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Denon 3806 + B&W 803D....amp suggestions???

Hey All,

I've got an uncle with a dilemma. He's currently got his 3806 already running his house system (speakers on the back porch, speakers in the kitchen, etc) in addition to his mains 803D's. His primary area where he seeks to invest is the main listening room where he desires high quality 2 channel stereo performance, though he knows his in-wall b&w's will respond favorably to more amplification. If possible, he desires to keep the 3806 and just use it for it's processing capabilities expanding his amplification or just keep life simple by buying yet a more powerful receiver. He just got the 803D's and he understands that the 3806 is not adequate...he just needs suggestions.

Listening preferences: stringed instruments, jazz, female vocalists, some orchestra

Main listening room:
25x20 however room has 20 foot ceiling that opens to second floor

Main speakers: B&W 803D.

Amplification: Denon 3806 plus ?

7 channel amplification (or a 5 channel plus a 2 channel) or replacing the Denon 3806 with a more powerful receiver? Which route and what are some recommendations for components?

Thanks,
Justin
jutjut

Showing 1 response by mark_nz

mark_nz
48 posts
 
I currently own the 803D loudspeakers. I did not find that you necessarily need lots of Watts for the speakers to sound good. They need Amps (i.e. does the amplifier power double as the impedance halves) and quality (low noise, smoothness, transparency, extended bandwidth).

Typically AVR amps struggle to provide Amps due to the limited number of output devices and small transformer, and they also noisy because they share the same chassis with digital circuits.

I drove the 803D initially reasonably successfully with a pair of 60W Marantz SM17SA amplifiers in vertical bi-amp mode. Bi-amping - results in better clarity and more precise soundstaging.

But I currently use, and can highly recommend, a pair of Cambridge 840W amplifiers - again bi-amped. The 840W is absolute bargain for the their overall quality (very smooth, but detailed Class A sound quality due their XD cicuit) and heaps of power (200W per channel).
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