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Which amps with B&W 800D's... Pass Labs or Classe?

I am finally down to the wire... I am considering either the Pass Labs X350.5, a pair of the X600's, or a pair of the Classe CA-M400's to power my B&W 800D's. I am having the hardest time making this decision. I love my music loud, and I listen to alot of large-scale symphonic music, choral music, jazz, and various recordings that are very grand in nature. I am planning on incorporating a center channel and surrounds eventually in a theater and multi-channel setup and I would like to use the same brand of amp for those speakers once I decide to add them. I have heard great things about all of the amps above, but I cannot make that final leap of faith. Are the Pass Labs amps and the CA-M400's from Classe in the same league? I would love to get the Omega Omicron monos, but the budget does not exist for those right now. If I get the Pass Labs X600's, I am considering upgrading to the X600.5's when the budget allows. I have heard great things about the class-a capability of the Pass Labs amps. I am not keen on bi-amping and I really need some help in making this decision. I look forward to your advice! Thanks.

-Dave
mad14
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,733 posts
 
Classe' is a natural, sonic match for those B&W speakers.
Especially, seek out the Omega series- it will be worth it.
Top it all off w/ Transparent cables/cords and you are set!
Happy Listening.
exron
111 posts
 
The border less driver lacks dynamics and resolution when compared with more resolving speakers like Wilson Audio. ???

 What? Seriously ???  Wilson speakers over B&W's   LOLOLOL
 I've Wilson's and sounded bright and involving. I asked the guy to turn them off. For crying out loud they don't even make their own drivers, they buy them. Wilson can't even design a cross over as he has to hire an engineer to do it for him while he sits down with a drink in his hand acting like Mr. Sophisticated. Wilson speakers are in my opioun one of the most over price speakers I have ever heard, seen, and read about about. Definitely for people with more money than brains. I wouldn't touch a Wilson with a ten foot pole and yes, I have heard B&W's as well as other brands absolutely smoke them.
exron
111 posts
 
I've heard Wilson's and they sounded bright and non-involving.

When I was told how much they cost, I had to leave the store in order to control my laughing. What a complete rip off to the audiophile community.
joey_v
667 posts
 
I don't think the current Wilsons are bright or uninvolving... I think they sound quite good actually but that's just my opinion.
exron
111 posts
 
Sorry, but they really do sound bright and uninvolving, and that is not just my opinion. One of my best friends came along with my wife and I to a Wilson dealer less than a year ago and all three of us did not like the Wilson's. We all thought it was extremely over priced, I mean come on, who needs to pay for paper drivers in this day an age, even if they are modified?  I really do like paper drivers but not on Wilson's and who needs a speaker to look like the side of a car with several layers of car paint on it. Does anybody really want to pay for car paint on their speaker? For crying out loud the guy doesn't even know how to design or build a cross over, nor does he even know how to build a driver. he has to out source them and then put them in a expensive box and charge insane prices. You buy any of his speakers and he's laughing all the way to the bank. Seriously???
But that's just my opinion, my wife's and my friend.
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