Amps for B&W 805 Diamond: Rogue Audio or Krell, Pass labs, ML, Accuphase


I had 2 choices for my B&W 805 D2 speakers: 

- Rogue Audio Medusa

- Krell KSA 100s

Also I was advised for Pass Labs X150, ML 252, Accuphase 530. Could you help to advise which one will be best suited for the speakers. Thx so much.

truongv0ky

@audphile1 If it takes 1 hour to warm up a class A Pass Lab amplifier so it will be a problem for many persons. This issue only happens with Pass or for any other class A of other brands?

@buckheadmac Yeah, I know the MA252 is very good but it is only 100W. Is it enough for 805 Diamond? Normally I see people use 150W or more amplifier?

@jafant which one would u suggest. E530, E550, etc..? I know that Accuphase sound very good but I'm only afraid that Accuphase is hard to bring the liveliness and joyful of the song to us

truongv0ky

 

Audition several Accuphase models as possible.

Stay in the 50 Series, 550 or 650. Believe me a Joyful song will be appreciated and enjoyed.  Keep me posted on your demo sessions.

 

Happy Listening!

@truongv0ky it’s pretty common for any component to take some time to start sounding its best after it’s on and out of standby. It will sound just fine when it’s cold but will get even better after about an hour is what I’m saying. It isn’t proprietary to Pass Labs gear and I wouldn’t classify this as a problem. 

Yeah, I know the MA252 is very good but it is only 100W. Is it enough for 805 Diamond? Normally I see people use 150W or more amplifier?

@truongv0ky I own a pair of the way earlier B&W 805 Matrix speakers, and I do not know if they are a similar load to drive as the 805 Diamonds are (from memory I believe mine have an efficiency rating of 87dB, a nominal impedance of eight ohms), but I am currently driving them with a Cary amp that is switchable between 50 watts/triode and 100 watts/ultralinear and I honestly prefer the triode alternative. However, one of the rooms I have used to listen in is on the small side of medium and the other is positively small.