Amplification to B&W 800 Diamond

I am running a pair of 800D model and agree these speakers like power and this really helps with the control and overall sound. I understand your model is not as fussy about this (particularly with regard to load). I am driving mine with an Edge NL12.1 (300w)with great success. The new Bryston 28SST monoblocks would be a good choice and I heard them driven by 4 of the new Classe monoblocks and it was stunning. A friend is driving his new 802's with McIntosh and this is a great match. I really like what I am hearing about the lower level (ha) Solution and Constellation gear and have a number of friends thrilled about the new Devialet D-Premier (240w)which includes a DAC and phono -all very high quality. This amp is being used to drive a lot of very pricy speakers at the recent audio shows.

I own B&W 802 Diamond and also have been a long time fan of B&W speakers. Also, I checked many, many amplifiers because these speakers are truly power hundgry.

My choice was a pair of Spectron Musician III Mk2 fully balanced monoblocks and along with my Joule-Electra LA-300ME preamp provide with the heaven. Pure heaven. Only having these power amplifiers I could hear (for first time?) real symphonic and orchestral music - the closest to true acoustic experience I ahve had with other speakers/amp compination

All The Best

Accuphase amps work very very well with B&W speakers. (If I am not
mistaken, Accuphase amps are tested on B&W speakers from the 800
series.) I've heard your speakers in an all Accuphase system (A-45 power
amp, C-2810 pre and DP-700 cd player) and the combination was
marvelous, outclassing much more expensive Gryphon and MBL system
(which I have heard in the same room).

To answer the original question, the A-46 power amp (45 class A watts into
8 ohm and doubling down till 1 ohm) will drive your speakers very well. The
A-65 (60 class A watts into 8 ohm and doubling down till 1 ohm) will do
even better, and if money is no object then go for the A-200 mono-blocks.

As other have mentioned already, the 800 diamonds do not need tons of
power, any quality high-current amp will make them cry like babies.

Good luck and keep us posted!
Paul

Hello all,

I am setting about finding matching amplification for my 802N. I have been playing around with amplification.

I have a MAC6700 receiver which offers 8, 4 and 2 ohm settings. On the 8 ohm, the bass is the most defined but the highs are a bit too forward. On the 4 ohm setting, the highs are very nice but the bass is toned down. I am single wiring the 802s as my receiver features single terminals.

Some things I have noticed: When I run the single wire to upper inputs on the speakers the highs are better defined. When I run the single wires to the bottom speaker inputs, the bass is stronger and the highs are slightly recessed. I am using B&W jumpers.

Another test I ran was to remove the jumpers and connect the MAC6700 at 8 ohm to the woofers and amp the mids/highs with a second high powered stereo amp. This has been the best result so far in terms of imaging, transparency of soundstage and bass definition.

So, I am wondering if I should try:

-running tubes to the top and ss to the bottom
-powerful tube monos only
-powerful ss monos only

I do like the sweetness of the MAC6700 but I feel there is more to be gained by fine tuning the amplification.

Pass Labs X600.5 is a very good match. I adviced it to a client of mine. He is very happy with it. It makes the low freq. a lot more powerfull. Speed is also important for the 800D. After the 800S I also thought about the 800D. But I stopped cause of the filters of the 800D. For the absolute sound a very deep and wide stage makes listening to music so much more fun and emotional. I had hoped B&W had improved this. I am affraid this Always will be there weakest point. In the world of the best highend an extreme deep and wide stage is a pre. Wenn it is not there you miss too much.