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B&W 805 or Monitor Audio Silver for Creek 5350SE?

I'm looking for some feedback on speakers for my new system, which is a 1st gen. Creek 5350SE, Marantz SA8001 SACD player, Dual CS5000 turntable with Grado cartridge, Home Depot 12 gauge speaker wire and handmade interconnects. I'm currently running vintage Heybrook HB2s purchased new around 1980 (square tweeter plate), and wish to upgrade. Based on Stereophile reviews, I've wanted B&W 805s for years, but I'm not sure the 5350SE can power them. An option would be the Monitor Audio Silver RS6 for 1/2 the price (rave Stereophile review, powered by Creek 5350SE amp & Creek CD player), but I read in Agon forums that RS6's are bright, which quite frankly sets my teeth on edge.

So two questions:
#1- is 85 watts/channel enough power for the B&W 805s in a 12'x16' listening room?
#2- are the Monitor Audio Silver RS6s fatiguing to listen to (bearing in mind I like my Grado cartridge)?
If it helps, I'm planning to switch to Audioquest King Cobra interconnects in the near future because they're recommended as a good match for the Marantz SA8001.
I'd appreciate any experience-based input anyone can give me on this.
sc0ttc00ter

Showing 4 responses by sc0ttc00ter

sc0ttc00ter OP
29 posts
 
Thanks for the tips, 4hannons. I'll toe them in, and I'll have to check out those Morrows, too.
sc0ttc00ter OP
29 posts
 
Thank you, Stanwal and Ryder, for your input. I suspected that the B&W might be a better speaker for my tastes, but that glowing review for the RS6 (powered by the same Creek amp that I own) got my hopes up.

Is anyone else out there running the B&W 805n or 805s with a Creek 5350SE, and if so, have you a preference for speaker cables that will bring out the best of both components?
sc0ttc00ter OP
29 posts
 
Thanks for the silver wire tip: I'd come to the same conclusion myself.

As another speaker option, how about Dunlavy Audio Laboratories SC-IV loudspeakers? According to what I've read, they're pretty neutral, have decent bass, and they're in the same price range as used B&Ws. Will 85 watts per channel be enough to drive them?
sc0ttc00ter OP
29 posts
 
Update: I finally bought the MA RS6s from a fellow Agoner last week (for a third of the price of 805n loudspeakers), and love them. I'd switched from Home Depot speaker wire to Anti-Cables a year ago, and was disappointed with the sound, so of course I switched back to them when I set up the RS6s.

Knownothing, those metal RS6s tweeters don't sound bright at all when paired with the Creek, so RR can be forgiven this time.

Next step? Maybe the MIT interconnects RR used in his RS6 review, too...
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