A Mac MA6800 just rescued my B&W 805s from the brink of being sold. I have had a lower budget system of Yamaha NS-1000Xs and an old Luxman L-507 amp that I've been extremely proud of for many years. It sounds much better than many very expensive systems I've heard.
Last year I added B&W 805s to make it 4-channels, mainly because of my poor hearing on one side (While it loses imaging, 4 channels means if I turn my head it all still sounds good, whereas with 2 channels I'll only hear one speaker). The system has a nice synergy, with the B&Ws adding smoother highs to make-up for the Yamahas weaker point of the tweeters. For the past year, however, I've wanted to replace the B&Ws with something offering more punch and bigger, tighter bass.
To make a long (and on-going) story short, I suddenly on a whim splurged and bought Sonus Faber Guarneri Homages. They look SO NICE. Unfortunately, they sounded AWFUL run by my old Luxman L-507, a 50-60 Wpc SS amp from 1973. Urgent to give the Guarneris a fairer shot at impressing me, I read about and found quite a few people recommended them with the McIntosh MA6900. As the MA6800 cost just a bit over half of the 6900, but still provides 150 W/channel, I brought an MA6800 home to try with the Guarneris.
This told me a little more, but not everything, about the potential of the Guarneris, but in the process, it did something unexpected. On the suggestion of a visiting British audiophile friend, I happened plug my B&Ws in to the McIntosh with some really good jazz recordings, and GEEEZE! What a match!
Those B&Ws won't be leaving my house at any time soon now, nor will the MA6800.
Last year I added B&W 805s to make it 4-channels, mainly because of my poor hearing on one side (While it loses imaging, 4 channels means if I turn my head it all still sounds good, whereas with 2 channels I'll only hear one speaker). The system has a nice synergy, with the B&Ws adding smoother highs to make-up for the Yamahas weaker point of the tweeters. For the past year, however, I've wanted to replace the B&Ws with something offering more punch and bigger, tighter bass.
To make a long (and on-going) story short, I suddenly on a whim splurged and bought Sonus Faber Guarneri Homages. They look SO NICE. Unfortunately, they sounded AWFUL run by my old Luxman L-507, a 50-60 Wpc SS amp from 1973. Urgent to give the Guarneris a fairer shot at impressing me, I read about and found quite a few people recommended them with the McIntosh MA6900. As the MA6800 cost just a bit over half of the 6900, but still provides 150 W/channel, I brought an MA6800 home to try with the Guarneris.
This told me a little more, but not everything, about the potential of the Guarneris, but in the process, it did something unexpected. On the suggestion of a visiting British audiophile friend, I happened plug my B&Ws in to the McIntosh with some really good jazz recordings, and GEEEZE! What a match!
Those B&Ws won't be leaving my house at any time soon now, nor will the MA6800.