B&W 802d

[Irvrobinson]

McIntosh amps sound good and that's more important than anything else. I recommend staying away from fully balanced amps, never heard one which sounded good. Fully balanced circuitry is a major handicap if high slew rate and correct time and phase is desirable. McIntosh uses high quality Vishay metal film and foil resistors and capacitors, which make a huge sonic difference. The best sounding amps on the market today are the same as from two decades ago:

Rotel
Parasound
Bryston
Ayre
Goldmund
McIntosh
Classe
Mark Levinson
Audio Research
Pass Labs
Accuphase

Are you serious about that silliness with balanced amps? Then you put Ayre, Parasound, McIntosh, Levinson, and Pass Labs on your best-sounding list, and all of them make at least one model that's fully balanced. Others have accused you of being a troll, now I'm convinced.

 

[TheStalker]

Are you serious about that silliness with balanced amps? Then you put Ayre, Parasound, McIntosh, Levinson, and Pass Labs on your best-sounding list, and all of them make at least one model that's fully balanced. Others have accused you of being a troll, now I'm convinced.

So what if these companies make, or have made at least one balanced from input to output amp? How does that change anything I've said previously? Never heard a balance amplifier which sounded good. Never ever.

 

[ImcLoud]

Its not Stalkers fault, he needs to trim the hair and clean his ears.. But yes as you can tell from the pic, very "troll" like

 

[PENG]

Are you serious about that silliness with balanced amps? Then you put Ayre, Parasound, McIntosh, Levinson, and Pass Labs on your best-sounding list, and all of them make at least one model that's fully balanced. Others have accused you of being a troll, now I'm convinced.

It isn't illogical the way he put it together but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be convinced about the troll thing.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have looked at the ATI amp, many many times. I don't doubt that it's awesome and very comparable to the Mark Levinson. But honestly, I can't fathom looking at $15000 (msrp) speakers with an ugly amp in the middle. Frankly, I really like Macs. I love the sound, build quality and how they hold their resale value. I'll admit, I have OCD and I like to have the same brand amp/pre. I really like the Krell 402e but the krill pre is too expensive. I think you get more for less with the Mac C2500. Also looked at the Classe CA2300, which Gene raved about, but not too keen on the CP800 and it doesn't have a phono preamp. Right now I am working with Bryan at GIK because my room has a nasty peak at 30hz and a few null from 40 to 60 that need to be worked out. Also looking at adding the MEN220 which uses the Room Perfect software. I know Acudeftechguy likes DEQ My OCD is killing me!!!!!

Completely understandable.

I would be 100% happy with those McIntosh.

The ONLY reason I even brought up ATI or any other amp was because you mentioned you needed more than 250WPC.

I supposed a 450WPC McIntosh amp should do the trick.

 

[English210]

Completely understandable.

I would be 100% happy with those McIntosh.

The ONLY reason I even brought up ATI or any other amp was because you mentioned you needed more than 250WPC.

I supposed a 450WPC McIntosh amp should do the trick.

$12900 is better than a lot of the Audio Jewelery out there! You could potentially get two monoblocks, and 'hide' them behind the 802s which look better than amps anyway, and then as they create their magic, your eyes will close, and visions of ugly amps will be replaced by audio nirvana....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Re: B&W 802d

$12900 is better than a lot of the Audio Jewelery out there! You could potentially get two monoblocks, and 'hide' them behind the 802s which look better than amps anyway, and then as they create their magic, your eyes will close, and visions of ugly amps will be replaced by audio nirvana....

$13000 amps hidden behind the $13000 speakers? I would want to show off my $13000 amps.

 

[flyboylr45]

Well, it's actually about a $6,500 amp and a $5,500 tube preamp. Now the 601s, those are 600 watt $12,000 mono blocks.

 

[flyboylr45]

BTW, those using subs with the 802s, what are you crossing them at? Not that I'm thinking of a sub or anything. I do have a PB13-ultra that doesn't get much use downstairs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

BTW, those using subs with the 802s, what are you crossing them at? Not that I'm thinking of a sub or anything. I do have a PB13-ultra that doesn't get much use downstairs.

I'm X'ing mine @ 80Hz.

BTW, just to throw it out there, the b-stock (full manufacturer warranty) Lexicon ZX7-Z (300WPC x 7Ch amp) is $3,900 and Mark Levinson No531H (300W monoblock) is $2,800.

 

[flyboylr45]

Where are they listed? The Mark Levinson.

 

[English210]

$13000 amps hidden behind the $13000 speakers? I would want to show off my $13000 amps.

Bad syntax there, I meant he could buy 'ugly' monoblocks and hide them if necessary - we do all have to make sacrifices for our hobby, some more so than others.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Where are they listed? The Mark Levinson.

Very privately.

PM me if you are interested.

I think the Mark Levinson 531 monoblock (which is like 600WPC into 4 ohms @ 1% THD) for $2800 looks very tempting myself.

 

[flyboylr45]

Privately.

You got me all excited for nothing

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You got me all excited for nothing

You could get it too. I don't see why not.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I still think the McIntosh looks the best aesthetically.

 

[English210]

The ML doesn't have the rack handles, ADTG, surprised they caught your eye....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The ML doesn't have the rack handles, ADTG, surprised they caught your eye....

Caught my eye, but not enough. The McIntosh have great handles. They really catch my eyes. Love those handles!

 

[Adam]

The ML doesn't have the rack handles, ADTG, surprised they caught your eye....

The handles are in back.

 

[TheStalker]

Even though Levinson split up with Kim Cattrall (deutsche) and sold out to Harman, Levinson amps are probably still better sounding than McIntosh.