B&W 802 or 803D's with Mcintosh or Mus Fid???

[ParadigmDawg]

I tell you what; if I had the money to get 12k speakers then I would have the money to get an expensive amp to go along with it.

 

[annunaki]

I would not spend the money just because it looks better though. I would simply get a new chasis built for the Behringers or have a mock fascia case done up to hide them behind. Let's see, $4K+ or $1,000 (including custom mock fascia). I would keep the extra $3k and do further investing with it for my kids or do more room treatments etc.

Just because one has the money does not mean they should waste it.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

To each his own....I dont need a 1649 HP Pro-mod drag car...but I have one...

I would not spend the money just because it looks better though. I would simply get a new chasis built for the Behringers or have a mock fascia case done up to hide them behind. Let's see, $4K+ or $1,000 (including custom mock fascia). I would keep the extra $3k and do further investing with it for my kids or do more room treatments etc.

Just because one has the money does not mean they should waste it.

 

[mike c]

mazersteven, there's a dead dog in your pic

re: amps ... personally I'd go in between the behringer or pro amps and the classes and krells ... I'd probably use dual RB1092 to bi-amp each channel ... 4k for both. then again, I can't even afford the speakers. maybe one day when I have the space.

 

[annunaki]

To each his own...

I agree there I guess. There are other things I would spend money on too, if I had it.

I am not saying it was wrong, just that there are a lot of ways to spend money and get the same result.

 

[PENG]

Last time I listened to the 802D the sales rep powered it with a Musical Fidelity first and then switched to a Bryston 14B SST. He told me to expect a huge difference because of the extra power. I did hear a difference, not huge but enough to say that the extra power did seem to do a better job.

I would definitely go for the Marlan head and the 176 lbs cabinet.

 

[jaxvon]

For the reasons that WmAx stated, the 802D is a superior speaker. It is used by Alan Parsons in his personal studio, as well as in other top end studios. Also, don't forget to budget for proper room treatment if you want to get the most out of your speakers, as speakers and room acoustics make up the VAST majority of the sound you hear, basically all if you're using transparent electronics and amplifiers that won't clip or introduce audible distortion at the levels you'll be using.

 

[mazersteven]

have 2 amps at home that will power them just as good as the Classe.

I am not saying that someone would have to get a $10,000 Classe amp to power those speakers. But I will state that I have a hard time believing that the Behringer 2500 is just as good a Classe, Mcintosh, or Krell amp.

I have a hard time believing it would have the reliability, added features, consistency, noise floor, and the ability to perform identically into any potential speaker load

 

[WmAx]

I am not saying that someone would have to get a $10,000 Classe amp to power those speakers. But I will state that I have a hard time believing that the Behringer 2500 is just as good a Classe, Mcintosh, or Krell amp.

The EP amplifier I have (EP2500) is overall better then the McIntosh MC7544 amplifiers that I had. Better than the Adcom 555 ampliifer I have on some woofers. By better, I mean PCB board quality, load invariability, etc.

I have a hard time believing it would have the reliability, added features, consistency, noise floor, and the ability to perform identically into any potential speaker load

Added features? It is an amplifier. Plain and simple. As for noise floor, it has a measured -110dB noise floor. No noise to be had in proper use/set-up. It remains rock solid down to 2 ohms and nearly doubles power from 4 ohms to 2 ohms, all the while, remaining at very low distortion levels. It has massive current and thermal working range; I can't think of any consumer speaker that it would have the least bit of trouble driving. Though, if you have some strange super low sensitivity speakers(82db/1watt/1M?), perhaps one per channel bridged would be ideal if the speakers can deal with that level of power. As for reliability, the unit uses high quality component parts through out. I'm sure a Krell uses even better parts; but more reliable? This unit is designed to be subjected to intentional electrical and physical abuse. For function alone, it's hard to justify a Krell(or similar). However, for cosmetics and/or pride of ownership, a Krell(or similar) is probably worth while.

BTW, it is rare that some one would pair a pro amp with high end speakers; this I realize. But I do recall at least one person on this forum claiming to use a Behringer EP1500 on B&W801 speakers. The EP1500 is the same amplifier as the EP2500, but the EP2500 has a larger power supply and the added H class switch mode at high power to develop considerably more power into a load.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=131009&postcount=37

-Chris

 

[highfihoney]

I am not saying that someone would have to get a $10,000 Classe amp to power those speakers. But I will state that I have a hard time believing that the Behringer 2500 is just as good a Classe, Mcintosh, or Krell amp.

I have a hard time believing it would have the reliability, added features, consistency, noise floor, and the ability to perform identically into any potential speaker load

Nothing wrong with the Behringer,decent lil amp for what it is but comparing it against a Mc 252 is nuts,no comparison at all,ive owned 3 Mc 352's so far & i prefered it over the Mc 402,i liked it that much,at low volumes maybe there isnt much difference to be heard but go ahead & drive the crap outta both the Behringer against the Mc 252 & you'll know instantly.

Forget the MF amp,the Mac blows it away on all fronts,buy the Mac & be done with amplification forever.

Heres a pic of 2 of mine.

[/IMG]

 

[Matz1]

thanks for everyones help here

I did go with the 802D's and the MF A5 amp, they will be installed tomorrow night and I will post an update

Can't wait!!!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Awesome..............

 

[annunaki]

I am sure you will be thoroughly satisfied! Congrats on your purchase!

 

[AdrianMills]

It's nice* to see that "big ol' hunkin amp" syndrome is alive and well even at audioholics. Maybe it's just an Americanism?**

I've been tempted to get some 802Ds, hook them up to my Denon 4306 receiver then post the pics on Audio Asylum.

It's a pity they are a little too large for my room.

* Read "very amusing"
** This post is not addressed to anyone in particular.

 

[Matz1]

Adrian,

They installed my 802D's last night and due to UPS the MF A5 did not make it on time.

I have the Denon 4308 and the sound is fantastic, maybe going from the 804s to the 802D's was diff enough but for what I listened to at my speaker tests and what I hear in my basement is great. I will be getting the MF A5 this Friday and will post a review to let you know if I heard a diff. I am not an audiophile but I LOVE music. My younger brother is a pretty famous Tenor and will be listening with me and he has an amazing gift of hearing.

 

[AdrianMills]

Adrian,

They installed my 802D's last night and due to UPS the MF A5 did not make it on time.

I have the Denon 4308 and the sound is fantastic, maybe going from the 804s to the 802D's was diff enough but for what I listened to at my speaker tests and what I hear in my basement is great. I will be getting the MF A5 this Friday and will post a review to let you know if I heard a diff. I am not an audiophile but I LOVE music. My younger brother is a pretty famous Tenor and will be listening with me and he has an amazing gift of hearing.

Congratulations on the new arrivals, I'm sure they are really smashing. I've never heard them and deliberately so as I love the look and I'm sure that if they sound as good as people say I'd ignore common sense and squeeze them into my living room somehow. So, I'll just have to put up with my 804S until I can no longer restrain myself.

I've always had issues with people recommending biGGERRR amps just because... well, just because really. This thread started to read like something off Audio Asylum which is a little ironic really.

I'm sure your 802D will sound just as good with your Denon as your A5, in fact I'd bet money on it. Although I'd also put money on the fact that you will "hear" a difference with the new amp too but that difference can be attributed, in all probability, to perceptual bias (think of it as hearing what you’ll expect to hear).

Just so you know, I've witnessed a pair of top of the range JBL Everests ($60K+, each with 2x15" woofers) playing ear splittingly loudly - I mean rock concert levels - off of 2x 2kW McIntosh amps (yes, 4kW in total!) and do you know how much power use they were reporting? The peaks were <40W. Go figure.

 

[highfihoney]

UH oh, There was allmost a report of a difference heard in amplifiers