. I played with 802N and 800S for over 8 years. Wenn you want to grow in sound realism and also in a 3 dimensional stage which is wide and deep. B&W is not able of giving this to me. The 800 series are improving during the years. But they still forget a very essential part in the absolute sound. In 15 years I did hundreds of tests with a lot of stuff ( cables, amps, sources,speakers etc) Always looking for the best. Because good never will be good enough for me. But wenn the quality rises the emotion and fun grows. |
People cannot read well. I am not bashing B&W. I just tell the truth about there crossovers. It is as it is. There still fine speakers. I owned B&W 800N and 800S for over 8 years. I liked them wenn I had them a lot. I want to mention a fact about there crossovers. Shops who sell them agree with what I said. |
Many class d amps sounds not musical. Your speaker is exeptional good in soundrealism and in individual focus of every instrument and voice. The 452 is in sound a good match with the 802. But it is not in his pricetag for drive and speed. Pass Labs is better in drive ( XA.5 series)and also in sound realism. For less money Musical Fidelity is still a nice match. Or go for a used Primare A32. How much money you want to spend? |
I would go for a Pass Labs XA600.6 used. It has a lot of drive, speed, extreme wide and deep stage. The right focus on the sound of instruments and voices. Sound to die for. |
You have to wait and see on the internet. I have seen them for 10.000 dollar in the past. Wenn you want to spend less go for a X350.5 or set XA100.5. The XA100.5 have also a lot of drive. Don't focus on the 100 watts in class A. Because it has a lot of dynamics as well. Pass Labs makes music. Your speaker is exeptional good in sound realism. Pass Labs will make your speaker let you hear the real sound of instruments like only a few can. |
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Pass Labs is better in sound realism than Krell. The nautilus top is exeptional good in focus and also in sound realism. Your speaker will get to a higher level in real live sound. |
