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How do I power my 800D(3)s

Hi folks

I am new to this, but trying to learn fast!

I have long been a fan of Bowers and Wilkins and I am lucky enough to buy a brand new pair of 800D(3)'s.  I have recently built a new house, so now have enough space for this very special purchase, which I plan to make in the next month or so.

I want to run a two channel system in our living room so it's a pretty simple layout.  Can anybody give me some advice, so that I get the best out of the speakers.  Will a Pre-Amp, and an Amp be enough with a Streamer?  Do I need two amps?  

Can you also advise on the best brands to look at.  I see that B&W tends to show the speakers off in thier demo's with Classe?  Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Matt
matt_gf

Showing 3 responses by kalali

kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Pass X350.8/XP-20 and McIntosh MC601/C2500. Heard them both with 800D2s, large living room with 20' ceilings. Really wanted to love the Pass combo but for whatever reason the McIntosh just sounded so much smoother and more liquid on Jazz/Blues and classical material. The Pass combo sounded incredible for 80's rock material like Pink Floyd, etc. Awesome kick in the gutt bass at moderately high volumes. Excellent speakers nonetheless.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
I think most people think B&W speakers tend to be a tad bright as compared to very neutral speakers. So the choice of preamp/amp/cable, etc., and room treatment needs to take that into account. Lots of great choices in that (or even lower) price range.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 

I don’t think anyone here would disagree that one of the criteria for comparing speakers is their ability to create a realistic soundstage. I listen to a lot of live performances ranging from jazz trios to large orchestra and the first thing that catches my attention is the quality of the soundstage instead of quality of the recording, etc. I also admit that I know a number of folks, some with a lot more disposable income than me, that have spent large sums of money on super expensive audio components and had not even noticed or looked for soundstage until I pointed it out to them. They were simply enamored by the exceptional dynamics and detail coming out of speakers. I must think they "felt" the differences among the speakers at the time of purchase but didn’t specifically look for soundstage differences. So bottom line is people spend their money on what makes them happy and may look for different things in the same object. One friend bought a pair of Sonus Fabers - not sure about the model, but paid just under $20K, and he said they looked much nicer than any other speaker he saw - and touched, in that size. To each his own.

Edited: Asked my friend and he has the SF Elipsa model. Forgot to mention the McIntosh MC601/C2500 feeding the beasts. Most beautiful speaker I've personally ever seen close up and the system has an incredible ability to create eerily realistic soundstage, especially on live close miked recordings.

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