The B&W's were introduced in 1993 and had a 90dB/watt efficiency. The entire Sony ES receiver line is capable of 100 watt RMS into 8 ohms and 200 watt peaks into the 4 ohm minimum impedence of the 802/III. That works out to 103 dB average (113 dB peak) before the amp clips! First find out if you are even playing at those levels by purchasing a Radio Shack Sould Level Meter and see how loud you really play your system a 1 meter. If you regularly play at above 100dB average levels (110dB peak), then you will need another 6dB of headroom, which means a 400 watt per channel amplifier! If not, here are two suggestions to improve your system greatly for the same investment: 1).- Buy a subwoofer, this will take the stress off the woofers of the B&W's and free your Sony amplifier of having to provide high current, and 2).- By now you have a LOT of CD's - buy a 200 CD carrousel.
Need advice on amplifier upgrade
I currently have 802 matrix III,a rega planet cd player and a sony es receiver which I plan to upgrade soon. I'd like advice on which amps would match up well and whether I should go with an integrated amp or power amp using my sony as a pre amp until i can upgrade that down the road.