Integrated for B&W 805 Signatures

These are great speakers. Some consider them to the best of the original Nautilus speaker line. That said, get the best that you can afford.

I would suggest solid state. (B&W usually works best with SS.)

You might consider the Krell 400xi. You will at a later date be able to upgrade your system by adding the FPB amps and using the 400xi as an excellent preamp.

Congradulations on you excellent choice of speakers!

Richard

Having owned them with Musical Fidelity A308 integrated with Signature 805's, I can highly recommend this combination. Perhaps the new A5 would be just as good, if not better. I like the fact that the Classe is on the top of your list. Not sure if that means anything or not. However, since B&W owns classe, the two seem to go together quite nicely. One of my good buddies owned the new pre and power amp from classe to mate with his sig 805's. Much better than my musical fidelity, but a lot more pricey, also.

I would try either of the above way before tubes. Not sure that I can recommend Bryston to go with the Signatures. That may produce a fairly bright sound.

I agree with DRrdiamond, you have some of the best monitors around. My only advice is this: give them their fair shot, if you have to wait a while for an upgrade to an amp that will really show them off, take the wait and keep the speakers. They are unbelievable. Better, I think, than the new 805S. Although not everyone agrees with me. I've owned both, but not at the same time.

I did have a Classe CAP101 (100w/ch) but these speakers sound better at any volume level with more power. They sound much better with 200w/ch, perhaps the 150w/ch would work OK. I was not crazy about the Classe CAP/preamp section in the CAP integrated although some may like the Classe sound. I demoed the McIntosh 6900 (200w/ch & $$) with the B&Ws. I demoed some $3k tube integrateds, no again. I have not tried the newer Musical Fidelity int-amps.

I'm currently using the Krell 400xi. It has 200w/ch, is very queit and, I think, works best with copper cables (<2200 new). Good luck. Al

I agree with the Bryston B100 SST recomendation. It's a good a step up in refinement and musicality from at least two on your list that I have also owned. Any pre-conceived thought on it not being a good match for the sigs would not be from an owner as it is quite nuetral, musically involving, powerful and very open with a sweet top end. It's a great amp.

Classe and B&W are sister companies and the combo of the 805 sigs and the new Classe integrated is pretty darn good, though not my cup of tea. The Classe was better than Sim Audio, YBA and Levinson separates.

Good luck.