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Upgraded amp for B&W 802d3

Hello, 
I am currently running my B&W 802d3 speakers with a Classe 2300 amp and  have been happy, but was thinking of going to the next level with higher wattage mono amps.    B&W speakers need power to sound their best., and many on this forum state they love McIntosh with B&W’s and speak highly of the MC 611.  Many say the amp has a warm and laid back signature which offsets the hot diamond tweeter.. Others say they prefer the Bryston 7b3 as they are more detailed and have a more “energized” signature as compared to McIntosh. Has anyone with B&W speakers that at one time used a Classe amp moved up to one of these amps?  If so , what improvement did you notice, if any?   I have a McIntosh dealer locally but the nearest Bryson dealer is 3 hours away and can’t compare them side by side.
128x128bwguy
soix
9,456 posts
 
I would try Pass Labs. 
ajpk1971
35 posts
 
I think the XD Krell Amps are fantastic
bwguy's avatar
bwguy OP
227 posts
 
Soix, which Pass Labs amp?  The 600.8?  That one is a little above my pay grade 😀.  Maybe the 350.8 stereo amp?
aaopus's avatar
aaopus
6 posts
 
I have a pair of 802D3. I do not know the size of your room, but they are surprising efficient if your amp can provide the needed current. You want current not power. I started with a Hegel H590 integrated that puts out 301watts into 8 ohms and  590watts into 4 ohms, I moved to a Luxman 590AXii which is 30 watts class A into 8ohms and it sounded much better and I sold the Hegel.

I am now using a Primaluna EVO 400 Power amp (70 watts in ultralinear) driven directly by my Chord Dave DAC and it is the best of those combinations, I have owned Krell 302 EVOs as well earlier this year (300w into 8 that doubles in 2) and they did not sound as good as my current setup.

You want current, not wattage, for example the bass from my 70 watt Primaluna tube amp is MUCH better , stronger and tighter than my Luxman Integrated, which you will see many videos on Youtube videos driving Magico S5s. The Luxman had much stronger bass than my Hegel H590 which had a 4000 damping factor. The Primaluna Evo 400 pairs very well with the 802D3 as it is very detailed and airy, with incredible separation between instruments and singers.
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