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38.130.85.3
Hi,
I just upgraded my speakers to B&W 802. I have two Marantz MA6100 monoblocks that worked great with my previous speakers, KEF 103.3. I now have the option to purchase a Proceed 2 (Levinson-designed) power amp at a reasonable price. I could also double up on the monoblocks for another $300. My upgrade budget is meager at $500-600. What would you do?
My current source is (gulp) a Yamaha RX-V1200 HT receiver, using the preamp outputs. Don't worry, that's next on my list of upgrades!
Follow Ups:
Those Marantz Amps should do fine... The 802's have fairly wide impedance swings - 802D (courtesy of Stereophile) shown. Earlier models are similar...
See their article/review for more details...
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
I just wish they weren't so harsh in the HFs. I have a Classe CA-5200 driving my 802D at work, not that I can compare the two. What's in between?
Are you clipping? the MA6100 could use a little more powersupply or dynamics. I use Crown pro power amps and am happy. No risk tryout from sweetwater:
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
Hmm, nice of them to feature RCAs on a pro amp. Doesn't the fan noise bother you? The amp would have to be in the same room as the B&Ws over here...
The MA6100 are decent amps for what they are but the Proceed is in a whole other league. If wanting to act now get the Proceed, it will sound better and drive the B&W's better.
If you like the amps you have, why bother? Save the money for the preamp upgrade that you have on your list!
I was just wondering if bi-amping these would make a significant difference. These do sound a bit harsh in the higher frequencies. However as so many people have pointed out I probably need to get the receiver swapped out in favor of an integrated amp.
I used Proceed Amp 2s for years before switching to a Proceed HPA 2 and finally Parasound JC 1 monoblocks to drive a pair of KEF Reference 107/2s. I'm still using one of my Amp 2s (bought in the 80s from a Levinson dealer) in a secondary setup to drive a pair of LS50s while I await an Ayre VX-5 Twenty. Any harshness you hear should not be from the Proceed amp.
db
IMO, B&W's are on the bright side. What is your budget and what features do you need? Did you ever think about adding tubes into the mix? I don't think bi-amping would solve the problem.
$1000 max for budget. Need DAC w/ optical, coax, USB and preferably WiFi; analog inputs for SACD, FM tuner, etc. Something at least 150WPC at 4 ohms. I just read up on the NAD C368 & C388, and the latter could work, but stretches the budget unless I can find one used.
You might want to look at the review of the Classe Sigma 2200i in the current issue of Stereophile, beginning on page 169, in which Tom Norton compares the sound of the 2200i with that of his Proceed Amp 5. He preferred the sound with his combination of a Marantz AV8802a and Amp 5.
db
eom
Happy hunting!
You make no comment about what you may dislike about the Marantz amps nor what you like about the Proceed. Until you have a reason to change amps save your money.
The monoblocks are 125-watts and the Proceed 2 is 150-watts per channel. That difference is insignificant. Therefore, if your concern is to provide more power, it would probably be better to double up on the monoblocks and biamp each B&W 802. Anyway, that's my opinion.
Good luck,
John Elison
How much power do you think you need to drive those speakers?
And think about putting it all into one integrated amp.
Currently it's as if you have some Formula 1 wheels for the race track, but you have them on a Nissan Sentra.
You don't necessarily need more power (at moderate listening levels, we only need about 4 watts/channel for most modern 4 Ohm speakers of a reasonable (upwards of 85 db sensitivity).
Wattage ratings for amplifiers will tell about as much about it's ability to compliment any pair of speakers as the name of a dog will tell you about it's ability to catch a frisbee.
A good integrated like a Naim Nait XS would allow your speakers do wonderful things. Your Yamaha receiver has lots of features, but it's use as a pre-amp is limited to being very basic.
You can get a Naim Nait XS on the used market (they are usually in great shape) for about $1200. Your speakers will love you for it, and you will love the Naim.
I'm anxious to hear what these speakers can do in my space in the meantime.
Well worth waiting.
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