2. amps-preamps
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What amp for B&W 804?

I presently have Mcintosh MC7270 with a Prima Luna Prologue 3 pre amp. I traded my prima luna amp for the Mac thinking I was taking a step up. Not so. My present system sounds strident and thin in the mid range. It doesn't have the rich sonics that i expected. I have been told by an audiophile (I'm a amateur) that the Mac is not the amp for the B&W's. My question: What amp does fit the B&W's? Say in a price range of $3 to $4 thousand. I am not anxious to spend money, but I sorely want a stereo system that is a plessute to listen to. The Prima was good but not great. Jnorth
jacknorth1178
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
The Bel Canto R500 Mk.2 -- being slightly on the warmer side of neutral -- is the only reasonably priced class D amp that I would suggest for driving the B&W 804s. As these speakers appear to be on the leaner side of neutral, there is the danger that slightly lean sounding class D amps like the JRDG 201 may exacerbate the situation. In the regular SS domain, I suspect that some of the smaller Pass XA or Aleph models may also work very nicely with the 804s. In the tube amp domain you may try to look at classic amp designs that fit in the warmer side of neutral.

Have you consider that the issue may be with wiring instead of electronics? What power cords, interconnects, and speaker wires are you using?

Guido
bar81
791 posts
 
I enjoyed the Ayre V-3 (no longer in production so you would have to buy used) with the B&W N804 and the Ayre AX-7e integrated with the B&W 804S in setups I've owned. Either of those (the AX-7e can be used purely as an amp) or a used V-5xe would be a good fit.
ngocdj
21 posts
 
Many people in this forum said B&W + Mcintosh = good match. I'm gonna buy a MA6900 for my B&W 805s soon. This thread makes me confuse
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