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B&W 802N

To be honest with you I have never really liked B&W speakers but my brother loves them. He recently purchased a pair of them on here and now he is looking for the right electronics. Also with so many great things people have to say about the 802N's I am wondering why I do not like them. Maybe I have not heard them with the right electronics. I know that they are overall really efficent speakers (8ohms nominal and 91DB) so I am wondering if tubes would make them sound good.

I can get decent pricing on a pair of PrimaLuna Dialogue Seven Monoblocks (70 watts). Now as efficent as these speakers are I would figure these amps would power these nicely. One reviewer said that these amps would have no trouble with speakers as efficent as the 802n's!

Any thoughts on this combo??

Or if we need to go with a high power Solid State amp I was thinking that the Parasound A21 (250 watts) is a great deal here on Audiogon. We would pair the A21 with the matching JC2 preamp.

Any thoughts on this combo?
Ag insider logo xs@2xbrandonosman23
angst0
13 posts
 
I use a Cary SLP98 F1 version for a preamp. This gives me tube sound with enormous current. I am fortunate enough to have about 400 watts per channel of KT88 sound from the Carver Silver 7's. Otherwise, tube amps are tough I think. Used to have a Mark Levinson....but the Carver opens up these speakers with relentless energy. Also, the speaker wires are critical. I'm using Synergistic Research cables designed for B&W bi-wired.
wpines
93 posts
 
I had 802N's recently with a tube preamp and 500wpc amps with wattmeters. They were unimpressive at low volumes and don't open up 'til 50- 350 watts. These like current.
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brandonosman23 OP
20 posts
 
Thank you for your responses! How about either a Mcintosh MC402 or a pair of the Parasound JC-1's? Which amp would pair better?
jeffkad
211 posts
 
I've heard macs on B&Ws many times and they sound great. There are several dedicated B&W forums on the net, and macs are always a top choice. Would be one of my first choices.
ssabripo
13 posts
 
I've had a few speakers in my time, and currently still have the N802's in my possession... they are, in my humble opinion, one of the best bargains out there, period! I kept them over the 802Ds (yep, was not worth 2-3x the price, for 10% improvement), the Von Schwiekert VR4's, among others.

They don't "need" power, but they operate best with good reserves. I've ran them with a Parasound A21 which did ok, then onto a Pass Labs X250 which was more than fine, most of the time. Just recently swaped the X250 for a pair of X600 pass Labs Monoblocks, and it is perfect. A great combination, at a great price point.

YMMV, but I would think you will have a tough time keeping tube amps in check with these guys unless you go big like a pair of Audio Research Tube Monoblocks.
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