2. amps-preamps
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Ideal amp for B&W matrix 800

Hello everyone, I am looking for a great amp for my B&W MATRIX 800 speakers (the tall ones with the angular shaped bass cabinets, not the nautilus ones!).
I have a tight budget and live in Belgium.
My cd is Accuphase 500, preamp is solid state, no tone controls magnum Mp330.
I am looking for a 3d soundstage with lots of depth and emotional music playing. I therefore think of class A amps.
Hence... older krells? Tube amps would be a bad match as the speakers each have two 12 inch woofers. They are 4Ohms, with an impedance dip to 3 ohms in 100-200 Hz region. they are 93 dB/1W sensitivity though...
I could spend about 2000 euro but would prefer around 1000-1500 so I have budget for an accuphase preamp for phono (a c-280 or so). Would appreciate your input guys!
At the moment I localised a krell KSA-100 MKii for 850 e, a Krell KSA-200 S for 1750 e, a Krell FPB for 2000 e...
Or a Pass X250 for 2400 e.... Other suggestions are very welcomen these or just the ones that I found on sale some place now... I have never heard any of these amps...
blueskywalker
moltze
6 posts
 
My Krell KSA250 amps were recently serviced by Krell in the last year. The amps never hummmmed or hissssed but I did notice one amp was much hotter than the other. So I had sent both amps to Krell to check. It was time to replace caps and since the amps were sent back to me everything is perfect.

Sound with only one KSA250 on my B&W 800 speakers was good but not quite delivering the soundstage and presentation. Now that I biamp superb improvements with soundstage and better definition. Also recently upgraded power cables on the Krell amps which put them into 5th gear and worth the imvestment. Hope this helps you out. I am chilling listening to some Bach with my awesome reference stereo system.
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
Capacitors seem to be a big problem for both krell and levinson? Is it ok to buy a second hand amp of these brands,that has not been serviced in the recent 10-15 years anyway? I assume replacing these big capacitors costs a lot...
and sending them back to Krell are Levinson is not an option for me as I live way over here in Belgium...
Still no remarks on how levinson amps would play with these speakers... Anyone?
arupg
42 posts
 
Am using the Matrix 800 with Symphonic Line Kraft amps. Yeah! they're expensive BUT they offer the finesse to the last word! On my earlier Matrix 801 and 802, they too were excellent. A lovely match to the B&Ws IMHO.
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
So... after missing out an ebay auction for musical fidelity nuvista and an auction for a Krell KSA-100, I got a good price on a Krell FPB200!
Installed yesterday...
After warm up the 3D soundstaging and details are all there, thats the good news! Less good news is that harmonically voices could use a bit more body, and highs could be sweeter. This was the case with an old Kustom PA amp I used, (more voltage amp then current amp), although I am wondering if the preamp is responsible for the highs... I have had the same highs on my active system I used before...
Any suggestions? stick with the new amp, and try another pre or just keep looking for another amp...
blueskywalker OP
91 posts
 
I just asked about the ideal preamp for this amp in another thread, so we can stick in this thread to the amp suggestions...
(For the record, I must say that these speakers sound far better now that I am sitting further away... distance increased from 5 meters to about 8,5 meters, already with the old amp)
Looking forward to your responses guys! : )
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