2. speakers
  3. 162122-150834

Best amp for B&W805D3?

I am settling in with these relatively new speakers and find my amp (Primaluna Dialogue HP with tubes ranging from EL-34’s to KT150s) is not matching up very well.  The tubes just sound a bit muddled and sluggish with some harshness or brightness in the upper-mid range.

I normally prefer the warmer sound of the tubes especially with Klipsch Heresy speakers. The EL-34s are very disappointing with the B&W’s.  With the B&W’s, the KT-150’s are somewhat better resolving than the other tubes (at least on the Primaluna amp).  I am wondering if it is the additional power that is helping?  I am also wondering if I need to switch to SS?

I am curious what amps are you finding works best worth the 805 D3s?  I am open to changing out the amp but not sure where to start.   I would appreciate hearing anyone’s experience with this matter...
pscar
kenjit
1,771 posts
 
its nothing to do with the amps. its the tweeters. you will need to remove the crossover and retune them. They have too much highs. 
geof3
1,129 posts
 
A friend is running a Musical Fidelity M6si Integrated to great effect with the B&W’s. Her system sounds very nice. Don’t touch the tweeters...
soix
9,548 posts
 
I am wondering if it is the additional power that is helping? I am also wondering if I need to switch to SS?
Yes!!! Tubes don’t generally work optimally with B&Ws unless you pay up big $$$ for lots of tube power. IMO you’re much better off going with a tube pre and a Class A (or similar sounding type) amp. Something like the Unison Research Unico Due integrated would probably give you most everything you’re looking for, just to throw one possibility out there. Hope this helps, and best of luck finding something that works well for you.
More to discover