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B&W what amp is best solid state or tube... guess


B&W is one of the most renowned speakers in the world. maybe not the best but close to the best sounding for it's innovation in terms of there research facility,Hugh factory on sound and how it gets from the amp through the speaker cable and into the speaker, through the crossover network and into the speaker pushing the cone from the driver magnet. amazing isn't it. well I have listened to many amps through the b&w speaker the 801 lets just stick with this model. for solid state I have found the pass labs amp don't ask why but the x 350 even the newer pass labs amps have a wonderful sound into the speaker. it hard to explain. it sounds like my tube amp . I always use Cary cad 211 mono blocks into my 801 diamonds. I have always loved the tube sound into the b&w speakers. all of them. but for some reason I am thrown a loop when it comes to nelson pass amps. It's just something I cant get a grip on about the b&w speaker with this amp. Now the amp does nothing for me with other speakers. It's not magical with any other speaker but the b&w.((( my opinion only))) how do you figure this out. I have put every tube amp I have on my b&w and the only one which comes close is the Cary 805 c 2005 model and the cad 211 anniversary edition. they are the only ones which come close. give me your opinion. I am hard pressed to find out how a solid state amp like nelson pass amps can give the realization of the tube sound into this speaker.
kt88man

Showing 1 response by audiofeil

audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>Could you imagine a Honda engine under the hood of a 1970 Dodge Challenger? Honda makes great engines no doubt but in this instance it wouldn't be a good match.<<

The current V-6 Honda/Acura engine is more powerful that 5 of the 1970 Challenger engine options. It would easily power the Challenger to acceptable performance levels at that time and with greater efficiency/less pollution/less noise.

Don't forget that today's engines are rated bhp (brake horsepower) i.e. the power available to the car at the drive axle. The horsepower ratings in the 60's and 70's were overstated in that regard. However, and to be fair here, many manufacturers underrated some motors due to potential insurance problems. Good examples of this are the Chevrolet L-88, Z-28, and ZL-1 options. Chrysler's 426 hemi is another example of understated power.
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