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In Reply to: Mcintosh MC 240 posted by Blaster on July 26, 2002 at 18:40:59:
By listing other equipment, I assume that you are contemplating using a restored MC240 with them: yes? If you plan to use the 240 with the 801s I believe you will be profoundly disappointed (and blame it on the innocent Mac). These speakers suck power and the 240 will run out of steam in all but the smallest rooms. Why do I say this??? I tried operating a set of 801M2s with the 240s big brother a 275. Not a good match. 75W/channel (actually closer to 90 under music conditions) just isn't enough. 801s demand a minimum of 150-200W/channel of SOLID STATE power and benefit from even more. The 240 will be OK with more efficient speakers and contrary to some of the more opinionated residents here , I think it sounds great when operating as designed.
Follow Ups:
Yes, the 801M2s are power-hungry (87 db if I remember correctly), and I will probably buy a Bryston 4B-ST for them. I purchased them used last year after hearing a friend's 801M3s. The two-channel system is in our formal living room and its dimensions are 16'x16'x9'. I'm getting by now with a Pass Labs Aleph 3 (30W/ch). It's listenable if I'm selective with the source material. I will probably sell the Aleph after I buy the Bryston. I would interchange the Bryston vs. 240 depending on my listening mood and software selection.
If you get by with the Pass SS amp, you will surely get by with the MC240 too. Even if the B&W speakers are 8 Ohms nominal, connect them to the 4 Ohm taps on the MC240. The power you sacrifice will be more than made up for by the improved voice coil control you will get. When the dips in the B&W speakers impedance curve are encountered, using the 4 Ohm taps gives you the "muscle" to handle them.
Eli D.
If one has to be selective with source material to obtain acceptable results, I'd say that the combination is too close to the edge to be practical. I for one would not put up with the limitations of being able to play only certain kinds of music to avoid overload. This is like having a car that's fun to drive around town but you can't take on the expressway because it can only do 50 mph. If on the other hand you ONLY drive around town, that's another story...you're not being selective in that case.
You're correct, but I'm confident the Bryston 4B-ST will do justice to the 801M2s on most music. I purchased the Pass amp before I purchased the 801M2s (the spouse has already noted my lack of foresight on this). I originally intended to purchase more efficient speakers that matched the Pass amp, but after I heard the 801M2s I decided I wouldn't be content with anything else. I'm still not convinced that one amp will be the complete solution-- I think some material will sound better with the SS (rock, classical, etc.) and some will sound better with tubes (e.g., Greg Brown's 'Milk of the Moon'). Once the MC240 is restored I'll sell the Pass amp (hopefully the spouse doesn't find out what I could sell the C22 & MC240 for).
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