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B&W Matrix 800: Bi-amping thoughts?

One of these days I'll be able to unpack and set up the B&W Matrix 800's my pop left me. Our current home just isn't the place for them but we'll be taking care of that in the not too distant future.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bw-matrix-800-loudspeaker

Anyways, pop was using Jadis electronics with them and they were heavenly. However while the Defy7 at 100WPC worked well, I've been thinking bi-amping and powering the woofers with a SS amp of similar caliber and power instead. My thinking is to enjoy the air and musicality for mid's and tweeters that the tubes render but to have the bottom end punch and extension that SS seems to provide for those four 12" polymer woofers.

So my question is, what might be an appropriate SS amplifier for this set up?

The preamp will be a Jadis JP80 MC. Thanks much and...

Happy listening.

musicfan2349

Showing 3 responses by musicfan2349

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349 OP
263 posts
 

@wbs Hi Bill,

I don't disagree with the "more power is better" approach most times. However at 93db sensitivity they are fairly easy to drive. Even being set up with 100wpc running in full range, they did push out some impressive SPL.

I also have pop's Mark Levinson ML335 (which needs to be serviced) He used it for a brief period and I considered using that with its 500wpc into 4ohms muscle. However the Defy7 is simply magic in the mid and upper frequencies. I can only imagine what it might be if I could liberate it from having to drive those woofers and instead assign that duty to a robust SS amp of sufficient caliber. 

Consider this: Bi-amping the 800s the way I'm considering would also double the power.

Happy listening.

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349 OP
263 posts
 

@knotscott You said: "From what I can find, the woofer crosses over to the midbass at around 300hz".

Would you direct me to where you found that please? Thank you.

 

Happy listening.

musicfan2349's avatar
musicfan2349 OP
263 posts
 

Wow lots of people to respond to! I appreciate your inputs. smiley

@knotscott Ah right, I’ve read that article. In fact I bookmarked it for the tweeter manufacturer in case I need to replace the OEM components. As they will have been silent for almost 30 years by the time I set them up, I’m desparately hoping the ferro fluid in the tweeters is still viable. And thank you for the info on the cross over points.

Never having bi-amped anything before, don’t the amplifiers need to be of similar wattages? I’d thought about using the Defy7 for up top and the ML-335 for the woofers but would be concerned with the greater output from the ML-335 that it would over power the Defy7’s output.

@68pete It’s been a couple of years since I took the system down and packed it for transport. And as I was limited on time, I didn’t make a good inventory of things like cables of which there was a dizzying array. I swear he kept every set of cables he ever bought.

When I do unpack it all, it’s going to be like an audiophile’s Christmas for me! laugh

Happy listening.

 

PS: I don't what anyone says. I think they're beautiful!

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