Mac's BAD MATCH for 802D's?


I have recently purchased B&W 802D's to go with my Mac C46 pre-amp and MC352 power amp.

A very respected dealer in my area (who has been helpful to me in the past) insists that Mac is about the worst possible match for the 802's and swears I would feel "like a veil was lifted" if I instead switched to Classe, Ayre (I do have an Ayre cd player, which I love), Mark Levinson or Boulder Amp. I should note that he does not carry some of these brands so he wasn't just trying to "sell" me. I have to admit that although my system sounds very good, it's not as "open" sounding (transparent, or whatever the right audiophile adjective might be).

If anyone aware of an engineering reasons the Mac might not be as great a match to the 802's as other equipment might be?

Any thoughts on what might be the optimal AMP combination (in a $6,000- $11,000 range) match for 802's
tomehunt

Showing 6 responses by dev

Tomehunt you can't go wrong with MC-501's and C-2200 all the way, heard this set up with 802D's like yours. I agree with Mmitch7711 and make sure you have them hooked up to 4 ohm tabs.
Brianmgrarcom you are correct about what you said, most people don't know this.

I dropped by my freinds who I had mentioned in my first thread who has the Mac 501's and 2200 pre. with the 802D's. Well a freind of his was over and they had a Mac 1000 pre hooked up, unbeleivable. I have a VTL 7.5 and Audio Research Ref3 that I am going to be bringing them over to do a comparison. I couldn't stay for long today so we all agreed to get together tomorrow and do the demo so my freind gets to listen to this 1000 all night. I have to say what I heard was the best I have ever heard his system sound like.

Tommorow will be real interesting.

John his friend has the new EMM all one piece cd player which I have been wanting to hear, I have a Audio Research Ref7 that I will be bringing along also with some cables of course.

Virtual Dynamics, Stealth Sextet digital, Anniv Purist Purist cables.

I really am looking foward to this, I actually want to go over and start right now.

I'll post again once done.

Well it wasn't just one day but two, now that was fun.

Alot of different sounds happening, we did blind test so the others listening would not know what was hooked up for two days and then finally sat arround still with some music in the back ground and dicussed the out come. We all had our note pads in which we kept track.

Well there wasn't really any dislikes except from the owner of the 802D's because he wanted us to leave our gear.

Regarding pre's WINNER #1 Mac 1000 #2 ARC REF3 #3 VTL 7.5

Sources: We could not agree on this, I picked the ARC every time but at the same time really liked the EMM. The owner of the EMM was also mixed and the owner of the 802D's was just so confused because he was so over whelmed with everything he heard. It really depended on which combination was hooked up but I have to say hats off to McIntosh for that 1000, it's now on my list to have.

Any questions, ask and I'll try to answer for you.
Briangrarcom, I noticed you have W/P 7's how long have you had them and what has been your best sound with what equipement set up. I actually just recently replaced mine with Eggleston Andra 2's. Have you ever heard the Andra 2's?

Regarding heads spinning it was only the actual owner of the 802's, his freind new what was going on. I find some people always favour what they own, I'm not like that hey if it's better then it's better.

There is lot more to do then what we did, cable changes and especially speakers. Now I don't want any B&W owners to be offended but I'm not a fan and I belive that was the weak point in the whole system set-up but my freind likes them so were trying to assist him in getting the best sound he can and thats what is all about.

It was intertaining but I now want to be able to do the same at my place especially with the Mac 1000 and EMM cd player.

The owner of the McIntosh and EMM has Wilson MAXX 2's which one of my friends has also and I like his set up. The MAXX 2's being alot better in many ways then the W/P 7's I use to own.

For my main listening room this is a speaker on my list along with Savoys from Eggleston.
Aball, don't jump to conclusions this is only the beginning. "Synergy" I believe may have had a part in this comparison, it wasn't night and day differences. I am going to be able to listen at my place with different speakers and gear. I have ARC Ref300 mono blocks and also the Mac 501's.

The owner of the Mac and EMM equipment, he has a Dart 108 but I don't really understand why he went with a Mac 1000 pre. I am looking foward to hearing his set-up.

Your question regarding SS or TUBE power supply, I preferred the tube but also liked the SS. The speakers were the main issue for me, I actually use to own a pair of these along with prior B&W's top of the line speaker so I know that B&W sound. I have just moved on and found that I am looking for a different sound just like I did from owning the W/P 7's to the Egglestons, hey you never know I might end up with the MAXX 2's for my main system
Brianmgrarcom, you diffently made the right choice from the 802D's to the WP7'S. I also owned that same Rowland piece when I still owned the WP7's and know what you refer to but it wasn't a bad match it's the unit. I tried it with other speakers also and was very disappointed. Rowland gear sure is nice appearance wise, if it could only sound like it looks. You have to try the Mac 501's on your WP7's, you will be in for a surprise.